Leadership is messy. Most advice isn't built for the reality of competing priorities, difficult stakeholders, limited time, and imperfect information. Leveraging Leadership is a practical leadership podcast for Chiefs of Staff, executives, founders, and senior operators who want to lead more effectively and navigate complexity with confidence. Hosted by Emily Sander, former Chief of Staff and executive advisor, each episode delivers real-world lessons, practical frameworks, and candid conversations with leaders across business and beyond. Topics include executive communication, leadership presence, decision-making, delegation, organizational influence, operating rhythms, team effectiveness, and the often-unspoken challenges leaders face behind the scenes. If you're looking for thoughtful conversations, practical takeaways, and leadership advice you can actually use on Monday morning, you're in the right place.
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Episode #402
How PE-Backed Companies Turn Strategy Into Results
Sep 21, 202641 minS1
Private equity firms invest with a value creation plan. But the strategy on the slide deck only matters if the company can actually execute it. Brea Page, founder of Keep75 and a former Google Chief of Staff and strategy leader, joins me to talk about what happens after the investment: turning strategy into operating rhythms, getting founders and PE firms aligned on expectations, building reporting that creates an early-warning system, and helping leadership teams shift from doing everything themselves to actually scaling through the organization. We also dig into Brea’s “champion and challenge” model for the Chief of Staff, why PE-backed companies often need someone dedicated to keeping execution from slipping, and how a strong Chief of Staff can turn a strategy from an idea on paper into measurable business results. Along the way, we talk about founder transitions, PE/portfolio-company communication, internal Chief of Staff promotions, the danger of giving someone the Chief of Staff role without taking away their old job, and why the operating partner + embedded Chief of Staff model may be one of the strongest ways to support portfolio companies as they scale. Links Mentioned: Keep75 Brea Page 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: 04:10 – From Google to Private Equity 06:00 – How Operations Create Value 10:50 – The Founder Shift: Accountable vs. Responsible 13:50 – Translating Between PE and Portfolio Companies 18:40 – What “Founder-Led” Means After PE Investment 20:20 – Why PE-Backed Companies Need Chiefs of Staff 24:30 – What a Chief of Staff Actually Does 26:20 – Operating Partners + Embedded Chiefs of Staff 30:20 – Hiring and Matching the Right Chief of Staff 36:30 – The Ideal PE Operating Model + Keep75 #chiefofstaffpodcast #ChiefOfStaff #COSpod
Executive presence isn't a checklist of confident behaviors, and it isn't a persona you put on when you reach the C-suite. Jacque McCormack, co-founder of JetStream Advisors and an executive coach with more than 15 years of experience working with leaders and executive teams, joins me to unpack what executive presence actually looks like in practice: how people experience you, how you flex between authority and approachability, and how you stay grounded enough to respond intentionally when the pressure rises. We talk about the difference between performative confidence and quiet confidence, the leadership models we unconsciously copy, and why a new executive role can be a chance to deliberately evolve your leadership brand. Jacque also shares specific considerations for women navigating the authority-approachability double bind, along with practical communication tools like bottom-line-up-front messaging and emotional granularity. A big theme throughout the conversation: executive presence is less about looking the part and more about knowing the wake you create - especially when things get difficult. Links Mentioned: JetStream Advisors Previous Leveraging Leadership conversation with Noel Sobelman 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: 00:50 - What executive presence actually feels like 03:20 - Performative confidence vs. quiet confidence 05:30 - The authority-approachability spectrum 08:40 - Audit the leadership model you're mimicking 12:40 - Starting fresh in your first C-suite role 15:10 - Define your leadership brand and the wake you create 20:40 - Executive presence and the double bind for women 24:40 - Bottom-line-up-front communication and emotional granularity 27:20 - Leadership halos, shadows, and stress responses 29:20 - The pause: responding instead of reacting 34:20 - Emotional sovereignty is a muscle, not fake it till you make it 36:10 - Matching leadership horsepower to the organization 38:20 - Why leadership development became a calling #chiefofstaffpodcast #ChiefOfStaff #COSpod
From Safe Bets to Breakthroughs: Building a Balanced Innovation Portfolio
Sep 7, 202640 minS1
Noel Sobelman explains innovation portfolio management and how companies can bridge the gap between strategy and execution. He shares a medical device company example where shifting from safe, incremental projects to a more balanced mix led to higher growth. The conversation also covers using tools like metered funding, managing risk, and how roles like Chief of Staff help leaders focus on what's best for the whole company instead of just one business unit. Links Mentioned: Noel Sobelman’s Book: Innovation Portfolio Management: Linking Strategy to Execution Connect with Noel Sobelman on LinkedIn 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: 01:14 What Portfolio Management Means 03:55 Medical Device Turnaround Story 07:33 De Risking with Metered Funding 12:41 Saying No and Staying Agile 14:05 Governance and People Dynamics 19:16 Assessing Your Current Portfolio 23:51 Finding the Right Mix 26:33 Decision Focused Portfolio Reviews 28:32 AI and Maturity Benchmarking 33:36 Success Metrics and Gold Standard Example
Freedom from Mental Captivity: Insights on Mediation and Workplace Communication
Aug 31, 202640 minS1
Stan Lewis, a former OSHA investigator and mediator, explains how most workplace whistleblower cases come down to communication issues and how managers can prevent problems by listening early. He shares practical mediation tips, like letting people vent, asking what success looks like, and using company policy consistently. Stan also talks about the importance of addressing conflict when it’s still small and relates his “Freedom from Mental Captivity” framework from his new book. Links Mentioned: Pre-order Evict The Doubts Squatting Rent-Free In Your Mind Book Stan Lewis’ 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: 01:01 What OSHA Really Does 02:50 Preventing Issues Through Communication 05:20 Early Resolution and ADR 07:00 Mediator Questions That Work 12:41 Setting Expectations and Offers 15:59 Prework and Breaking Stalemates 22:23 Handling Workplace Tension Early 30:08 Speaking Their Language DiSC 35:01 Evicting Doubts and Wrap Up
Persuasion Versus Manipulation: Ethical Leadership and Building Trust Across Teams
Aug 24, 202643 minS1
JonRobert Tartaglione shares how to lead through influence without direct authority, drawing on his background in psychology and examples like political polarization and message framing. He explains why Chiefs of Staff need to use persuasive, not just expressive, communication and offers practical tips, such as using diagnostic questions, hedging language, and leveraging social norms in organizations. The conversation covers what actually works to change minds, why logic alone is rarely enough, and how to avoid manipulation or coercion. Links Mentioned: Influence51 Website Connect with JohnRobert on LInkedIn 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: 01:14 Academic Journey and Psychology 03:26 Political Psychology and Polarization 06:55 Strategic Communication Modes 14:50 Persuasion vs Manipulation 20:55 Illusion of Explanatory Depth 23:52 The Art of Listening 27:59 Expressive vs Persuasive Communication 32:20 Loss Aversion in Business 38:31 Social Norms and Behavior
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