The Executive Edge

Sue Firth
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

The Executive Edge is the podcast that gives you an edge in life and business with practical skills that you can apply to achieve and maintain success. Hosted by UK psychologist and business adviser, Sue Firth. The show is a mix of interviews, tips, business insights and inspiration.

  1. Jul 9

    The Reputation Advantage

    Episode 237 Released July 9, 2026 This episode of my podcast sits a little outside my usual territory. Most weeks I'm here talking about the psychology behind performance, leadership and how we show up. However, this week I'm taking you somewhere more practical: my guest is Steve Turner of Solomon Turner PR. We talk about public relations, and how getting it right builds your reputation over time. It still fits everything I care about on this show, giving you an edge in life and business. Reputation is one of the quietest advantages you can have, so I think there's plenty here worth your time. Steve started out in journalism, working in TV, radio and sports broadcasting, before moving into advertising and then founding his own PR firm. He has run campaigns for names including Tony Robbins and Brian Tracy. He runs the business alongside his wife and business partner, Shelly Solomon, one of the first women to own an advertising agency in the St. Louis market in the US. Steve is also the author of PR That Works. In this episode we cover: Why PR is not the same as marketing or advertising. It builds relationships and trust over the long term, with what Steve calls a long tail. The most common mistake. Treating PR as one-off publicity rather than a proper strategy. Steve's five-step plan. Set a clear objective, define your real audience, sharpen your message, choose the right delivery, and measure what actually works. Why thought leadership matters most for smaller companies, where the leader is the face of the business. How a book, a blog or a podcast appearance gives you third-party credibility that your own sales pitch never can. The value of amplifying every piece of coverage across your own channels rather than letting it sit. The main takeaway If there is one thing I want you to carry away from this, it is this. Reputation is not something that simply happens to you. It is built, deliberately, over time. Steve made a point that stayed with me. The most powerful thing said about you is rarely the thing you say about yourself. When a respected voice puts its name next to yours, whether that is an interviewer, a journalist or a fellow leader, it lends you a credibility your own pitch never can. So treat your visibility as strategy rather than vanity. Decide what you want to be known for, then show up for it consistently, in the places the right people are already looking. It is a long game, and it rarely delivers overnight. But for a leader, being known for the right reasons is one of the surest advantages you can build. Connect with Steve Website: solomonturner.com Book: getprthatworks.com PR That Works: Real Strategies, Real Campaigns, Real Results (Amazon) brings together 28 strategies, 14 real campaigns and interviews with four leaders in the industry. LinkedIn: Steve Turner

  2. Jun 25

    Lead With Clarity, Courage and Curiosity

    Episode 236. Released June 25, 2026 This week I'm joined by Louisa Loran, a global executive advisor, board member and author of Leadership Anatomy in Motion. Louisa has spent more than two decades at the heart of some of the world's biggest businesses, including Diageo, Maersk and Google. Change is everywhere right now, and Louisa sees it for what it really is. A genuine opportunity to add another valuable piece to your business. The encouraging part is that it starts with something you already have. Clarity about who you are, what you do well, and where you want to go. What we cover Why change is an invitation rather than a threat, and how strong leaders treat new information as one more useful piece for the puzzle. The trap of box-ticking with AI, and the smarter question to ask. What does this capability add to the value I already create? A quick reframing exercise you can use today. Imagine your sharpest competitor owned your business. What would they do next? Why five-year plans and endless small wins both fall short, and how to hold your long-term direction while making confident short-term moves. Louisa's four behaviours from the book. Envisioning with ambition, expanding with curiosity, steering decisively and embodying with presence. How to lead with presence, build followership, and create the space for others to step up alongside you. A favourite moment Louisa describes leadership as something you carry in your own body. The eye to see further. The lungs to breathe space into ideas. The arms to steer with a clear signal. The spine to stand tall and grounded while still being able to move. It's a lovely, practical picture, and a reminder that every one of us can practise these things every single day. More about Louisa Louisa Loran advises boards and executive teams through periods of significant change. She sits on the boards of Copenhagen Business School and a private equity firm, and she was recently named to the Thinkers50 Radar 2026. Her book, Leadership Anatomy in Motion, is an Amazon bestseller and an award winner, full of honest, real-world storytelling drawn straight from her career. One line from her own site stayed with me after we finished recording: Another agreeing voice won't move it forward. Honest perspective will. If you want a strategic advisor who will challenge you well, make sure you learn more about Louisa: Website: louisaloran.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louisa-loran

  3. Jun 11

    Momentum Has Two Parts. Most Businesses Only Chase One

    Episode 235 Released June 11, 2026 Everyone wants momentum. Move faster, scale quicker, get ahead. Yet very few businesses actually have it. This week I talk with Chip Higgins, author of The Bizzics Way. Chip took one equation from physics, mass times velocity, and turned it into a refreshingly practical model for growth. His point is simple: we pour everything into velocity and ignore mass. You need both. Mass is weight, not size. A volleyball and a bowling ball can be the same size with very different mass. In business, your mass is your density. The calibre of your team, the clarity of your vision, and how tightly your people are bonded to it. Size alone is just bulk. Bonding creates the energy. Recruitment, onboarding and shared values are not soft extras. When people bond to each other and to what the company stands for, that connection produces the energy you need to move. Velocity needs a direction. Wanting to be bigger is not a strategy. Know exactly which customers you are going after, and accept that growth, client satisfaction and profitability often pull against each other. There is a lot more in the full conversation, including why a small startup can carry more momentum than a lumbering corporate. ➡️ Press play at the top of this post to listen in full. Find Chip's book The Bizzics Way on Amazon, and learn more at bizzics.com.

  4. May 28

    Dealing with your inner critic (and what actually works!)

    Episode 234 Released May 28, 2026 You know the feeling. You've read the books, done the therapy, tried the positive thinking. And yet. Same patterns. Same reactions. Same stuck points — just in slightly different circumstances. In this episode, Sue talks with Joanna Kleinman — a psychotherapist and leadership coach with 30 years of experience and the creator of the Mind Method. Joanna's work starts from a simple but radical premise: you can't change your conditioned mind. But you can stop letting it run the show. This is a conversation about why high achievers often feel the least fulfilled, why the strategies that got you here can quietly sabotage you, and what it actually takes to break the loop — not through willpower, but through practice.

  5. May 14

    The Gap Between Good and Great Isn't Technical

    Released May 14, 2026 Episode 233 Fourteen years working with NBA players teaches you something most leadership books miss: the gap between good and great is almost never technical. It's psychological. This week I sit down with Tom Mitchell — 40+ years coaching elite athletes and business leaders, co-author of an Amazon bestseller with Joe Montana, and author of the new book Embrace Your Inner Coach. Tom's central argument is deceptively simple: the gap between good and great is almost never technical. It's psychological. And the tools that work in a locker room work just as well in a boardroom. Three things to take from this conversation 1. Clarity, the burn, and visualisation — the three pillars of high performance Elite athletes know exactly where they're going, have an almost visceral hunger to get there, and train their minds to inhabit the goal before it's real. Most executives have at least one of these. Very few have all three. Tom's coaching, in both worlds, starts here. 2. Coaching isn't fixing Tom is refreshingly honest about the limits of his role. He could help a benched player process the frustration, sharpen their game, and come back stronger. What he couldn't do — and wouldn't — was lobby the coach for their minutes. If you lead people, this distinction matters enormously. 3. Journaling is taking a photograph of yourself Tom has kept journals for over 40 years. He doesn't frame it as a discipline or a ritual — just an occasional record of where you are, what you're thinking, what you're hoping for. For busy executives, that kind of reflective snapshot is often the missing link between activity and actual growth. Tom's book Embrace Your Inner Coach is available on Amazon. Find him at www.tommitchell.com.

  6. Apr 30

    Why Your Employer Brand Is Already Defined — Whether You Realise It Or Not

    Episode 232  Released April 29, 2026 This week on The Executive Edge, I'm joined by Srimoyee (Sri) Dey, founder of BrandsLumen and an employer brand strategist based in Melbourne. Sri works with leaders to close the gap between what their organisation says it stands for — and what talent actually experiences. It's a conversation that will make you look at your hiring process very differently. The big idea: Your employer brand is already being defined — by what you prioritise, what you fund, and what you tolerate. Whether or not you're paying attention to it. Three things that stood out for me: The talent shortage may be a messaging problem. With 43% of professionals considering leaving their employer in the next 12 months, the talent is out there. The question is whether your story is compelling enough to attract it. 72% of candidates are researching you before you've even spoken. Glassdoor, LinkedIn, your careers page — they've already formed an opinion. Your employer brand lives there whether you've built it intentionally or not. Trust is built — or broken — long before an offer is made. Sri introduces a simple diagnostic question every leader should ask: at which point in our hiring process does a candidate feel most seen? Everything else should be built around protecting that moment. We also talk about what organisations get wrong with AI in hiring, why authentic job descriptions outperform polished ones, and how employee ambassador programmes can extend your reach without spending on ads. Sri is offering a complimentary 45-minute diagnostic session for leaders facing hiring challenges — and her free Trust & Velocity Blueprint Report is available to download at brandslumen.com.

  7. Apr 16

    Executive Presence — How to Command, Connect and Close with Dr. Laura Sicola

    Episode 231 Released April 16, 2026 About this episode You know what you want to say. So why doesn't it land? I'm joined by executive communication expert and author Dr. Laura Sicola to unpack the real meaning of executive presence — and why it could be the single biggest factor holding talented leaders back. We discuss: The gap between brain and mouth The biggest communication challenge isn't knowledge or expertise — it's the three inches between what you think and what comes out. If your message isn't clear, concise, and compelling to your audience, it doesn't matter how brilliant you are. The Three Cs of Executive Presence Command the room — from the moment you walk in (or click Join Meeting) Connect with your audience — find that point of mutual understanding, whoever you're speaking to Close the deal — not in a sales sense, but moving things forward and aligning on the next step Gravitas isn't about being grave Gravitas is a constellation, not a single star. It includes conviction, consistency, and the willingness to speak truth to power — alongside warmth, humour, and humanity. Stone-faced seriousness isn't gravitas. Trustworthiness is. Your work speaks for itself — but not for you Task execution alone won't get you a seat at the table. You need to voice opinions, show how you think, and demonstrate that you understand what the people at that table are trying to achieve. Charisma is not being a Tony Robbins Everyone has charisma — it just looks different on each person. Real charisma is about how you make others feel when they're with you. The goal is to tap into that naturally, even when you're feeling the nerves. The Prismatic Voice Adapting your communication style to different contexts isn't inauthenticity — it's skill. Think of your voice as white light: every colour is already in there. You just choose which one to lead with. The key takeaway Credibility comes from alignment — between your words, your voice, and your body language. When all three are in sync, people believe you. When they're not, no amount of expertise will compensate. Mentioned in this episode 📖 Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice by Dr. Laura Sicola 🎤 Laura's TEDx talk 🌐 laurasicola.com The Executive Edge is hosted by Sue Firth, business psychologist and executive coach. If this episode sparked something, share it with a leader who needs to hear it.

  8. Apr 2

    Breathing Easy: The Antiviral Technology That Could Change the Way You Work and Live

    _*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> Episode 230 Released April 2, 2026 _*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> In this episode, I sit down with Gemma Borgert — a medical device specialist with over 20 years of industry experience and a deeply personal reason for championing this technology. Gemma introduces the e4life personal, a groundbreaking portable antiviral device that uses electromagnetic waves to inactivate airborne viruses in real time. Whether you're protecting a vulnerable family member, supporting staff reluctant to return to the office, or simply wanting an extra layer of defence against seasonal illness, this conversation will make you think differently about the air around you. What You'll Learn in This Episode The story behind the device — how Gemma's husband discovered it at a medical conference in Germany, and why their own experience with cancer treatment made it deeply personal How the technology works — the patented e4shield™ technology uses electromagnetic waves calibrated to specific frequencies that cause a virus's outer capsid to resonate until it breaks, rendering it unable to infect (think of an opera singer shattering a wine glass — same principle) The science behind it — independent testing by the Military Polyclinic of Rome, the University of Milan, New York University, and the EU Joint Research Centre, with results published in journals including Nature Scientific Reports and the Journal of Infection The product range — three devices designed for different environments: the portable e4life personal, the room-based e4life ambient, and the e4life farm for livestock protection The business case — the cost of absenteeism and presenteeism due to respiratory viruses is quantified at nearly £900 per employee per year, making this a compelling workplace investment Real-world applications — offices, clinics, dental surgeries, opticians, hospitals, trains, aircraft, and beyond How it compares to other solutions — unlike HEPA filters, which take 4–5 hours to disinfect a room, e4shield™ works instantly, with no filters to clean or replace About the e4life Personal The e4life personal is the flagship portable device — small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or handbag, weighing under 50 grams. It activates with a single click, charges overnight via a standard USB-C port, and runs for a full 8-hour working day. It connects to a free iOS and Android app via Bluetooth, letting you monitor battery status, update firmware, and manage sanitisation cycles. Proven efficacy against: H1N1 Influenza — 95% inactivation (including the 2024/25 strain) SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 (including KP3 variant) — over 90% inactivation RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) — approximately 90% inactivation The technology carries CE and SAR certifications, meaning it's safe for use in operating theatres, laboratories, and around sensitive medical equipment. It has lower electromagnetic emissions than a standard mobile phone. About the e4life Range e4life personal — pocket-sized personal protection on the move. Ideal for public transport, offices, gyms, cinemas, theatres, and anywhere crowds gather. (~£300–£350, one-off cost, 4-year lifespan) e4life ambient — a fixed wall-mounted unit that neutralises airborne viruses across spaces of up to 50 square metres. Maintenance-free, no filters, plug-in and go. Ideal for offices, clinics, waiting rooms, and schools. (~£800–£900, approximately 10-year lifespan) e4life farm — designed for livestock environments, protecting animals and farm workers from avian and swine flu viruses in aerosols. A "Large Spaces" model for conference centres, hotel lobbies, warehouses, and stations is currently in development. The Company Behind the Technology e4life is a joint venture between Elettronica S.p.A. — one of Europe's leading defence and electronic warfare companies — and Lendlease, the global real estate and infrastructure group. The technology was developed in collaboration with the Italian military, with research and validation conducted across more than a dozen universities and institutions in Italy, the UK, and the US. The science has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Nature, Applied Physics Reviews, and the Journal of Infection. Key Takeaways The e4life personal is a one-off investment of approximately £300–£350, lasting four years — potentially cheaper than one disrupted trip abroad No subscriptions, no consumables, no maintenance — just charge it like your phone Flexible pricing is available for those who are most vulnerable, including payment plans and free trials Available across Europe and internationally, including the US — CE and SAR certified The technology is updatable — it can be recalibrated to target new virus variants as they emerge Connect with Gemma Borgert Website: gbhealthtech.co.uk — studies, data, promotional video, and contact form Email: gemma.borgert@gbhealthtech.co.uk Product website: e4life.it/en

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About

The Executive Edge is the podcast that gives you an edge in life and business with practical skills that you can apply to achieve and maintain success. Hosted by UK psychologist and business adviser, Sue Firth. The show is a mix of interviews, tips, business insights and inspiration.

Information

  • Creator
    Sue Firth
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sue Firth Ltd
  • Show Website
    The Executive Edge