The Elephant Method Podcast

Lisa Courtney
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We share the real-life stories of non-native professionals navigating high-stakes business deals in their second language. By talking openly about personal wins and honest mistakes, we show you how to turn language barriers into your greatest advantage and achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Episodes

  1. May 16

    Mastering English - Why I Chose this Path

    What if learning a new language could completely change your life? For me, it did — and not in the way I expected. I grew up in Oregon, studied in England, and spent a Christmas break traveling through Spain, Italy, and Israel. England felt familiar — comfortable, predictable, a lot like home. But then I got to Spain. And everything changed. Spain was loud, vibrant, and beautifully chaotic. People were close, warm, and full of life — nothing like England or America. And somewhere in an open air market, I met someone who made me want to stay. But it wasn't just him. Spain pulled at something deep inside me. It was so different, so alive, so full of color — and it made me GROW in ways I never imagined. While I was building my career helping others find their voice in English, I was finding mine in Spanish. And let me tell you — I felt EVERY uncomfortable moment of being a non-native speaker. The hesitation, the searching for words, the fear of getting it wrong. And that's exactly why I do what I do. Because I've been there. And I know that on the other side of that discomfort is a whole new world waiting for you.

    8 min

  2. May 16

    Building Credibility & Digital Transformation

    From Intern to Consultant: Earning Your Seat at the Table What does it take to build a career in the high-stakes world of Digital Transformation and Global Fashion? In this episode of the Elephant Method Podcast, I sit down with Maria, a communications consultant at Roca Salvatella in Barcelona. We dive into her journey of professional growth, cultural identity, and the reality of working with global powerhouses. Highlights of our conversation: The "Boss’s Daughter" Myth: How Maria navigated entering a family business by insisting on an internship to prove her value and build her own credibility. Global Branding: Insights into her work with Puig, the giant behind iconic brands like Carolina Herrera, Rabanne, and Charlotte Tilbury. Confidence & Language: Overcoming the "language barrier" and why trusting your capabilities is the ultimate career hack. Barcelona Vibes: From the Mediterranean lifestyle to the incredible Catalan tradition of Castellers. Maria’s story is a masterclass in discipline, perseverance, and the importance of finding your own voice in a crowded industry.

    20 min

  3. May 16

    Journey of Self Discovery

    In this episode of The Elephant Method Podcast, I sit down with Laurie Deviscourt — a talented professional with a beautiful heart whose life and work defy every boundary. Laurie opens up about the deeply human experience of working with disabled clients. How she corresponds with a man on death row — a reminder of humanity. Laurie also gives us a glimpse into her remarkable daily life, crossing borders between France and Switzerland to do work that matters. And in perhaps her most personal revelation, she shares her years-long battle with anorexia — a fight that took her between five and seven years to win. She's an extraordinary woman, and I can't wait for you to meet her. Let's GO! Full video in Comments or you can find it at TheElephantMethod.com

    30 min

  4. May 16

    Business Growth Starts with Patience

    Business Growth Starts with Patience | Luís Barbieri What do leadership, investing, and language learning have in common? They all require patience, trust, and a willingness to keep going even when it gets hard. In my latest episode, I sat down with Luís Barbieri — entrepreneur, investor, and the mind behind Focus Engenharia Elétrica — for one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations I have had on this podcast. We talked about: 🔹 Building a business on trust and strong leadership 🔹 Why patience is the foundation of smart investing 🔹 Balancing team growth with real sales results 🔹 The personal journey of learning a new language 🔹 Why health and family are not separate from success — they are the strategy One line from Luís that stayed with me: "Patience is the key for successful investing." Simple. Powerful. True in business and in life. If you are a leader, an entrepreneur, or someone in the middle of building something meaningful — this episode is for you. Please feel free to reach out and share your story. I'd love to hear what you're building. Listen now → Full episode in the comments below or on my website at: TheElephantMethod.com Don't forget to check out my blog for more helpful information and resources at the address above! www.focusengenharia.eng.br www.linkedin.com/in/luis-barbieri-b68a5560

    23 min

  5. May 16

    Own the Room - The Elephant Method

    In this video, Lisa Courtney introduces The Elephant Method—a framework designed for non-native professionals who want to reclaim their confidence and identity as a global professional. Lisa has delivered over 10,000 sessions to leaders from more than 40 countries. Here she outlines her high-level approach to helping you own the room. Key points: Confidence Tools: Crucial to taking back your power. ANTs Framework: A brief overview of Automatic Negative Thoughts. Identity Restoration: The process of replacing doubt with thoughts that support your business goals. The Elephant Method exists to help multilingual business professionals stop "FREEZING" and perform like the highly capable experts they are. Book a Trial Session to get started: https://www.theelephantmethod.com/scheduling Listen to the Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@Lisa.TheElephantMethod Website: https://www.theelephantmethod.com/ Blog: https://the-elephant-method.ghost.io/

    1 min

  6. May 16

    Why Successful Leaders Play Small

    Communication is KEY, and it starts with the communication with yourself. Stop robbing your team of the leader they deserve by playing small because of a "family script" you’ve already outgrown. In this video, I share a breakthrough with a high-performing executive from Brazil who realized that his greatest obstacle wasn't the language barrier—it was a vision problem. Many multilingual professionals lead global teams with "rockstar" impact, yet they still look in the mirror through the old, dysfunctional lenses of their past. Through The Elephant Method, we identify these Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) and arm you with the mental clarity to stop punishing the person you used to be, so you can finally own the room as the person you are today.

    2 min

  7. May 16

    Brave Guests = Great Podcasts

    It takes a special kind of bravery to step in front of a camera and share your thoughts in a second language, but our students are doing exactly that with incredible grace. By choosing to participate in The Elephant Method Podcast, they aren't just practicing grammar—they are overcoming the vulnerability of being misunderstood on video to ensure their voices are heard. What makes this project truly stand out is the depth of professional expertise they bring to the table. Beyond the language barrier, they are sharing invaluable industry insights and career advice that only those with their unique backgrounds can provide. Their courage makes this podcast possible, but their wisdom is what makes it essential listening. I'm so proud of them!

    2 min

  8. May 16

    The Pivot for Effective Communication

    Master The PIVOT: Elevate Your Executive Communication In high-stakes meetings, losing your train of thought shouldn't mean losing your authority. The PIVOT—a core pillar of The Elephant Method—is how top leaders reset mid-sentence without missing a beat. Lisa teaches you what to do WHEN you mess up: The PIVOT assumes that human brains are imperfect. Instead of teaching you to be a robot, it gives you a "safety net" to stay professional when a mistake inevitably happens. Stop rambling. Start pivoting with these 7 phrases: 1 - "Let me rephrase that." 2 - "In other words..." 3 - "Let me put it another way." 4 - "Let me be more specific." 5 - "Let me start over." 6 - "What I’m trying to say is..." 7 - "Let me try again." The Goal: Clarity over perfection.

    6 min

  9. Mar 30

    The Quiet High Performer's Guide to Getting Noticed | Josephine Ho

    What happens when you pour your heart and soul into your job, exceed every expectation, and still get told you're "not ready" for the next level? In this episode, I sit down with Josephine Ho, a leadership and career growth coach based in Toronto, Canada, to talk about the invisible patterns keeping high performers — especially first and second generation immigrants — stuck in their careers.  Josephine shares her powerful SEEN method and breaks down why the old mindset of "put your head down and do great work" stops working at the director and VP level. We talk about what it really means to get noticed without feeling fake, why self-promotion feels cringy to so many of us, and how something as simple as kindergarten show-and-tell can shape your ability to advocate for yourself decades later.  We also get into the role of visualization in building confidence, how to take the next small step when speaking up feels impossible, and why organizations are looking for far more than performance when they evaluate your potential. In this episode: The invisible career pattern that holds high achievers back. Why "exceeding expectations" is not always enough. How cultural conditioning affects self-advocacy in the Western workplace What the SEEN method is and how it works. A practical, confidence-building approach for non-native English professionals Josephine's new group coaching program, the SEEN Leadership Experience. Connect with Josephine Ho: WorkwithJosephine.com  The Elephant Method Podcast is created for non-native professionals around the world who are ready to walk into any room in English — with confidence, clarity, and a system that works. TheElephantMethod.com The magic of English can help you change your life.  With The Elephant Method, I help you stop the dreaded 'Freeze', and prevent performance failure in your second language.  Reach out if you'd like to learn more at TheElephantMethod.com

    25 min

  10. Mar 30

    Why I Chose English Communication

    What if learning a new language could completely change your life? For me, it did — and not in the way I expected. I grew up in Oregon, studied in England, and spent a Christmas break traveling through Spain, Italy, and Israel. England felt familiar — comfortable, predictable, a lot like home.  But then I got to Spain. And everything changed. Spain was loud, vibrant, and beautifully chaotic. People were close, warm, and full of life — nothing like England or America. And somewhere in an open-air market, I met someone who made me want to stay. But it wasn't just him.  Spain pulled at something deep inside me. It was so different, so alive, so full of color — and it made me GROW in ways I never imagined. While I was building my career helping others find their voice in English, I was finding mine in Spanish.  And let me tell you — I felt EVERY uncomfortable moment of being a non-native speaker. The hesitation, the searching for words, the fear of getting it wrong. And that's exactly why I do what I do.  Because I've been there. And I know that on the other side of that discomfort is a whole new world waiting for you. The magic of English can help you change your life.  With The Elephant Method, I help you stop the dreaded 'Freeze', and prevent performance failure in your second language.  Reach out if you'd like to learn more at TheElephantMethod.com

    8 min

  11. Mar 30

    French Developer Rémi Blaise on Building a Platform Where AI Is Your Employer

    In this episode of The Elephant Method Podcast, I sit down with Rémi Blaise, a French software engineer and founder of AI is my Employer — a groundbreaking platform that uses artificial intelligence to connect developers with missions, no interviews required.  Rémi shares his journey from learning to code in high school just because it was cool, to studying at the Illinois Institute of Technology in one of Chicago's most notorious neighborhoods, to launching an innovative platform that is redefining how developers find work.  We also get into the cultural differences between France and America — from mindset and ambition to the French relationship with money — and Rémi opens up about what finally made English click for him after more than ten years of struggling with the language.  In this episode 2: How Rémi built AI is my Employer and what it does. The cultural gap between French and American work culture. Why consistency and focus are the two most important words in language learning. How investing in English coaching changed Rémi's trajectory  Connect with Rémi:  🔗 aiismyemployer.com  💼 linkedin.com/in/remi-blaise The magic of English can help you change your life.  With The Elephant Method, I help you stop the dreaded 'Freeze', and prevent performance failure in your second language.  Reach out if you'd like to learn more at TheElephantMethod.com

    28 min

  12. Mar 30

    SÃO PAULO'S BRAVEST ENTREPRENEUR

    From hiding between store racks as a kid to running 10 retail stores in São Paulo — Brunno Bezerra's story will inspire you!  Brunno grew up in his family's business, Lojão do Brás, literally playing hide and seek in the aisles. By 14 he was already working alongside his parents, and his entrepreneurial spark? That came from his grandmother, who paid him to make little decorative boxes out of ice cream sticks — turning a childhood craft project into his very first business venture with his sister!  But Brunno's journey hasn't been without its terrifying moments. In 2018, four armed criminals stormed his office. With a shotgun pressed against his own belly, Brunno didn't freeze — he stayed calm and did what needed to be done to protect his people. When the robbers demanded access to the treasury room, Brunno summoned every ounce of courage and kicked down an iron fence so the thieves could get the money — because keeping his father and his team safe was what mattered most.  And his team? They were incredible too. Every single staff member stayed calm and complied, keeping the situation from escalating. And one quietly slipped away to the bathroom and called the police — a courageous move that led to the robbers being caught the moment they tried to leave. A true team effort in the most frightening of moments.  Oh, and that terrifying day also led Brunno to realize his girlfriend was the one. She was the first person to call when the story broke — and he knew right then she was the woman of his life!  Today Brunno leads a team of 400 people (almost 800 in December!), motivates them with personal one-on-one conversations about their dreams — and a little chocolate never hurts either. This episode is full of heart, courage, and real talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and protecting the people you love.  You don't want to miss it! The magic of English can help you change your life.  With The Elephant Method, I help you stop the dreaded 'Freeze', and prevent performance failure in your second language.  Reach out if you'd like to learn more at TheElephantMethod.com

    26 min
  • 12 Episodes

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We share the real-life stories of non-native professionals navigating high-stakes business deals in their second language. By talking openly about personal wins and honest mistakes, we show you how to turn language barriers into your greatest advantage and achieve more than you ever thought possible.

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