EXECUTIVELAND: The Unwritten Playbook of the C-Suite takes you behind the closed doors of executive leadership. Hosted by executive coach Elizabeth Freedman, each episode reveals the lessons leaders rarely share openly — and the practical strategies you need to thrive when the stakes are highest.
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
What Nobody Ever Told You About C-Suite Leadership
Join host Elizabeth Freedman for a candid conversation with Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, as he shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it truly takes to lead a global enterprise of over 350,000 employees. Ravi talks about the duality of leading in the present while staying relevant for the future, the concept of "strategic patience," and how influence is what truly drives transformation at scale. Ravi reflects on the underestimated value of roles that build influence, the importance of psychological safety in driving AI adoption, and how today’s leaders must be interdisciplinary, adaptable and ready to unlearn.
You’ll explore:
What being a CEO actually entails
Why “strategic patience” is critical in high speed markets
The underrated power of sphere of influence
Why the next CEO should own the future, not the past
This conversation is about learning to navigate complexity, build trust at scale and stay grounded in purpose. Listen here:
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY: COGNIZANT CEO RAVI KUMAR ON DEMOCRATIZING AI
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman returns with a new chapter of the unwritten C-suite playbook: “Do I Really Have to Spell It Out?” Drawing from years of coaching senior leaders, she unpacks why clarity in communication is one of the most overlooked drivers of performance, and why even seasoned executives fall into common traps.
Elizabeth explores how decoding, vague messaging, and a lack of ownership can derail strategy and credibility. Through practical examples, she shows how to shift from hinting to directness, and how clear, confident communication can accelerate results, build trust, and amplify a leader’s impact.
You’ll explore:
Why leaders often assume their message is clearer than it is
The hidden impact of vague feedback and indirect messaging
How confidence shapes clarity in high-stakes conversations
Practical tools to sharpen communication and ensure understanding
Howard Ungerleider, former CFO and President of Dow, joins Elizabeth Freedman on this week’s episode to explore the unwritten playbook of the C-suite. With decades of experience inside one of the world’s largest companies, Howard shares the mindset shifts, leadership habits, and executive presence required to succeed in the C-suite.
They unpack the challenges new executives face, why enterprise thinking is non-negotiable and how skills like influence, humility, and listening are often more valuable than formal authority.
You’ll explore:
Advice for navigating the boardroom and building trust with stakeholders
The emotions toll of the C-suite and how to manage the pressure
How to compartmentalize stress and stay grounded in your “why”
How to use the “bite, snack, meal” approach when you want to be heard
Howard Ungerleider: Why Strong C-Suite Leaders Must Be Willing to Challenge
In this solo episode, Elizabeth Freedman breaks down a surprising pattern she sees in even the most capable senior leaders - a mismatch in terms of the value they may be giving and getting back.
Using the “give and get” equation, Elizabeth shares how healthy, high-performing leaders and organizations strike a healthy balance between what they give and what they get.
The problem is when the Give and Get Equation gets out of balance, and it happens more than you might think.
In this podcast episode, you’ll learn:
Why so many leaders struggle to give and get value equally
How overgiving value can keep others underperforming
Why overgiving value doesn’t guarantee visibility or recognition
Ways to rebalance the equation and lead with more impact
“You need to deliver the message I need to hear - not just what you want to say.” David Roberts, CEO of Verra Mobility, joins Elizabeth Freedman on Executiveland to discuss leadership in the C-suite and the unwritten playbook for executives. He’s been the CEO of public, private, and PE-backed companies and offers insights on how executives best navigate each of these environments. You’ll also hear David share the realities of leading as CEO, why nobody gives you a pat on the back, and the role of coaching in executive leadership.
You’ll explore:
Why you get two minutes to share your message
The need to stop storytelling and co-create instead
How to bring focus and accountability to leading teams
Leading Without Excuses: How CEO David Roberts Drives Focus and Accountability at Verra Mobility
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.
What Hurts Your Executive Brand
episode 7
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
What Nobody Ever Told You About C-Suite Leadership
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
MARY DRAVES: Former Dow CSO and Congressional Candidate - Leading with Humanity
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.
The Executive Impact Formula: Master Effortless Executive Influence
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
The Executive Advantage: Influence That Actually Works at the Top
EPISODE 11
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.
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”
The Strategic CIO: Kevin Dushney on Leading as a True C-Suite Partner
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”
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
Elevate Your Executive Image with Dressing Well CEO Mary Lou Andre
Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, founder of the Reinvention Academy and seasoned corporate executive, joins Elizabeth to unpack what it really means to reinvent, personally, professionally, and organizationally. In a world where 1 in 5 companies now reinvents faster than the annual budget cycle, change is no longer a one-time event. It’s a continuous, strategic capability that separates the organizations that thrive from the ones that disappear.
You’ll explore:
Why the old rules of episodic change no longer work
The psychological contract leaders must rewrite to reduce resistance
How “kill parties” and micro-experiments can re-energize teams
The critical difference between reinvention, innovation, and change
What executives often miss about political intelligence and business modelling
To start building your reinvention capability, visit Dr. Nadya’s website and subscribe to Nadya’s “Reinvention Weekly” newsletter. You can also download her full digital book The Chief Reinvention Officer Handbook: How to Thrive in Chaos.
Robert Clarkson, former Chief Revenue Officer (Americas) at Stripe, joins Elizabeth Freedman to unpack what it really means to lead revenue at scale. With a career that spans public, private, and high-growth tech companies, Robert shares the mindset and habits that separate effective CROs from the rest and why great sales leadership has little to do with charisma and everything to do with consistency, clarity, and customer insight.
Together, they explore how the best revenue leaders align sales with enterprise strategy, earn credibility across functions, and drive focus in fast-moving, high-pressure environments. Robert also talks about what he's learned in the C-suite, how he’s coached teams through major transitions, and the critical shift from being a top performer to becoming a top leader.
You’ll explore:
The modern CRO mandate and why it’s not just about hitting targets
What strong sales leadership looks like in the C-suite
How to keep teams aligned without micromanaging
The biggest mistakes leaders make under pressure
What to do when execution is strong, but outcomes still fall short
Robert Clarkson, Former CRO Americas at Stripe: Why Empathy and Co-Creation Win
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.
When Bad Teams Happen to Great Leaders: Why Smart Executive Teams Underperform
Too many smart, capable executives find themselves blindsided when change hits, whether it's a reorg, a new CEO, or a shift in market strategy. Suddenly, their roles are vulnerable. In this episode, Elizabeth Freedman explains why even top-performing leaders need to invest in their careers before they need to, and what high-impact executives do differently to stay ready, relevant, and in control.
This is a candid episode for any senior leader navigating change, considering their next move, or looking to stay one step ahead of the unexpected.
You will learn:
Why waiting for the "right time" to focus on your career is a risk, not a strategy
What strong career infrastructure looks like at the executive level
How to pressure-test your story, your value, and your visibility outside your company
The critical difference between performance feedback and reputation feedback
How to manage the "inner game" of executive transition and decision-making
Whether you are actively in transition or simply thinking ahead, this episode offers a grounded approach to protecting your most valuable asset: your career.
Build Your Career Before You Need It: How the Best Executives Stay in Control of Their Futures
In this episode of Welcome to Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman is joined by Mark Berthiaume, former CIO and Chief Admin Officer at Hanover Insurance. With a career spanning over four decades, Mark has a unique perspective on the evolution of leadership. He shares his journey from early days as a computer programmer to navigating executive roles, and his ultimate transition from an IT-focused leader to a business executive with IT within his purview. Today, he leverages this hard-won perspective in his roles across multiple private and nonprofit boards.
You’ll explore:
The critical evolution from IT leadership to broader business leadership
Why aligning business strategy with IT is essential for organizational success
The indispensable role of mentorship, leadership development, and succession planning
How Mark’s personal leadership evolution and mentoring shaped his path
The value of learning from mistakes on the way to the C-suite
This episode offers a grounded roadmap for elevating your leadership, whether you’re leading a team or navigating your own path to the C-suite.
Mark Berthiaume: The Business-First Mindset of Successful CIOs
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman explores two subtle leadership styles that quietly undermine trust at the senior executive level. She unpacks patterns that often come from a place of integrity and commitment, yet can stall followership and enterprise impact: the Debate Gladiator and the Deflector.
Drawing on real executive coaching insights, Elizabeth explains why some senior leaders win arguments but lose influence, and why others unintentionally weaken credibility by avoiding ownership of tough decisions. This episode challenges aspiring C-suite leaders to rethink how they show up when stakes are high and trade-offs are real.
You’ll learn:
The “Debate Gladiator” trap, why fighting every battle signals limited enterprise thinking
The critical shift from “no, here’s why it won’t work” to “if it could work, what would that look like?”
The Deflector pattern, how sidestepping ownership erodes trust and accountability
At the highest levels, leaders are paid to build the whole puzzle, not just defend their piece of it. This offers a clear lens into the internal mindset shift required to move from strong functional leader to trusted enterprise executive.
'Here’s Why That Won’t Work’: The Language That Undermines Executive Trust
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman reconnects with her former CEO and mentor, Suzanne Bates. Suzanne, founder of Bates Communications, shares her journey of selling her company to BTS and reflects on the leadership transitions that shaped her career.
Together, they explore the difference between managing and truly leading, offering a masterclass in the soft skills that drive hard results. Whether you're stepping into the C-suite or redefining your current role, this conversation provides a roadmap for evolving as a leader.
Key takeaways:
What it really takes to build teams that weather challenges and drive organizational success
The power of pairing confidence with humility and vision with practical wisdom
Why reinventing your career starts with navigating major transitions, from scaling a company to selling one
How true presence is less about how you speak and more about how you inspire and mobilize teams
Tune in for candid advice from a veteran CEO coach on the habits that separate good executives from great ones.
How to Build Executive Presence and Influence with CEOs with TV News Anchor, CEO, Board Member Suzanne Bates
Followership is often framed as something your direct reports give to you. In this solo episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman challenges that view, reframing followership as a core skill for senior leaders.
At the highest levels, impact depends not just on leading well, but on creating conditions that make others willing to commit time and energy to your agenda. Drawing from an excerpt from her E-Suite Impact course, Elizabeth explains why willingness is a choice, why your value must be obvious, and how outdated value playbooks quietly erode influence.
You'll learn:
How to assess where you have real commitment across stakeholders
The difference between making the puzzle clear and making it worth solving
How the S-curve reveals when to reinvent yourself
Why outdated value strategies weaken your impact and what to do instead
CFO Neal Sheorey joins Elizabeth Freedman to share what it really takes to step into the C suite when there is no playbook to follow. As a first time CFO at Albemarle, a global specialty chemicals company and one of the world’s largest lithium producers, Neal reflects on his three year journey navigating change and making the role his own.
Neal offers an honest look at how senior leaders actually learn on the job, why the C suite playbook is unwritten by design, and what it means to lead with confidence when the environment shifts quickly. From managing a major balance sheet pivot within his first 100 days, to building trust with a board as a new executive, this conversation highlights the mindset, judgment, and resilience required at the top.
Key themes you’ll explore:
How first-time C-Suite executives develop their own style and trust their instincts in the role
What it takes to earn trust quickly as a new, external leader in a a high pressure environment
Lessons from leading through thinking quickly, rapid change, and market shifts
How CFOs can influence decisions through clarity, data, and strong relationships
This episode offers a grounded, real world look at what actually matters in the first years at the top. Tune in to hear how Neal Sheorey built confidence, credibility, and momentum in one of the most demanding seats in the organization and what his journey reveals about leadership in uncertain environments
Neal Sheorey, CFO of Albemarle Corp: Finance Leadership, Fast Decisions, and Leading Through Change