Stories With Traction #176: When the Economy Crashes…Diversify or Die
SHOW NOTES:
In this insightful episode, Matt Zaun talks with Marcy Sagel, CEO & Principal of MSA Interiors, a Baltimore-based commercial interior design firm with over 30 years of experience designing multifamily, student housing, senior living, hospitals, and more.
They unpack how Marcy built a downturn-proof business by diversifying revenue streams, locking in budgets early, and adapting her leadership through crisis...including the sudden loss of her hearing during COVID.
Marcy shares how the pain of the 2008 recession reshaped her entire approach to business, what today’s developers need most amid rising costs, and how confidence and grit develop across decades of entrepreneurship.
In this episode, they cover:
✅ Surviving 2008–2011 — how Marcy went three years without paying herself, kept her entire team employed, and rebuilt her firm through diversification.
✅ Leading through adversity — Marcy’s story of losing her hearing during COVID and the practical ways she adapted as a business leader.
✅ Team longevity & culture — why she invests heavily in great people, profit-sharing, and happiness, and lets go of misaligned hires faster.
✅ Confidence for women in leadership — advice for young women learning to find their voice in male-dominated industries: “Speak early, speak often, and get reps through public speaking.”
…and much more!
BIOS:
Marcy Sagel is the CEO & Principal of MSA Interiors, a commercial interior design firm specializing in multifamily, student, senior, and healthcare design projects across the U.S. Over three decades, she’s built a reputation for high-impact, budget-disciplined design and resilient business leadership.
Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He’s the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using strategic storytelling to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.