About Marc

My name is Marc Ottestad and I am a classic "activator", ENFP, and high "I", all of which I use to develop people.

I have had 3 careers over the last 45 years –

Hospitality – Retail/Mail Order and Leadership Development.

My most significant marketplace roles during that time were managing partner at Convene for 15 years and president of ProSound & Stage Lighting for 10 years. ProSound grew from a team of 4 to over 100 in a ride full of highs and lows including a partnership that was challenging and meaningful in my growth.

Business partnerships and closely held family companies are my focus today. I understand the challenges and have the experience to navigate the spoken and unspoken chasms in organizations with leaders that need to understand their blind spots and limiting beliefs.

My latest adventure is MO Leadership which is my calling to ignite more Leadership. Leadership that is motivated with momentum towards excellence and a closer walk with Jesus.

Family

Today I walk with my wife of 36 years, Kasey, as a partner in marriage. I am a much better man today than at the start of that journey. We have invested in counseling for our marriage and our family. Today we share a rhythm that is centered in real conversations and a belief that we are “FOR” each other. I have 3 children, 2 boys as the bookends and a daughter in the middle. Our joy has grown as our family has grown with the addition of her husband and 2 gorgeous granddaughters.

Faith

I came to Christ in 1987 and worship at North Hills Church in Brea, CA. I led the men’s ministry for a decade and lead Stephen’s Ministry today. I am a big Dallas Willard fan as well as Tim Keller. I have been in a small group study weekly for 25 years where we rotate studying God’s Word and godly ideas through Christ centered authors. I believe that God delivers challenging tensions to all of us as we experience life on earth.

Those tensions in leadership include:

People

We love them, or try to and they are so challenging in many ways.

Profitability

How do we seek a profit and keep our people and when is enough, enough?

Isolation

Where can I be the “real me”? It is lonely at the top.

Time & Life Balance

How do I take care of myself and those I love when I get so much satisfaction at work doing what I am so good at doing?

Integration of Faith

What would Jesus say if he showed up at my office today? I am not a pastor. What should faith at work look like?

Strategic Planning

How do I work on the business when there are so many current challenges. What is my mission? Does God care about my vision? Do values matter? How do I get unstuck?

There are processes for all these questions and God wants to be with you as you learn about Him as you grow. Faith and work are linked and when they are life is better.