Mary Lou Andre, founder and CEO of Dressing Well, joins Elizabeth to explore the often-overlooked power of executive image. Drawing from decades of experience coaching senior leaders, Mary Lou shares how clothing, grooming, and etiquette are not just surface-level details, they’re strategic communication tools that support leadership performance and presence.

Together, they unpack what executive image really means today, why “fit, fabric, function, and flair” still hold up, and how to handle situations where appearance gets in the way of performance or perception.

You’ll explore:

• Why executive image is a communication tool, not a vanity project
• The subtle signals leaders send with poor fit or “anything goes” looks
• The three words that should guide how you dress: appropriateness, boundaries, and respect
• How to eliminate decision fatigue and show up ready, every time
• The real reason image impacts confidence, trust, and credibility

To learn more about Mary Lou’s insights visit dressingwell.com. And for more strategies and tools to lead with greater impact, visit Elizabeth’s website, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executiveland!

Mary Lou’s Links:
www.dressingwell.com
IG @marylouandrestyle
Linked In | Mary Lou Andre

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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

Everyone says they want IT to be strategic. But what happens when the business doesn’t know what it actually needs and the CIO can’t get in the room? Kevin Dushney has led IT across nine biotech companies. He knows what it takes to drive value as CIO when your seat at the table isn’t guaranteed, the business moves fast, and the tech budget comes with scrutiny.

In this episode, Kevin Dushney joins Elizabeth Freedman to talk straight about what works and what backfires when it comes to earning trust, building influence, and delivering outcomes that actually stick.

You’ll explore:

• What to do when you've delivered, but the business isn’t satisfied
• How CIOs earn trust and drive business results without the title
• The hidden cost of “solving problems on your own” across functions
• A better way to define success, and avoid the “post-mortem letdown”

Looking for more? Visit Elizabeth’s website for free resources, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe to Executive Land so you’re always one step ahead of the unwritten playbook!å

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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

Influence is the #1 topic that comes up in the coaching room, and not just for aspiring leaders. Even experienced senior executives often say the same thing: influencing at the highest levels feels harder than it should. In this episode, Elizabeth Freedman breaks down why that is, and what leaders can do to shift the effort they’re putting in, without overexplaining, overpreparing, or overthinking.

You’ll learn:

• Why influence at the executive level is multi-dimensional
• The subtle mistake of communicating to roles instead of people
• The hidden cost of compensation strategies like overpreparing, escalating and too much detail
• Three simple, practical shifts leaders can make today to increase executive influence

For those looking to sharpen their executive presence and increase impact across stakeholders, this episode offers a clear, actionable roadmap. Learn more about E-Suite Impact, Elizabeth’s advanced leadership program for senior leaders at the website!

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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

Join host Elizabeth Freedman in her conversation with two executive coaching veterans: Margery Myers and Sarah Woods. With decades of experience advising CEOs and senior teams across industries, they dive into what really makes leaders coachable.They share how curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to get uncomfortable are the real differentiators, and why packaging, polish, and “listening tours” often mask deeper resistance. You’ll hear how coachability shows up in practice, why some leaders fake it, and how the best executives use coaching as a space to sharpen thinking, shift behavior, and drive enterprise results.

Together, they explore:

• What coachability looks like in the C-suite
• The hidden risks of uncoachable leadership teams
• How coaching helps leaders navigate pressure, complexity, and real-time decisions
• Why over-coaching can be just as dangerous as none at all

For more strategies and tools to lead with greater impact, visit Elizabeth’s website and take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment. The best leaders never stop evolving!

Margery and Sarah’s Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/margery-myers
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwoodsbates

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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 shares a framework for leaders who want to make 2026 an impactful year for their business. She introduces “The Matters Model,” a simple tool drawn from years of coaching senior leaders, and explains how the most effective executives align their work to what matters most at the enterprise level. Elizabeth breaks down why even high-performing leaders can miss the mark on impact and what to do instead.

Together you’ll explore:

• Why great work isn’t always viewed as high-impact work
• The hidden executive cost of “excellence in isolation”
• How to spot the difference between elevator and balcony thinking
• What erodes trust at the top and how to fix it
• A practical model to focus work and conversations around what matters most

This episode is your roadmap to making a bigger impact where it counts. For more tools and strategies to lead with clarity and credibility, visit Elizabeth’s website , take the free C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe so you never miss what’s next in Executiveland.

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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

Former Chief Sustainability Officer of Dow, Mary Draves joins Elizabeth Freedman to reflect on her journey to the top of a Fortune 100 company and the learning curve that came with it. Mary shares what no one tells you about stepping into a top job, why she felt temporarily lost despite being a high performer, and how coaching helped her course-correct. She opens up about running for Congress after retiring from corporate life, building resilience in the public eye, and what she learned about leadership in both boardrooms and political campaigns. This episode is a clear look at the emotional weight of executive roles and the clarity that comes from overcoming challenges.

You’ll explore:

• The steep, and silent, learning curve of the C-suite
• Why feedback often surprises even experienced leaders
• The executive cost of over-preparing and overpleasing
• How to make better, faster decisions, without losing your edge
• What leaders can learn about purpose and clarity from political campaigns

For more insights and tools to lead at the highest level, visit Elizabeth’s website to explore free resources, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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 Executiveland's first episode!

In this episode of Executiveland, host Elizabeth Freedman introduces the first chapter of the unwritten C-suite playbook titled, ‘I Thought This Was My Decision’. Drawing on two decades of advising senior leaders, she explores the surprising reality many executives face when they realize their authority is more limited than expected.

Elizabeth breaks down why empowerment at the executive level looks different, why clarity around decision rights is essential, and how leaders can avoid turning blurred lines into self-doubt. She also offers practical strategies to build trust, expand influence, and exercise discernment in choosing which decisions to own.

You’ll explore:
• Why new executives often feel less empowered than anticipated
• The blurred lines of decision-making in the C-suite
• How to avoid letting comparison undermine confidence
• Building trust and credibility over time

If you enjoyed the first episode of Executiveland, stay tuned for what’s ahead and subscribe so you never miss an episode! You can also visit Elizabeth’s website to explore all kinds of free resources!

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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 returns with Part 2 of the “Give and Get” Equation. While overgetting can be strategic in moments of transition or investment, it becomes a problem when leaders stop seeing value as a constant exchange. Elizabeth explains how it quietly erodes trust and brand, and why leaders need to check their assumptions about what they’re contributing. She also walks through subtle, but telling signs of overgetting, like passivity in meetings, lack of team development, or operating with exceptions during company-wide changes.

You’ll explore:

• Subtle signals your contribution may not match the value you’re receiving
• How language like “should” signals entitlement to others
• The importance of going first when you want more opportunity, trust, or respect
• A three-part check-in to realign your executive brand

This is a candid look at how to strengthen your brand by making sure you’re giving as much as you get. Visit Elizabeth’s website for free tools, resources, and strategies to lead with more impact!

Grow Your Executive Impact: Learn the Effortless Executive Influence System
Registration Now Open: Program for E-Suite Impact: Next Cohort Starts January 22 (early bird thru 2025)
Enroll today: https://esuiteleader.com/impact-program

• 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