In this 'Best of S2' episode, Juliet & Susan welcome Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing for the City & County of San Francisco, California.

In a city where homelessness has become a hot button issue, Shireen brings extensive experience and remarkable calm to her role in finding solutions to a complex issue. There's no question, her job in City government is a really hard one, and she's had big and difficult jobs her whole career. Her style is relaxed, focused and unflappable, which has no doubt repeatedly served her and the team she leads.

Shireen shares with us the observations, insights and satisfactions of her career, one that has been devoted to service and to social justice.

At the time of the recording, Shireen was anticipating the uncertainties that come with inauguration of a new mayor in San Francisco.

You can reach Shireen through her LinkedIn.

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with Your Hosts ———

Email Juliet: JulietClothier@gmail.com
Follow her on socials: LinkedIn / Instagram
Her website is www.JulietClothier.com

Email Susan: Susan@SusanASutherland.com
Follow her on socials: LinkedIn / Instagram
Her website is www.SusanASutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In this 'Best of S1' episode, we sat down with Charles DeSantis, a passionate advocate for community wellness and humanitarian efforts. Charles shares his inspiring journey and motivations, emphasizing his commitment to his family, community, and those in greatest need. As Georgetown University’s Chief Benefits Officer, he leads initiatives that enhance employee wellbeing and support the university's mission of service.

Charles reflects on a transformative year when he and his husband adopted four siblings, expanding their family from two to six. He discusses his leadership roles at Georgetown and on various boards and advisory councils, using these platforms to drive positive change. Charles emphasizes the importance of meeting employees where they are and showing up for them, underscoring that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to successful leadership.

He also shares insights on his recent accolades, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Service, highlighting the significance of giving back.

Charles is the author of two books:

• Smart, Beautiful and Important: Teaching Art to AIDS-Affected Orphans in Africa’s Largest Slum
• Lucas and Lilly Go to Kindergarten

We had a great time talking with Charles and learned so much, we know you'll enjoy listening!

You can reach Charles directly at ced33@georgetown.edu, and follow him on his socials: LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with your hosts ———

Email Juliet: julietclothier@gmail.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.julietclothier.com

Email Susan: susan@susanasutherland.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.susanasutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In this 'Best of S2' episode, Juliet & Susan welcome Janéa Jackson, CEO of HomeRise, a San Francisco-based non-profit whose mission is to provide supportive housing to unhoused people.

In less than 2 years since stepping into the role of CEO, Janéa has needed to assess and learn the people and business of the organization while overhauling it's finances and operating model. She's passionate about the mission, while being clear-eyed about the challenges for all mission-driven organizations to operate with solid systems and financial stability while being values-led.

Janéa shared a lot of herself and her journey with us: how she uses her commute to her advantage, how she engages her children at the end of long days, and how she navigated the early days in her role as CEO.

We loved our conversation with Janéa, and hope you will too!

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with your hosts ———

Email Juliet: julietclothier@gmail.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.julietclothier.com

Email Susan: susan@susanasutherland.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.susanasutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In this special season 3 finale of Secrets of the C-Suite, we take a step back to reflect on the conversations, themes and lessons that shaped this chapter of the podcast.

We revisit standout moments from our guests—from bold, fearless leadership and career pivots to navigating crisis, embracing creativity and redefining what success looks like. Along the way, we notice some common threads: saying yes to opportunity, trusting your instincts and building careers that align with who you are—not just what you do.

We also share a few honest reflections of our own, including what we’ve learned about podcasting, where we could have been more intentional and how certain themes (like our “future selves”) showed up more than we expected.

This episode is both a recap and a reset—a thoughtful look back at a season full of growth, honesty and meaningful conversations, and a look ahead to season 4 with fresh ideas, including an exciting change coming!

Thank you for being part of this journey. Season 4 is coming soon...

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with your hosts ———

Email Juliet: julietclothier@gmail.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.julietclothier.com

Email Susan: susan@susanasutherland.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.susanasutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In this episode of Secrets of the C-Suite, Susan and Juliet are joined by HR expert and founder of Destination HR Consulting, Dena Grunt, for a candid conversation on leadership, growth and the human side of HR.

Dena shares her unexpected path into human resources, pivoting from speech pathology after discovering the work fit her strengths and desire to help people. Her career spans legal, hospitality and executive leadership, including running a hospitality business where she learned on the job in a way that felt like earning an MBA in real time.

Now a business owner, she reflects on the realities of solopreneurship—from doing everything yourself to recognizing when it’s time to bring in support. Her experience finding the right hire highlights the courage and trust it takes to hand over parts of your business to someone else.

The conversation also explores how AI is showing up in HR. Dena shares how she uses it as a thinking partner and emphasizes that meaningful outputs depend on the right inputs. While a powerful tool for handling tactical work, it can’t replace the human connection at the core of leadership.

Dena also shares a memorable HR moment that shows just how unpredictable—and human—this work can be. At the heart of the episode is a key insight: people rarely leave because of salary or workload. They leave when they no longer feel seen, heard or valued—a leadership problem no algorithm can solve.

This episode is packed with practical insights, personal stories and leadership lessons you can apply whether you’re leading a team, running your own business, or navigating the complexities of HR today.

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with your hosts ———

Email Juliet: julietclothier@gmail.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.julietclothier.com

Email Susan: susan@susanasutherland.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.susanasutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In this episode of Secrets of the C-Suite, we sit down with Barb Gustafson, co-owner of Paul Mathew Vineyards, to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and what it takes to build a business from the ground up.

Barb shares how her career began in hospitality and restaurants in Vancouver, where a growing curiosity about wine turned into a passion that ultimately led her to California and into the wine industry full time. Along the way, she spent years in hospitality with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, before meeting her husband and business partner, Mat Gustafson.

Together, they built Paul Mathew Vineyards into the boutique winery it is today. Barb reflects on the early years of wearing multiple hats while helping grow the brand and customer base, and how opening their tasting room became a pivotal step in connecting directly with their community.

She also offers an honest look at the realities of running a small winery today—from changing consumer habits to the importance of relationships and customer loyalty. At the heart of the business is the partnership between Barb and Mat, balancing winemaking craft with hospitality and experience.

It’s a thoughtful conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, and building something meaningful—one relationship at a time.

Paul Mathew Vineyards website: paulmathewvineyards.com

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with your hosts ———

Email Juliet: julietclothier@gmail.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.julietclothier.com

Email Susan: susan@susanasutherland.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.susanasutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In another "Unplugged" episode, we step away from guest interviews to explore a leadership concept we return to often in our work and in our own lives: the idea of your future self.

Sparked by a New York Times article—and an unexpectedly revealing conversation about parking strategies—we reflect on how small, present-day decisions can shape who we become as leaders over time. From doing the hard thing first to navigating career transitions, we talk candidly about exit strategies that aren’t necessarily about retirement, but about growth, relevance, and staying engaged.

We share personal stories from our executive careers, touching on when frustration starts to outweigh joy at work, the importance of curiosity and continuous learning, and why building real bench strength matters. We also explore how values and self-reflection serve as a steady compass—especially in uncertain or changing environments.

Along the way, we dig into ageism, staying energized later in your career, and why investing in yourself (including learning new tools like AI) is an essential part of leadership today.

This episode is a thoughtful, honest reminder to pause and ask: what would your future self want you to do today?

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with Your Hosts ———

Email Juliet: JulietClothier@gmail.com
Follow her on socials: LinkedIn / Instagram
Her website is www.JulietClothier.com

Email Susan: Susan@SusanASutherland.com
Follow her on socials: LinkedIn / Instagram
Her website is www.SusanASutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.

In this 'Best of Season 1' episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Melissa Hurrington, an unapologetic leader who has mastered the art of balancing personal and professional life. When her company turned to her for guidance during the pandemic in 2020, Melissa realized that no one truly has all the answers. This pivotal moment allowed her to show up authentically and highlight the often-unrecognized leadership roles women take on in times of crisis.

Today, Melissa is a sought-after speaker and panelist, an influential voice on LinkedIn, and continues to inspire others through her work with the Bold Leaders Collective and as President of the Omaha Chapter of the CFO Leadership Council. As a mentor, she empowers emerging leaders to embrace their potential.

Melissa's journey illustrates her belief that skills learned in dance—such as discipline, teamwork, and creativity—translate seamlessly into the business world. Her commitment to fostering a culture of lifelong learning stems from her own experiences, driving her to continuously grow and encourage others to do the same.

Thank you for tuning in! We hope you found inspiration in Melissa’s story and insights.

You can follow Melissa on LinkedIn and can read more about her in this article.

** Enjoyed this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help others discover the podcast. We’re so grateful to each and every listener!

——— Connect with your hosts ———

Email Juliet: julietclothier@gmail.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.julietclothier.com

Email Susan: susan@susanasutherland.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / www.susanasutherland.com

Secrets of the C-Suite is both a podcast AND a leadership consultancy. Learn more about our offerings.