Leveraging Leadership

Emily Sander
  • 5.0 (26)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you ready to up your leadership game? Tune in to Leveraging Leadership, where Chiefs of Staff, executives, and business professionals find the tools, strategies, and insights they need to excel. Hosted by Emily Sander, a C-suite executive turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers practical and tactical takeaways every week.Whether you're tackling tough conversations, fine-tuning your KPIs, or mastering delegation, this show offers new perspectives and actionable advice to help you feel confident and thrive in your role.Each Monday, enjoy interviews with leaders from diverse fields—primarily business, but also from military, politics, and higher education. Every Wednesday, catch a solo episode where Emily shares concise, actionable insights on a specific topic you can apply immediately.If you appreciate relatable, informal conversations that pack a punch with no fluff, you’re in the right place. While especially valuable for Chiefs of Staff and their Principals, the insights are useful for any leader aiming to grow.Don’t miss your chance to advance as a leader.

  1. 1D AGO

    Leadership Lessons from the Beehive: Productivity, Decision-Making, and Organizational Wisdom

    Philip Atkinson shares how being a Chief of Staff inspired his work as a beekeeper and his book, "Be Wise." He explains leadership lessons from bees, like avoiding busywork, practicing servant leadership, and making decisions through consensus. Philip also talks about bees keeping their hive clean, the importance of closing out projects at work, and supports the Bees for Development charity with book proceeds. Links Mentioned: Philip Atkinson's Leadership and Coaching Consultancy Connect with Philip Atkinson on LinkedIn Follow Be Wise Book on Facebook Follow Be Wise Book on Instagram Philip Atkinson’s Book All proceeds from the book go directly to this charity supporting beekeeping in developing countries: Bees for Development Learn more about the Bee Wise project and the charity fundraising here. Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter   Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 03:07 Lessons from the Hive: Productivity and Leadership 04:53 The Role of the Queen and Servant Leadership 09:57 Decision Making in the Hive 16:06 The Lifecycle and Roles of Bees 21:32 Beehive Cleanliness and Bird Predators 22:35 Seasons of Life and Career 24:45 Comparing Beehives to Organizational Roles 25:44 Fascinating Bee Facts 27:10 Sensing the System: Lessons from Beekeeping 31:06 Challenges of Beekeeping 35:41 Supporting Bees and Beekeepers Worldwide

    38 min

  2. 6D AGO

    The Critical Role of Clear Expectations in Team Success

    A Chief of Staff shared how her boss thought a high-talent sales team wasn’t meeting expectations, but no one could clearly say what those expectations were. Emily Sander highlights the importance of clearly defining what success looks like for a team, asking questions like “What is the output we want?” and making sure the team knows and has what they need to deliver. She suggests backing up gut feelings with clear measures, and openly communicating targets with the team. Get in touch with Emily: Get clear on your team’s true targets. Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter   Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.   Time Stamps: 00:26 A Conversation on Team Performance 01:19 Identifying and Setting Clear Expectations 02:24 Steps to Evaluate Team Success 04:21 Conclusion and Next Steps

    5 min

  3. FEB 23

    The Four Sides of Culture: A Framework for Business Leaders

    Matthew Person explains his Square Management System, a framework for building high trust, high performance organizations by aligning employees and processes. He discusses culture as an output, shares the importance of having a "complete square," and gives examples - like how some people prefer structured office environments while others thrive in casual settings. The episode covers using assessments to find company-employee alignment and gives practical advice for Chiefs of Staff to diagnose and manage culture across teams. Links Mentioned: Matthew Person’s Website Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.   Time Stamps: 01:15 Matt's Experience with Chiefs of Staff 02:01 Understanding the Square Management System 03:09 The Importance of Culture Alignment 14:22 The Four I's of the Square Management System 21:07 Understanding Subcategories and Levels 22:12 Identifying and Sticking to Priorities 24:32 Addressing Bad Actors in Company Culture 25:53 Using Diagnostic Tools for Alignment 37:18 Importance of Intentional Design

    39 min

  4. FEB 18

    Q&A: How to Run an Internal Campaign That Changes Hearts and Minds

    Emily Sander explains how to change a workplace narrative by running an internal campaign, using catchy phrases, visuals, and repeated communication across multiple channels. She shares examples like NFL coach Mike MacDonald’s slogans “chase the edges” and calling backup players the “ready team,” and describes a Chief of Staff who made a teen mentoring program more visible by mentioning it in meetings and materials. The advice is to communicate the message so often that people can finish your sentence and almost get tired of hearing it. Get in touch with Emily: Want help shaping the narrative inside your organization? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter   Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.   Time Stamps: 00:59 Starting an Internal Campaign 01:22 Using Slogans and Phrases 02:57 Visuals and Analogies 03:44 Utilizing Different Mediums 04:18 Repetition and Reinforcement 07:20 Case Study: Nonprofit Campaign 10:15 Phases and Key Stakeholders 11:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    12 min

  5. FEB 16

    Clarifying Requests: A Guide to Effective Stakeholder Conversations

    Bill Shander explains how understanding what stakeholders really need leads to better results at work, especially for roles like Chief of Staff. He shares stories about clients asking for things like blue buttons or “ballets of data,” and how asking smart questions gets everyone on the same page. The episode covers common mistakes people make when jumping too quickly into requests and why techniques like the Socratic method work for clarifying goals. Links Mentioned: Bill Shander’s Website Connect with Bill Shander on LinkedIn Bill Shander’s Book: Stakeholder Whispering Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter   Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.   Time Stamps: 01:33 The Evolution of Data Storytelling 03:15 The Inspiration Behind 'Stakeholder Whispering' 05:12 Understanding Stakeholder Dynamics 16:58 The Power of Divergent and Convergent Questions 18:49 Common Mistakes in Stakeholder Whispering 21:27 Tactical Approaches to Clarifying and Pushing Back 28:00 The Dynamics of Hierarchy and Influence

    34 min

  6. FEB 11

    Why Bringing Half-Baked Ideas to Your Boss Can Make You a Better Leader

    Emily Sander explains why bringing “half baked” work to your boss - especially when you're new in a Chief of Staff role - can save time, spark valuable conversations, and help you calibrate quickly to your boss’s preferences. She gives real examples, like saving hours by checking in early, learning what your boss fixates on, and understanding the order they want detailed information presented. The episode encourages trying iterative updates instead of holding out for perfection. Get in touch with Emily: Want to calibrate faster with your principal? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 00:25 The Half-Baked Idea: Why It's Beneficial 02:30 The Importance of Calibration Sessions 06:36 Understanding Your Boss's Fixations 10:43 Iterative Processes for Long-Term Success 11:12 Encouragement and Conclusion 12:29 Sponsor Message: Next Level Coaching

    13 min

  7. FEB 9

    The CEO Perspective on Managing Chaos, Growth, and Building Strong Teams

    Chris Blauvelt shares his journey as a multi-time entrepreneur, how he hired his first Chief of Staff after learning about the role from House of Cards and leadership books, and why setting top three priorities every quarter changed his effectiveness as a CEO. He explains how his Chief of Staff tackled big challenges like product innovation, people operations, and compliance, even without previous experience in those areas. Chris also discusses bringing on a second Chief of Staff with a more technical background to focus on launching a new payments company. Links Mentioned: Chris’s mission-driven crowdfunding company Chris Blauvelt’s Twitter/X handle Connect with Chris Blauvelt on LinkedIn Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter   Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.   Time Stamps: 01:20 Chris Vet's Journey and Achievements 03:26 The Role and Impact of a Chief of Staff 06:40 Hiring and Integrating a Chief of Staff 16:48 Taking Ownership and Delegation 18:23 Onboarding and Establishing Cadence 20:41 Hiring a New Chief of Staff 29:43 Mission and Vision of Launchgood

    33 min

  8. FEB 4

    Judgement vs Assessment: Creating a Positive and Productive Leadership Culture

    This episode lays out the difference between judgment and assessment at work, especially for leaders like the Chief of Staff. Emily shares real examples, from firing and hiring decisions to handling challenging team meeting behavior, showing how you can assess actions without judging someone's character. She explains how focusing on observable facts and assessments helps avoid negative assumptions, makes decisions easier, and benefits the whole team. Get in touch with Emily: Need help turning judgment into clear assessments? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.   Free Leadership Resources   LinkedIn Website Newsletter   Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.   Time Stamps: 00:25 Judgment vs. Assessment: Key Distinctions 03:14 Real-Life Examples of Judgment and Assessment 05:47 Observation vs. Assumption in Team Dynamics 09:24 Making Effective Leadership Decisions 13:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    14 min
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5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Are you ready to up your leadership game? Tune in to Leveraging Leadership, where Chiefs of Staff, executives, and business professionals find the tools, strategies, and insights they need to excel. Hosted by Emily Sander, a C-suite executive turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers practical and tactical takeaways every week.Whether you're tackling tough conversations, fine-tuning your KPIs, or mastering delegation, this show offers new perspectives and actionable advice to help you feel confident and thrive in your role.Each Monday, enjoy interviews with leaders from diverse fields—primarily business, but also from military, politics, and higher education. Every Wednesday, catch a solo episode where Emily shares concise, actionable insights on a specific topic you can apply immediately.If you appreciate relatable, informal conversations that pack a punch with no fluff, you’re in the right place. While especially valuable for Chiefs of Staff and their Principals, the insights are useful for any leader aiming to grow.Don’t miss your chance to advance as a leader.

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Sander
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leveraging Leadership
  • Show Website
    Leveraging Leadership

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