Leveraging Leadership

Jaksot

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  Executive Presence Is Range, Not a Persona 14.09.2026 42min

  Executive presence isn't a checklist of confident behaviors, and it isn't a persona you put on when you reach the C-suite. Jacque McCormack, co-founder of JetStream Advisors and an executive coach with more than 15 years of experience working with leaders and executive teams, joins me to unpack what executive presence actually looks like in practice: how people experience you, how you flex between authority and approachability, and how you stay grounded enough to respond intentionally when t...
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  From Safe Bets to Breakthroughs: Building a Balanced Innovation Portfolio 07.09.2026 40min

  Noel Sobelman explains innovation portfolio management and how companies can bridge the gap between strategy and execution. He shares a medical device company example where shifting from safe, incremental projects to a more balanced mix led to higher growth. The conversation also covers using tools like metered funding, managing risk, and how roles like Chief of Staff help leaders focus on what's best for the whole company instead of just one business unit. Links Mentioned: Noel Sobelman’s ...
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  Freedom from Mental Captivity: Insights on Mediation and Workplace Communication 31.08.2026 40min

  Stan Lewis, a former OSHA investigator and mediator, explains how most workplace whistleblower cases come down to communication issues and how managers can prevent problems by listening early. He shares practical mediation tips, like letting people vent, asking what success looks like, and using company policy consistently. Stan also talks about the importance of addressing conflict when it’s still small and relates his “Freedom from Mental Captivity” framework from his new book. Links Menti...
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  Persuasion Versus Manipulation: Ethical Leadership and Building Trust Across Teams 24.08.2026 43min

  JonRobert Tartaglione shares how to lead through influence without direct authority, drawing on his background in psychology and examples like political polarization and message framing. He explains why Chiefs of Staff need to use persuasive, not just expressive, communication and offers practical tips, such as using diagnostic questions, hedging language, and leveraging social norms in organizations. The conversation covers what actually works to change minds, why logic alone is rarely enoug...
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  Speak Like a Pro: Boost Your Confidence with Tactical Leadership Drills 19.08.2026 30min

  Emily Sander shares three simple exercises to help anyone sound more confident in meetings, interviews, and presentations. She walks through the "expert game," explaining how to act like the world’s leading authority on random topics like Flashdance or koala bear feeding habits. The episode includes practical tips like recording yourself, using variety in your voice, and practicing for just 30 seconds a day. Get in touch with Emily: Want to sound more confident? Book a clarity call w/ Emily ...
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  Standards Over Stress: How Self-Leadership Heals Burnout and Brings Fulfillment 17.08.2026 37min

  Bobby Shelton shares his journey from chasing external accomplishments to finding real satisfaction through self-leadership, including losing 180 pounds and shifting his focus after reaching personal low points. The conversation covers the difference between "easy-hard" (doing things for others' approval) and "hard-hard" (pursuing what matters to you), and offers advice on setting simple, personal standards, like refusing to eat M&M's, to build discipline. The discussion also touches on f...
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  Q&A: How to Lead a New Team Without Letting Your Old One Down 12.08.2026 23min

  Emily Sander answers a listener question from Megan, who just got promoted and is transitioning between teams. She gives advice on setting up the old team for success, like handing off tasks to a "go-to" person and clearly communicating that change to everyone. Emily also suggests doing a listening tour with the new team to learn from their experience and explains the importance of being confident, having a plan, and not expecting everything to go perfectly. Get in touch with Emily: Ready t...
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  Growing Vocal Authority: Insights for Executives from an Accent Coach 10.08.2026 50min

  Emily Sander talks with Jay Poulton, founder of The Accent Coach, about how senior leaders can use their voice more effectively. They discuss practical tips like breath control, vocal variety, and recording yourself to close the “authority gap,” and share examples of issues such as vocal fry, upturning at the end of sentences, and monotone delivery that impact credibility. Jay Poulton explains specific exercises and the importance of practicing your delivery out loud to sound more confident a...
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  Three Powerful Checkpoint Questions to Level Up Your Leadership 06.08.2026 13min

  Emily Sander talks about setting up personal checkpoints to track growth and avoid getting stuck. She shares three practical questions she asks herself every other week: Where am I getting in my own way? What's a middle way? Who can help with that? She suggests different ways to do these check-ins, like journaling or using sticky notes. Get in touch with Emily: Want help creating meaningful checkpoints for your growth? Book a quick clarity call w/ Emily here. Free Leadership Resources...
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  Wearable Mindfulness: The Ring Revolutionizing Leader Wellbeing 03.08.2026 38min

  Johan Matton, creator of the Pulse Mindfulness Ring, talks about his journey from filmmaking to building a wearable that helps people take mindful pauses throughout the day using quiet haptic vibrations instead of apps or data tracking. Emily Sander, a former Chief of Staff and early investor, shares how the ring helped her be more present, cut down autopilot habits, and manage stress. They discuss the science behind micro-pauses, the choice not to include biometrics, and upcoming features li...
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  Perfection Is an Illusion: Tips for Giving Better Answers in Meetings 29.07.2026 14min

  Emily Sander talks about the pressure to give perfect or "right" answers in interviews and meetings, shares examples like people panicking or rambling, and explains why aiming for a "good" answer is more realistic and helpful. She encourages listeners to drop the idea of perfection and focus on contributing value, even if their delivery isn’t flawless. Get in touch with Emily: You don't need the perfect answer. You need a clear one. Book a clarity call w/ Emily here. Free Leadership R...
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  Trust and Impact: Ethical Influence and Authentic Leadership in Business 27.07.2026 39min

  Judith Germain explains her Maverick Leadership philosophy, focusing on trust, influence, and leading through uncertainty during reorganizations. She shares practical tips for Chiefs of Staff, like building trust before a crisis, giving people real agency in decisions, and using "intelligent disobedience" to challenge bad calls. The episode covers the difference between being trusted and being trustworthy, and how to spot genuine leadership versus performative behavior. Links Mentioned: Mav...
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  Rethinking How Can I Make Your Life Easier in the Chief of Staff Role 22.07.2026 14min

  Emily Sander shares feedback from a listener who disagreed with her advice to ask, "How can I make your life easier?" as a new Chief of Staff. The listener argued this question could reduce the role to admin work and distract from driving the team's main objectives. Emily Sander explains her view that the approach can help in some situations, especially early on, but agrees it's important for a Chief of Staff to adapt and stay focused on results. Get in touch with Emily: Want more practical ...
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  Beyond IQ and EQ: Exploring PQ for Competitive Advantage in Business Leadership 20.07.2026 44min

  Rohit Bassi shares how his transition from consulting at McKinsey led him into a Chief of Staff role at a major PE-backed company, exposing him to real-world operations, M&A, and industry-changing deals. He explains his concept of "people quotient" (PQ) as a framework for evaluating leadership, organizational structure, and talent operations, and discusses how Chiefs of Staff can use PQ tools to make quick, impactful decisions about teams and company growth. The episode includes practical...
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  Consultants as Chiefs of Staff: Using Big Picture Thinking for Real Results 15.07.2026 13min

  Emily Sander talks about how consultants who become Chief of Staff often excel at big-picture thinking and mapping companywide projects, but tend to get stuck over-analyzing instead of taking action. She shares real stories of consultants perfecting charts and data while delaying implementation, and suggests asking yourself if you need to "think more or do more" to avoid getting in your own way. The episode highlights both the strengths and blind spots consultants bring to the Chief of Staff ...
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  Building Organizational Culture Amidst Transitions and Layoffs 13.07.2026 39min

  Emily Sander talks with Yorm Ackuaku about building visibility as a Chief of Staff, especially in marketing-led organizations like Vista and Weight Watchers. Yorm shares practical tactics, such as highlighting team achievements on Slack, running engaging all-hands meetings, and managing culture during layoffs. She also gives advice for Chiefs of Staff working with new principals and for those navigating global teams. Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call...
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  Practical Communication: Delivering Your Message With the Bottom-Line Approach 08.07.2026 8min

  Emily Sander shares a practical tip for communicating with busy executives: start with the bottom line first, then give a little necessary context, and invite questions if needed. Using the iceberg metaphor, Emily Sander explains that a Chief of Staff usually knows much more than they should share up front, and most conversations only need the essentials to help leaders make quick decisions. Get in touch with Emily: Want to sharpen how you communicate with executives? Book a clarity call w/ ...
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  The Principal’s Perspective: How Chiefs of Staff Shape Organizational Impact 06.07.2026 31min

  Executives and Chiefs of Staff share practical stories about how the Chief of Staff role shapes company culture, trust, and growth. Tim Moore explains how his Chief of Staff acts as his proxy to scale leadership, while Jessica Gonzalez highlights how having Ivan as her Chief of Staff lets her spend more time with her kids and trust things will get done. Guests discuss hiring from within, the unique qualities needed for the role, and the importance of loyalty, communication, and partnership. ...
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  Q&A: Balancing AI Adoption and Quality Leadership Strategies for a Maturing Tech Team 01.07.2026 14min

  Emily Sander answers a listener’s question about moving a tech company to AI-first, highlighting challenges when people use AI excessively or without checks. She shares practical ideas like approved use cases, tiered approval for AI spend, and the need for quality controls. Emily Sander also points out the importance of balancing AI experimentation with making sure standards and outcomes stay high. Get in touch with Emily: Want help leading your organization through AI adoption? Book a clar...
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  Boost Your Presentation Presence With This Simple Technique 24.06.2026 22min

  Emily Sander shares a simple trick to boost energy and engagement in presentations: think about something you love, like movies, then bring that same excitement to your business talk. She uses a real story about bombing a dry run at a Risk Summit and how talking about her favorite movies helped her improve. Chiefs of Staff and executives can try this method to sound less flat or nervous during important presentations. Get in touch with Emily: Want to show up with more confidence and energy i...