Executiveland

Elizabeth Freedman
  • 5.0 (11)
  • MANAGEMENT

The Unwritten Playbook of the C-Suite Executiveland is the podcast for senior leaders, aspiring executives, and anyone who wants to understand what it really takes to lead and succeed at the top. Hosted by executive coach and trusted advisor Elizabeth Freedman — founder of E•Suite Leader and longtime advisor to Fortune 100 companies — this show takes you behind the scenes of 20+ years working with C-Suite executives and their teams. Each month, you’ll get real-world insights from the coaching room: what works, what backfires, and the subtle traps even experienced leaders fall into. You’ll hear directly from executives about the do’s, don’ts, and day-to-day realities of leading at the highest level — the kind of stuff no one puts in a leadership book. Whether you're an executive now or working closely with one, you’ll walk away with practical, actionable strategies to earn trust, build credibility, and make a bigger impact —Because no one hands you a map to Executiveland — but this is the next best thing.Website: https://esuiteleader.com

  1. 2D AGO

    The Executive Advantage: Influence That Actually Works at the Top

    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 peopleThe hidden cost of compensation strategies like overpreparing, escalating and too much detailThree simple, practical shifts leaders can make today to increase executive influenceFor 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

    17 min

  2. DEC 18

    Advising the C-Suite: What Really Happens When You Coach CEOs

    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-suiteThe hidden risks of uncoachable leadership teamsHow coaching helps leaders navigate pressure, complexity, and real-time decisionsWhy over-coaching can be just as dangerous as none at allFor 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

    44 min

  3. DEC 11

    The Executive Impact Formula: Master Effortless Executive Influence

    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 workThe hidden executive cost of “excellence in isolation”How to spot the difference between elevator and balcony thinkingWhat erodes trust at the top and how to fix itA practical model to focus work and conversations around what matters mostThis 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

    18 min

  4. DEC 4

    Mary Draves: Former Dow CSO and Congressional Candidate - Leading with Humanity

    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-suiteWhy feedback often surprises even experienced leadersThe executive cost of over-preparing and overpleasingHow to make better, faster decisions, without losing your edgeWhat 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

    51 min

  5. DEC 1

    Encore: What Nobody Ever Told You About C-Suite Leadership

    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

    14 min

  6. NOV 20

    What Hurts Your Executive Brand

    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 receivingHow language like “should” signals entitlement to othersThe importance of going first when you want more opportunity, trust, or respectA three-part check-in to realign your executive brandThis 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

    16 min

  7. NOV 13

    Leading Without Excuses: How CEO David Roberts Drives Focus and Accountability at Verra Mobility

    “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 messageThe need to stop storytelling and co-create insteadHow to bring focus and accountability to leading teamsWhether 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 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

    46 min

  8. NOV 6

    The Hidden Trap of Overgiving

    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 equallyHow overgiving value can keep others underperformingWhy overgiving value doesn’t guarantee visibility or recognitionWays to rebalance the equation and lead with more impactStay 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 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

    21 min
See All (13)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The Unwritten Playbook of the C-Suite Executiveland is the podcast for senior leaders, aspiring executives, and anyone who wants to understand what it really takes to lead and succeed at the top. Hosted by executive coach and trusted advisor Elizabeth Freedman — founder of E•Suite Leader and longtime advisor to Fortune 100 companies — this show takes you behind the scenes of 20+ years working with C-Suite executives and their teams. Each month, you’ll get real-world insights from the coaching room: what works, what backfires, and the subtle traps even experienced leaders fall into. You’ll hear directly from executives about the do’s, don’ts, and day-to-day realities of leading at the highest level — the kind of stuff no one puts in a leadership book. Whether you're an executive now or working closely with one, you’ll walk away with practical, actionable strategies to earn trust, build credibility, and make a bigger impact —Because no one hands you a map to Executiveland — but this is the next best thing.Website: https://esuiteleader.com

Information

  • Creator
    Elizabeth Freedman
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Executiveland
  • Show Website
    Executiveland

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