About

My coaching is built on three guiding pillars: Awareness, Action, and Accountability.

NICE TO MEET YOU

I'm Jozef Ogrodny

I’m a Certified Focal Point Business and Executive Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA). I work with business owners and senior leaders to help them grow stronger businesses—and prepare for what’s next.

My clients are typically family-focused entrepreneurs and executives leading companies up to $50 million in revenue. They’re deeply committed to their people and their purpose—but often pulled in so many directions that long-term planning gets pushed aside. Whether they’re scaling, leading through transition, or thinking ahead to an eventual exit, I help them bring clarity, structure, and strategy to their business journey.

What makes my work different is the balance I bring to the table: personal attention, real-world experience, and a deep understanding of what it takes to not only succeed—but to step away successfully when the time is right.

My Story

My story begins in a family business. I watched my parents—and so many of our friends and relatives—work incredibly hard to build something of their own. But I also saw how easy it was to become overwhelmed, isolated, or unprepared for major transitions. That early exposure shaped how I view business: not just as a vehicle for profit, but as a tool to create freedom, security, and legacy.

I followed a traditional path early on—earning accounting and finance degrees at DePaul University and building a career in advisory at Grant Thornton and Deloitte. Over nearly two decades, I specialized in real estate, valuation, and strategic planning for companies across various industries. I became a CPA (IL), Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, and eventually a CEPA.

But the more time I spent in the corporate world, the more I felt a pull to work with business owners directly—to bring them the kind of high-level guidance often reserved for larger companies. When leadership changes at my firm in 2024 created a natural turning point, I made the leap.

Now, I use the full depth of my experience to help my clients grow with intention and prepare for a future on their terms—whether that’s selling, passing the business down, or stepping back to enjoy the life they’ve worked so hard to build.

Outside of work, I’m a husband to Joanna and father to our two amazing kids, Charles and Amelia. We love to travel and spend time outdoors, and I try to bring that same spirit of curiosity, balance, and adventure into everything I do—personally and professionally.

Why I Do It

I do this because I believe that business should support your life—not consume it.

Too often, I’ve seen business owners give everything they have to their companies, only to reach a point where they feel stuck, unsure of the next move, or unprepared to exit. They’ve worked tirelessly for years, yet no one has helped them think strategically about how to turn that hard work into lasting value—or what life after business might look like.

That’s where I come in.

My mission is to help business owners build companies that are not only profitable, but transferable—so they can create more freedom now, and more options down the line. I guide clients through growth with the end in mind, helping them prepare for a future where they can exit with confidence and pride.

For me, it’s about more than just financial results. It’s about clarity, purpose, and legacy. It’s about helping people lead businesses they love—and crafting an exit that honors the effort it took to get there.