Executiveland

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!

• 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

• 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.

• 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!

• 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!

• 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 special episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman steps out of her usual role as interviewer and into the guest seat. She’s joined by her business coach, Melisa Liberman, for a candid conversation about what it has really taken to grow E-Suite Leader and build a firm that supports senior executives at the highest levels.

Together, they explore:

• The mindset shifts required to accelerate growth and performance
• The strategic decisions behind her growth model and solutions for executives
• The personal leadership lessons she’s had to learn along the way
• What it takes to build a business rooted in both performance and impact

This episode offers a different side of Executiveland, not just advice for executives, but a real look at the leadership and strategy behind the advisor supporting them.

• 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!

• 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

“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

Whether you're a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, David’s insights are invaluable. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on more tips and visit Elizabeth’s website for more resources that can elevate your leadership!

David’s Links:
https://www.verramobility.com
https://www.verramobility.com/leadership/david-roberts

• 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 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

Stay tuned for a follow-up episode on the opposite trap: when leaders get more value than they give and how it affects trust, culture, and your leadership brand. You can also visit Elizabeth’s website to explore all kinds of free resources!

E-Suite Impact: 8-Week Executive Intensive Program. 
Learn more and join the waitlist for 2026:  https://esuiteleader.com/impact-intro

Episode Mentioned: The Hidden Rules of Talking To Executives

• 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

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

This conversation offers a candid look at the real work of executive leadership. For more insights and tools to lead at the highest level, visit Elizabeth’s website!

• 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