The Cribsheet

Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell

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The insiders’ guide to leadership, corporate life, and navigating the C-suite.

May 26

Ep. 8 - Throwing the ladder down: what we wish we'd known sooner

Welcome to episode 8 of The Cribsheet, where Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell talk about advice they’d give their 28-year-old selves: from the importance of getting credit for your work, to distinguishing between mentors, advisers and sponsors. They discuss the importance of having a personal strategy at work, which may conflict with the strategy that is imposed on you by others, and how to squeeze opportunity out of situations that may not be set up with your best interests in mind. Finally, a fresh look at structural barriers to entry, and how to support others who are being systemically excluded in the workplace Key Takeaways Book recommendation: Femonomics by Corinne Low [https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/corinne-low/femonomics/9781399737609/] Linear careers are overrated- opportunities come from big leaps Be bold about claiming credit for your work - it won’t be given automatically Mentors are sounding boards, sponsors are not - learn the difference Episode Highlights 00:00: Don’t outsource your voice- make yourself responsible for claiming credit for your work 07:00: “Every time I’ve made a move in my career, someone is saying “that’s bold”, not as a compliment” 10:00 The importance of autonomy and independence in building a career 12:30 Building relationships into opportunities to speak, to bolster your profile 16:00 Understanding what makes people tick is key to building power in your career 19:00 The power of personal strategy, as opposed to following a business’s strategy 26:00 The difference between mentors, sponsors and advisers, and why you need them 29:00 Structural barriers to access, and how to break those walls down for others About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
May 19

Ep. 7 - The exit fever dream (selling to a corporate)

Welcome to episode 7 of The Cribsheet, where Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell get into the realities of corporate buy-outs, from both a start-up seller’s perspective AND a corporate buyer’s perspective. Join us for juicy behind-the-scenes details including how to work out why the corporate is really interested, how that knowledge can help you negotiate a better deal, and why you need to understand the power imbalance between start-up and corporate. The episode wraps up with how to avoid pitfalls that could scupper your deal, and how to position yourself in the most favourable way to land a good exit. Key Takeaways Pay attention to what the deal team is doing, not what they’re saying Strategic acquisitions can have all sorts of drivers - do your research, pay attention, and learn what they are Beware the expertise gap - the corporate may not know your industry, BUT they know how to do deals Earn-outs and contingent consideration can be a trap - learn what to avoid Episode Highlights 05:00: Why consider an acquisition by a corporate? 09:00: Why are corporates looking to acquire start-ups? 12:00: “Corporates are terrible at innovating. They need to buy this in.” 22:00: The power and knowledge imbalance can be enormous- don’t underestimate it 29:10: Signs to look out for to determine the corporate’s intentions and constraints 34:30: Things that will scupper a deal, and how to avoid them About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
May 12

Ep. 6 - Leading through chaos (and staying human)

In this episode of The Cribsheet, Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell talk about what to do when things inevitably go wrong. All leaders will have difficult times to weather, and your approach to the chaos can hugely impact how you come through the storm. The hosts discuss making sure people are not surprised, and how to convey difficult news well. The importance of compassion and clarity in delivering hard messages is analysed, and ideas for how to discuss the way forward are given. Key Takeaways Start managing messaging on difficult news early on- people may be disappointed, but they should never be surprised Consistency beats charisma- when things are difficult, you need to continue to show up regularly and keep your promises Deliver difficult news with clarity and compassion, and map out the way forward calmly Episode Highlights 02:00: Biotech implosions and “the Valley of Death” 05:45: Moving quickly when you start to see signs of issues appearing 09:00: Avoiding surprise bad news 10:45: Call it out when people may accuse you of being too negative‌ 12:00: Treat people with respect when you’re delivering bad news 14:00: Having compassion when there’s tough news to deliver 15:30: Clarissa’s key phrase - “I understand how hard this is but we have to do it anyway” 17:00: Having followed your values from the outset is helpful in hard times 21:00: Staying consistent and keeping promises in chaos is essential About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
May 5

Ep. 5 - The politics no one prepares you for

Welcome to The Cribsheet, where Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell unpack the politics no one prepares you for, how to read a room before you speak, and why you need to find sponsors who will actually back you and your project. Talent and competence may get you in the room, but navigating politics will determine if you get anything done. This isn’t gossip, it’s navigating power networks and creating influence that amplifies your results. Clarissa and Meg discuss how to navigate bad actors, how to win allies, and why remembering “it’s not personal, it’s business” is important. Key Takeaways Politics is about building networks and understanding influence, and it is key to results Handling senior stakeholders requires personal attention and a different approach for each person - learn how to tailor your approach Techniques to try when subtle sabotage and blockers appear in your path Episode Highlights 03:00: Distinguishing between politics and “office politics” or “gossip” 04:15: How to read a room before you speak 07:45: The difference between private company boardroom and public market boardrooms 09:00: The need for closed-door conversations 12:00: What to do when something isn’t landing as you’d hoped, or you face challenge 13:30: Handling different people in different ways, how to tailor your approach 15:00: Working with Applied Influence 17:00: Finding sponsors and dealing with “polite” but useless support 22:00: Subtle sabotage, and how to bring people out into the open and hold them accountable 25:00: On staying calm when people were expecting a big reaction from you 30:00: Neutralising bad actors ‌ About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
Apr 28

Ep. 4 - The reality of living that Post-IPO Life

In this episode of The Cribsheet, Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell get honest about the reality of running a business after listing on the public markets. Unexpected demands, new metrics to measure, managing communications with people whose opinions suddenly matter a great deal. They look at the impact of a new reporting cadence, how to avoid it driving your strategy in a completely new direction, and how to manage the tensions of key stakeholders who feel cut off from information flow. The shift from running the business and managing a small, private group of interested parties to spending your days in a very public-facing role is intense, and Clarissa shares her first-hand experience of how to thrive in this new role. Key Takeaways Post-IPO, there are a new group of important stakeholders to manage, from analysts, investors, to press- developing these relationships is crucial How to be proactive in communicating news and results, and the impact a quarterly reporting cadence will have on your strategy Key metrics that matter to listed companies, what they tell you, and why they’re important Managing shifting boardroom dynamics when everyone feels much more exposed A toolkit for post- IPO life, including developing your equity story, managing comms, and building the right team around you Episode Highlights 03:00: Key stakeholders - institutional investors, analysts, Board, PR, retail investors 06:00: Board dynamics shift in a publicly listed company, and common issues that arise 07:30: Advice for engaging with press and PR as a newly-listed company 09:00: Managing relationships with stakeholders who feel cut off from information flow 11:00: Key metrics - Share Price and Market Capitalisation 14:00: Trading volume and volatility, benefit of healthy trading volume, narrow bid-ask spread 18:45: Quarterly reporting and the importance of having good news to release 23:00: How to lean into new demands and not allow your strategy to be pulled off-course 26:30: Listed Exec life - much more external focus, must have a good team to run the business 28:00: New skill sets to develop - communication, investor management, you are the shop front ‌ About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
Apr 28

Ep. 3 - What you need to know before you IPO

In this episode of The Cribsheet, Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell break down the pre-Initial Public Offering (IPO) process, highlighting pitfalls and myths, and what people never see coming. They discuss reasons for an IPO beyond the obvious ones, the invisible forces and personalities that may shape a decision to list, and what steps you can take early on to prepare. Timing, governance, and managing complex processes with stretched teams are a huge challenge in the IPO process, and Clarissa and Meg deliver insights and tips to help you enjoy the ride. Key Takeaways Understand why you’re doing this - investors, advisors, individuals all have their motivations, and what’s best for them may not be what’s best for the company Timing is crucial, and there are multiple factors at play - including some non-obvious ones Get organised early, even though it’s unglamorous - you will look like a rock star later Episode Highlights 02:00: The obvious and not-so-obvious reasons for an IPO 05:00: Facing pressure from advisors and interested parties who have their own motivations 09:00: How to choose advisors and think about who is taking on what roles 10:50: Timing- how long will it take to IPO? 12:00: Considering macroeconomic factors, and the preparation of fully audited accounts 15:00: The unglamorous preparation work- will serve you well in the end 17:00: Be ruthless in interrogating the timetable and what inputs are required, from whom 22:50: Marketing and communications preparation 24:00: Top tips for navigating this- get help early on, from your team and externally 27:00: Explaining common IPO myths, and reality About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
Apr 24

Ep. 2 - Making career-defining decisions, and convincing the Board

Welcome to Episode 2 of The Cribsheet, where hosts Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell walk through their process for making career-defining decisions, delivering projects, and how to build the stakeholder support you’ll need to get things over the line. Meg and Clarissa discuss why you need to convince yourself first before attempting to win support for your decision, including how to do a risk assessment without getting bogged down in the negatives, why linking everything back to your strategy is crucial, and how to listen to your gut and distinguish between pattern recognition and an emotional reaction. How and why stakeholder mapping is essential, the impact that timing can have on gaining approval- they break down each factor involved and also talk through why building your own political capital is crucial, how to do it, and how to spend that capital once you’ve got it. If you’ve got the role, and now you need to deliver - this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Convince yourself first - cut out the noise, and design a process you can return to when you need to assess how to move forward with big decisions Listen to your gut- sit with discomfort and look at why you’re feeling that way. A quiet and persistent feeling should not be ignored Don’t skip risk analysis because it feels “negative”- your job as a leader is to assess risk, and then motivate your team to move forward positively Map your stakeholders - who your key decision makers are, and who THEY are listening to You are not just selling the decision, you are selling the process around it - the more you try to shortcut things, the more likely you are to fail Timing - get familiar with the factors that will influence your stakeholders’ thinking Grow your political capital - build it as an ongoing habit, and spend it wisely Consider privilege - some people can build political capital more easily than others. If you’re in the room, and in a position to support someone who has less access, listen to them and use your voice in support Episode Highlights 01:52: “Convince yourself first”- how to lay the groundwork for good decision-making 05:10: “Gut feel” and how to ground yourself in the decision 07:00: The tension between risk analysis and being a positive, championing force 09:18: Why you need to “show your work” and how to actually assess risk 12:15: On advising a household name PLC to walk away from a deal, and the lesson learned 13:30: Stakeholder mapping, and why a decision can’t just be judged on its merits 15:56: Skipping steps = decisions go the wrong way - sell your process, not just the decision 16:48: Pro tip - link decisions back to something they’ve already bought into 17:15: Timing factors to consider, and how timing can make or break a decision 20:22: Manage your own ego - don’t feel undermined by pressure 22:09: What is political capital and how to build it 29:46: On privilege, being mindful of who has it, and how to support others ‌ About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!
Apr 21

Ep. 1 - The first 90 days

Welcome to the first episode of The Cribsheet, where Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell unpack how to navigate the first 90 days of a new leadership or C-suite role - that key promotion that comes without a handbook! Discussing internal and external measures of success, they talk through how new leaders can build clarity, confidence and momentum, balance listening with taking action, decision fatigue and the unexpected challenge of building a new identity as a leader. Over-preparing, resistance within teams, and staying in your comfort zone - they acknowledge the pitfalls, and share their experience on alignment, successful communication, and the value of external advisors. A must-listen for anyone facing the exciting, yet daunting leap into senior leadership. Key takeaways 30/60/90 day framework - gathering data (listen), making well-framed decisions (decide), communicating to consolidate the team (align). Shifting your mindset to internal measures of success and holding yourself accountable, now that the buck stops with you. How to eliminate team conflict and misalignment early on, without becoming defensive ‌Building an external network of expert support Over-preparation only feeds your imposter syndrome - be honest with where your strengths and weaknesses lie Episode highlights 01:52: The identity "wobble" and shifting from delivery to accountability. ‌03:55: Why you need a support network outside of your company. 06:50: The necessity of maintaining boundaries and finding "appropriate containers" for sharing. ‌09:35: Managing decision fatigue and the weight of being the final call. 12:15: How to balance risks in areas outside of your expertise. 18:40: A deep dive into the 30/60/90-day framework. ‌27:45: Common pitfalls: Over-preparing and staying stuck in your old function. 31:50: The importance of offering clear recommendations instead of a "suite of options". ‌ About the Hosts Clarissa works with leaders on high-stakes decisions after a career as a lawyer, COO and a public market CEO. Meg is a Fractional CEO and negotiation expert. End Credits Find and connect with us on LinkedIn: Meg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-lovell-strategy Clarissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissasowemimocoker This episode was written and recorded by us, and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ). If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review - and hit the 'follow' button!

8 Episodes

The insiders’ guide to leadership, corporate life, and navigating the C-suite.

Creator

Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell
Years Active

2026
Episodes

8
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker and Meg Lovell
Show Website

The Cribsheet