Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Grothe.
Hi Mary, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the Chief Revenue Officer at PNI•HCM, a faith-based leader, #1 Bestselling Author, Top 50 Global Keynote Speaker, and host of the Fearless Faith Radio Show.
At 22, I began my career with a Fortune 1000 payroll and HR company, rapidly progressing from an admin role to the #1 sales representative, generating millions in revenue. This accomplishment marked a turning point in my life, enabling me to break free from a traumatic and impoverished childhood marked by abuse.
I founded my first company at 28, specializing in startup business strategy for businesses scaling from $0 to $1M ARR. Over three years, I guided 36 startups to market. Yet, my intense work ethic and past wounds eventually led to a transformative wake-up call; during this period, I discovered Christ, met my husband, and returned to the payroll industry to rebuild my career.
After three years, my passion for scaling businesses returned, and I founded my second company, Sales BQ®, broadening my influence from startups to businesses ranging from $1M to $3M. Concentrating solely on the sales process was no longer sufficient for scaling, so I evolved Sales BQ into House of Revenue® and crafted a revenue strategy that integrated sales, marketing, branding, customer success, and revenue operations.
My team and I helped grow numerous 2nd stage growth companies between $2M to $20M. In January 2023, I transitioned from CEO at House of Revenue to the CRO at PNI·HCM and sold House of Revenue in June 2023.
My keynotes address a spectrum of challenges across professional and personal spheres, offering audiences tangible solutions and a fresh perspective.
Through my multifaceted career journey, I empathize with individuals facing mental and emotional barriers in their professional advancement, guiding them toward breakthrough. I tackle the issue of HR departments being undervalued, transforming them into strategic assets that drive company growth. I empower businesses to overcome revenue plateaus and outpace competitors by adopting holistic revenue growth strategies. Moreover, I navigate the complex terrain of integrating faith into the workplace, providing actionable steps for individuals seeking alignment between their spiritual beliefs and professional endeavors.
My keynotes serve as a beacon of inspiration and practical wisdom, empowering individuals to embrace remarkable work and cultivate thriving workplaces.
My book, “Destination; Remarkable. Surviving the Dark Side of Success,” published by Forbes | Books, is a #1 bestseller.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My story has not been easy. Few who know me today would guess that my childhood was traumatic. That I was raised by an alcoholic mother and abusive father in a filthy house, where tar dripped down the walls from the profusion of cigarette smoke. That at fourteen, I watched my childhood auctioned off beneath a big top before fleeing town as a result of my parents’ criminal mistakes. Or that dance, my original love and ticket to freedom, would be taken from me in an instant. That four whole years of darkness followed. That I briefly married a man so toxic that I had to plot a secret escape to free myself.
What many people do know is that, in spite of all the above, I discovered, to my own astonishment and that of everyone around me, that I was something of a sales prodigy. That my success was meteoric. That my name was synonymous with number one.
Until now, most also don’t know that all of this “success” led me straight back down into the darkness. Into alcoholism, and from there into the front porch of my neighbors’ house, behind the wheel of one of my two cars. Or that years of healing, and grinding away in the trenches, would only bring me straight back to my knees. That finally, one fateful Christmas morning, from the pit of the bottom, I found Jesus. That again, I thought I’d forever changed my life, only to learn that doing so is easier said than done.
I was given a chance to relive my 20’s in my 30’s. A new husband, a man of God. A redo at my payroll sales career, selling millions and breaking records. And, a second chance at entrepreneurship, a company that I grew and exited from after a 5.5 year journey. However, my 30’s were met with a different type of challenge than my 20’s, as I was often conflicted being a loving Christian woman and wildly successful professional, believing those two aspects of myself couldn’t co-exist. But my 40’s, all 6 months of them, are proving they CAN co-exist and this decade will be my journey in proving how it can be done and modeling it for others.
As you know, we’re big fans of PNI·HCM. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
PNI•HCM, formerly Payroll Network, provides HR and payroll solutions employers need to streamline their people operations. We offer best-in-industry partnerships, unmatched customer support, and personalized services tailored to fit each client’s needs – from recruitment to retirement.
An All-in-One Payroll & HR Platform Built for Today’s Workforce.
About PNI•HCM
Founded in 1998, we chose to be an early adopter and founding partner of the isolved HCM platform, have grown with it since 2014, and were named partner of the year 2 years in a row.
So, what makes PNI different from other HCM providers?
For years, Human Capital Management (HCM) providers have focused on the payroll and HR admins, but we are taking it to the next level. We’re building our brand around our client’s employees and how we improve attraction, retention, loyalty, engagement, productivity, and overall happiness/wellness.
Why focus on employee experience? That’s easy. Today’s worker is more complex than ever before. Human capital (your employees) is typically the largest expense of any organization; if not first, it’s the second.
COVID-19 forever changed the landscape of hiring and retaining workers and measuring their engagement, productivity, and satisfaction. Yes, we cut checks. Yes, our technology is top-of-the-line. Yes, our service is unmatched. Now, we are focusing on solving your most pressing issues centered on employee experience.
In addition to providing a seamless HCM suite to meet the needs of your employees, we now empower employees by promoting financial wellness through education and counseling, partnering with providers that offer early access to up to 50% of earned wages before payday, and working with a partner that aims to reduce the guilt and stigma endured by working parents when juggling child drop-off, pickup, tutoring, and overall caregiving necessities for aging parents and loved ones.
We’ll Help You Build & Maintain Experiences Employees Actually Want at Work
How do you think about luck?
As a Christian, I don’t believe in luck. Instead, I see my life and career as a testament to God’s grace, provision, and guidance. Reflecting on my journey, it’s clear that His hand has been at work, shaping and directing my path through every challenge and triumph.
From a young age, I faced immense difficulties—growing up in a household marked by addiction and abuse, experiencing the loss of my first love, dance, and enduring a toxic marriage. These trials weren’t a result of bad luck but rather opportunities for God to demonstrate His power and faithfulness in my life.
When I began my career at 22, I discovered a talent for sales that I hadn’t known I possessed. This wasn’t mere chance; it was God’s way of opening a door for me to escape my past and build a new future. My rapid success in the corporate world was a gift from Him, equipping me to break free from the darkness that had overshadowed my early years.
Even when I faced setbacks—such as falling into alcoholism and hitting rock bottom—these moments were not instances of bad luck but rather pivotal points where God’s grace became most evident. It was on one fateful Christmas morning, in the depths of despair, that I found Jesus. This transformative encounter was a divine intervention, not a stroke of luck, that changed the course of my life forever.
In my entrepreneurial ventures, from founding my first company to evolving Sales BQ into House of Revenue®, I’ve seen God’s provision and wisdom guiding my decisions. He has blessed me with the ability to help numerous startups and second-stage growth companies succeed, integrating faith into my professional endeavors.
Throughout my career, I’ve learned to trust in God’s plan, knowing that He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). My story is one of redemption and hope, illustrating that our lives are not governed by random chance but by a loving and sovereign God who directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9).
So, when asked about the role of luck in my life and business, I confidently say that it’s been God’s hand, not luck, that has led me through every valley and onto every peak. His faithfulness has been my anchor, and His wisdom has been my guide, allowing me to overcome obstacles and achieve remarkable success in alignment with His purpose for my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marygrothe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marygrothe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marylgrothe
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygrothe/
- Twitter: https://x.com/marylgrothe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryGrothe
- Other: https://www.pnihcm.com/
