In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman explores a hidden leadership blind spot: the assumptions and beliefs that shape how leaders approach problems. Drawing on executive coaching, life coaching, and real-world examples, she explains why the quality of your thinking directly determines the quality of your results.

She introduces “Part X,” a term from Dr. Phil Stutz for the part of us that resists growth, and shows how this resistance shows up inside teams and organizations through beliefs that feel like facts.

Key takeaways:

• Why every leadership team has a thinking problem, and how assumptions quietly limit performance
• How changing the way you think about a strategy can be more powerful than changing the strategy itself
• How thoughts create feelings, feelings drive actions, and actions create results, based on Brooke Castillo’s Model
• How enterprise intelligence helps senior leaders separate facts from interpretations and unlock new possibilities

Share this episode with a senior leader who could use a fresh way to think about their toughest problem.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

On this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman sits down with Roanne Neuwirth, former Global Chief Marketing Officer for BTS. They explore the evolving role of marketing in the C-Suite and how executives can drive credibility in an AI-driven world.

Key takeaways:

• How CMOs balance functional expertise, people leadership, and executive team membership
• Why strategic marketing is critical for differentiation, relevance, and value creation, especially in the age of AI
• Methods for guiding internal teams to prioritize, partner effectively, and champion business strategy
• The growing importance of executive visibility on platforms such as LinkedIn to strengthen personal and company brands
• Lessons from Roanne on building trust, strong client relationships, and impactful storytelling in consulting and professional services

Share this episode with marketing and executive leaders seeking to amplify their influence, drive growth, and elevate their team’s impact.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

Past Episode Mentioned: Ep 2 - On the Right Side of History: Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar on Democratizing AI

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

Enjoy this encore release of an early season episode, that is just as valuable to listen to for a second time!

Strong leadership teams do not happen by accident. In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman focuses on why even smart, experienced senior leaders can find themselves on teams that underperform, and what it actually takes to build teams that deliver real enterprise value.

With teams under extraordinary pressure in 2026, Elizabeth explains why old meeting habits, misaligned agendas, and unclear accountability are quietly eroding performance, engagement, and results.From rethinking team meetings as engines for decision making, to replacing low value updates with real dialogue, to designing agendas that create space for strategic thinking, this episode offers clear guidance for leaders who want better outcomes without adding more complexity.

You’ll learn:

• Why leadership teams struggle even when individual leaders are strong
• How meeting design directly shapes team performance and accountability
• What separates productive dialogue from time wasting discussion
• How to prepare teams for decisions that actually stick after the meeting ends
• Why enterprise value, not activity, is the real measure of team effectiveness

This episode offers a clear, grounded approach to improving performance where it matters most, while within a team or leading one yourself. Tune in to learn how to strengthen your team, increase impact across the organization, and create a leadership environment that supports both results and careers.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

On this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman sits down with Melisa Liberman, founder and CEO of Melisa Liberman Coaching. They explore how corporate leaders can successfully transition into independent consulting.

You’ll hear:

• How to navigate the identity shift from corporate executive to business owner and rebuild confidence independent of past titles
• Why starting simple with “foot in the door” consulting offers helps you land clients quickly and refine your business model
• How to leverage past experience without feeling like you’re starting from scratch and recognize patterns of success
• Practical approaches to pipeline growth, lead generation, and client acquisition
• Emerging consulting opportunities, including AI strategy and diagnostics, and how to identify high-value solutions your clients need

Making the leap into independent consulting starts with a decision, not a perfect plan. This episode gives you the roadmap. Share it with a colleague who’s ready to make the leap.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman talks with Maia Josebachvili, Chief Revenue Officer for AI at Stripe, about what it really takes to lead at the frontier. Maia shares why authority is never handed to you and why the best leaders surround themselves with people who know more than they do.

You’ll learn:

• Why leadership is about creating followership, not giving orders from a boardroom
• How to approach a role you have never done before by building the right network and team
• The "pin check" culture from skydiving and what it teaches us about defaulting to trust in high stakes situations
• Why getting to ground truth means talking to customers directly, not just reviewing data
• How a simple one page framework creates clarity in complex moments

Maia also opens up about an early career mistake when she tried to act like what she thought a CMO should be, and why being yourself works better than fitting a mold.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman explains why even highly capable leaders can lose the confidence of senior executives, not because they lack talent, but because trust is built on whether senior leaders believe you can consistently deliver meaningful outcomes.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Why executive confidence is built on outcomes, not effort, activity, or being busy
• The hidden ways unclear communication creates doubt and erodes trust at senior levels
• How leaders unintentionally lose credibility when they are not fully bought into the outcome themselves, even if they publicly align
• Why understanding what you are truly being paid to deliver changes how executives experience your leadership

She also shares three practical questions leaders should ask themselves: what outcomes are you actually paid to produce, how do executives currently experience you, and are you fully bought in or privately broadcasting doubt? Strengthening trust starts here.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

On Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman sits down with Dr. DeRetta Rhodes, EVP and Chief People and Culture Officer for the Atlanta Braves, to talk about resilience, self-worth, and intentional leadership. DeRetta shares how she pushed past doubt, defined her value, and stayed committed to her vision through career pivots, personal adversity, and earning her doctorate.

Key themes you'll hear:

• How to tune out "ugly noise" and stay committed to your goals, even when others doubt you
• Why thinking like a "free agent" can transform how you define and communicate your value
• The importance of asking the right questions before stepping into new roles, and the cost of not asking
• How to take inventory of your life and career to make aligned decisions in different seasons
• The role of vision journals, mentorship, and belief in building a long-term, purpose-driven career

DeRetta also shares insights from her book Courage of Voice, along with stories of the mentors and life experiences that shaped her leadership style, her commitment to empowering women, and her belief that success is available to anyone willing to stay the course.

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who could use the reminder that their goals are still within reach.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

Purchase Dr. DeRetta Rhodes book here:
amazon.com/Courage-Voice-Empowering-Women-Professional/dp/1961863014
To learn more about Dr. DeRetta Rhodes:
mlb.com/braves/team/front-office/deretta-rhodes

Past Episode Mentioned: Ep 16 - Robert Clarkson, Former CRO Americas at Stripe: Why Empathy and Co-Creation Win

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader

In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman talks with Ricky Hopson, Group President, Clinical and Specialty Services at Catalent and Chief of Staff. With over 25 years at Catalent, Ricky has navigated roles across finance, operations, and executive leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

You'll learn:

• How Ricky's finance background shaped his leadership across multiple functions
• Why expertise in both finance and operations drives success
• How to build cross-functional teams and plan for succession at every level
• How to create positive client relationships, even during high-pressure negotiations
• What makes a great CFO and how leadership roles are evolving today

Share this episode with a senior leader who's balancing multi-functional responsibilities.

For more tools, insights, and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

• Free C-Suite Readiness Assessment
• Website: https://esuiteleader.com/
• Forbes Column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethfreedman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfreedman
• Twitter X: @‌esuiteleader