Leveraging Leadership

Emily Sander
  • 5.0 (27)
  • 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. 20H AGO

    Q&A: Overcoming the Overqualified Hurdle as a Former Business Owner Seeking a New Role

    Emily answers a listener named Dallas, a longtime tree company owner, who’s struggling to get traction applying for Chief of Staff roles after his business closed. She talks about being seen as overqualified, how to preempt concerns on a resume and in interviews, and ways to use founder experience as an advantage. Emily gives examples like using a simple explanation on LinkedIn and resumes, referencing candidates moving from CEO roles, and how to address the “overqualified” issue directly with hiring managers. Get in touch with Emily: Want help repositioning your founder experience for a Chief of Staff role? 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 Listener Question Setup 01:22 Why You Seem Overqualified 02:57 Resume and LinkedIn Reframe 04:25 CFO Story Example 05:57 Practice a Calm Talk Track 06:53 Founder Experience as an Asset 08:22 Family Business Dynamics 09:44 Get Feedback and Target Fit 11:52 Disarm Concerns and Wrap Up

    13 min

  2. 2D AGO

    From White House to Venture Capital: Leadership and Chief of Staff Insights

    Veer Sawhney talks about his transition from working as a personal aide at the White House to becoming Chief of Staff at an investment firm. He shares how skills like anticipating needs, managing high-pressure situations, and helping his principals stay focused have been key in both government and business roles. Veer also explains how he expanded his role to support the venture team and what he looks for in founders and investments. Link Mentioned: Connect with Veer via email. 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: 00:53 Inside the White House Role 02:05 Running Comms and Events 03:50 Working with Chiefs of Staff 05:17 From Politics to Investing 08:11 Landing the Chief of Staff Job 09:41 Transferable Chief of Staff Skills 20:09 Protecting Focus and Managing Interruptions 25:58 Building Trust and Expanding Scope 31:08 VC Work, Advice, and Wrap Up

    38 min

  3. APR 15

    How New Chiefs of Staff Can Build Ongoing Relationships with Leadership Teams

    Tips for keeping conversations going as Chief of Staff, like following up after a listening tour and spotting ways to help teammates. Examples include offering to QA an automated process or noticing patterns such as a lack of people management experience, then coordinating training. Early on, it's important to follow up on small things, even if they're only a big deal to one person. Get in touch with Emily: Want to turn conversations into action as a Chief of Staff? 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 Why Listening Tours Matter 00:58 Setting Up Intro Meetings 01:59 Avoid One and Done Chats 03:21 Research Then Reconnect 04:50 Turn Insights Into Initiatives 07:19 Right Size Your Follow Ups 09:40 When to Relaunch the Role

    11 min

  4. APR 13

    The BOLD Framework for Leaders: Outlast Adversity and Disrupt the Norm

    Audley Stephenson shares his journey from basketball fan to podcast host and sports league commissioner, highlighting how audacity shaped his life and career. He explains the BOLD Framework for living audaciously, discusses meeting Kobe Bryant, and debunks myths about audacity by showing it's not reserved for elite achievers or reckless acts. Audley also talks about building self-awareness, celebrating small wins, and the importance of taking action. Links Mentioned: Audley Stephenson’s Podcast Audley Stephenson’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: 02:07 Origin of Audacity 04:09 Basketball Podcast Breakthrough 06:26 Pandemic Pivot to Purpose 10:29 Bold Framework and Myths 23:20 Affirmations Need Action 24:47 Courage Before Confidence 25:20 Reframing Failure as Data 27:51 Bold Leadership Decisions 35:11 Audacity Myths and Legacy

    46 min

  5. APR 8

    Practical Strategies for Building a Culture of Feedback in Your Team

    Learn practical ways to build a culture of feedback at work, whether your team is new to honest conversations or already open to input. Emily Sander shares examples like using simple "what did we learn?" discussions after meetings, asking for feedback on your own actions, and starting anonymous pulse surveys. Tips include using "we" language in reviews, modeling how to accept feedback, and structuring shout-outs and team evaluations to encourage constructive dialogue. Link Mentioned: Radical Candor by Kim Scott Get in touch with Emily: Want help building a feedback culture? 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: 00:41 Radical Candor Recap 01:43 Why Feedback Cultures Fail 02:59 Start Small and Be Patient 03:36 Ask What Did We Learn 05:46 Model Feedback on Yourself 07:37 Debrief Story Example 11:14 Pulse Surveys and Follow Through 13:00 Structured Group Feedback Loops 22:29 Wrap Up and Next Steps

    25 min

  6. APR 6

    Leadership Lessons From Portugal: Managing Two Principals and Dual Roles (HR and CoS)

    Maria Paiva shares her path from chemical engineering to a blended Chief of Staff and HR role at a small Portuguese company, explaining how her job covers everything from people management to company strategy. She discusses working for two principals, how her company’s idea of Chief of Staff came from The West Wing, and why she often introduces herself as an HR manager due to the role’s novelty in Portugal. Maria also talks about earning team trust, organizing manager training, and balancing planned HR tasks with unpredictable Chief of Staff responsibilities. ​​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: 00:56 Maria Career Path 02:55 Two CEOs And Role Origin 08:50 Balancing HR And CoS 12:07 Managing Dual Principals 16:48 Handling Principal Pushback 17:35 Scaling Leadership Structure 20:42 Outside Chief of Staff Learning Curve 27:18 Building Trust Through Listening 34:15 Advice and Closing Thoughts

    37 min

  7. APR 1

    Taking Time to Value the People Around You at Work

    Emily Sander talks about appreciating the people you work with during each season of your career - like learning from Jamie, being challenged to grow by a boss like Rohit, or having fun working with someone like Matt. She also encourages listeners to recognize and value work friendships, even if they change over time, and reminds us not to take good team dynamics for granted. Get in touch with Emily: Want to build stronger work relationships? 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.   Timestamps: 00:46 Flip the Script to Appreciation 01:07 Learning from a Teammate 01:40 Grateful for a Challenging Boss 02:43 The Coworker Who Makes It Fun 03:24 When Mentoring Seasons End 05:16 How to Express Appreciation 08:11 Work Friends and Lifelong Bonds 11:53 Step Back and Reflect

    14 min

  8. MAR 30

    Building Credibility and Clarity in Moments of Uncertainty

    Chief of Staff and crisis communication expert Jeff Evans shares lessons from working in the California legislature, discussing the importance of building relationships across the aisle and handling unexpected crises. He explains the difference between narrative framing and spin, and gives practical tips for leaders communicating in the first 24 hours of a crisis using a four-step framework: what we know, what we don’t know, what we’re going to do, and when we’ll update. They also cover real examples like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, Southwest Airlines' business model changes, and handling tough school policy situations. Link Mentioned: Jeff Evan’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: 01:43 Bipartisan Relationships 04:17 Narrative Framing vs Spin 06:55 Crisis Statement Framework 08:42 Precision Builds Credibility 13:47 Small Credibility Killers 15:43 Clarity Precision Narrative Model 19:13 Loglines and Lincoln Script 22:29 Leadership Logline Basics 25:18 Clarity In Crisis Comms 27:41 Tone Deaf Rulebook Lesson 35:16 Change Narratives And Alignment

    46 min
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5
out of 5
27 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
    274
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leveraging Leadership
  • Show Website
    Leveraging Leadership

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