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© 2026 Executiveland
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The Unwritten Playbook of the C-Suite
Executiveland is the podcast for senior leaders, aspiring executives, and anyone who wants to understand what it really takes to lead and succeed at the top.
Hosted by executive coach and trusted advisor Elizabeth Freedman — founder of E•Suite Leader and longtime advisor to Fortune 100 companies — this show takes you behind the scenes of 20+ years working with C-Suite executives and their teams.
Each month, you’ll get real-world insights from the coaching room: what works, what backfires, and the subtle traps even experienced leaders fall into. You’ll hear directly from executives about the do’s, don’ts, and day-to-day realities of leading at the highest level — the kind of stuff no one puts in a leadership book.
Whether you're an executive now or working closely with one, you’ll walk away with practical, actionable strategies to earn trust, build credibility, and make a bigger impact —Because no one hands you a map to Executiveland — but this is the next best thing.
Website: https://esuiteleader.com
21 Episodes
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In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman explores two subtle leadership styles that quietly undermine trust at the senior executive level. She unpacks patterns that often come from a place of integrity and commitment, yet can stall followership and enterprise impact: the Debate Gladiator and the Deflector. Drawing on real executive coaching insights, Elizabeth explains why some senior leaders win arguments but lose influence, and why others unintentionally weaken credibility by av...
In this episode of Welcome to Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman is joined by Mark Berthiaume, former CIO and Chief Admin Officer at Hanover Insurance. With a career spanning over four decades, Mark has a unique perspective on the evolution of leadership. He shares his journey from early days as a computer programmer to navigating executive roles, and his ultimate transition from an IT-focused leader to a business executive with IT within his purview. Today, he leverages this hard-won perspect...
Too many smart, capable executives find themselves blindsided when change hits, whether it's a reorg, a new CEO, or a shift in market strategy. Suddenly, their roles are vulnerable. In this episode, Elizabeth Freedman explains why even top-performing leaders need to invest in their careers before they need to, and what high-impact executives do differently to stay ready, relevant, and in control. This is a candid episode for any senior leader navigating change, considering their next move, or...
Strong leadership teams do not happen by accident. In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman focuses on why even smart, experienced senior leaders can find themselves on teams that underperform, and what it actually takes to build teams that deliver real enterprise value. With teams under extraordinary pressure in 2026, Elizabeth explains why old meeting habits, misaligned agendas, and unclear accountability are quietly eroding performance, engagement, and results.From rethin...
Robert Clarkson, former Chief Revenue Officer (Americas) at Stripe, joins Elizabeth Freedman to unpack what it really means to lead revenue at scale. With a career that spans public, private, and high-growth tech companies, Robert shares the mindset and habits that separate effective CROs from the rest and why great sales leadership has little to do with charisma and everything to do with consistency, clarity, and customer insight. Together, they explore how the best revenue leaders align sal...
Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, founder of the Reinvention Academy and seasoned corporate executive, joins Elizabeth to unpack what it really means to reinvent, personally, professionally, and organizationally. In a world where 1 in 5 companies now reinvents faster than the annual budget cycle, change is no longer a one-time event. It’s a continuous, strategic capability that separates the organizations that thrive from the ones that disappear. You’ll explore: Why the old rules of episodic change no ...
Mary Lou Andre, founder and CEO of Dressing Well, joins Elizabeth to explore the often-overlooked power of executive image. Drawing from decades of experience coaching senior leaders, Mary Lou shares how clothing, grooming, and etiquette are not just surface-level details, they’re strategic communication tools that support leadership performance and presence. Together, they unpack what executive image really means today, why “fit, fabric, function, and flair” still hold up, and how to handle ...
Everyone says they want IT to be strategic. But what happens when the business doesn’t know what it actually needs and the CIO can’t get in the room? Kevin Dushney has led IT across nine biotech companies. He knows what it takes to drive value as CIO when your seat at the table isn’t guaranteed, the business moves fast, and the tech budget comes with scrutiny. In this episode, Kevin Dushney joins Elizabeth Freedman to talk straight about what works and what backfires when it comes to ea...
Influence is the #1 topic that comes up in the coaching room, and not just for aspiring leaders. Even experienced senior executives often say the same thing: influencing at the highest levels feels harder than it should. In this episode, Elizabeth Freedman breaks down why that is, and what leaders can do to shift the effort they’re putting in, without overexplaining, overpreparing, or overthinking. You’ll learn: Why influence at the executive level is multi-dimensional The subtle m...
Join host Elizabeth Freedman in her conversation with two executive coaching veterans: Margery Myers and Sarah Woods. With decades of experience advising CEOs and senior teams across industries, they dive into what really makes leaders coachable.They share how curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to get uncomfortable are the real differentiators, and why packaging, polish, and “listening tours” often mask deeper resistance. You’ll hear how coachability shows up in practice, why some lea...
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman shares a framework for leaders who want to make 2026 an impactful year for their business. She introduces “The Matters Model,” a simple tool drawn from years of coaching senior leaders, and explains how the most effective executives align their work to what matters most at the enterprise level. Elizabeth breaks down why even high-performing leaders can miss the mark on impact and what to do instead. Together you’ll explore: Why great work i...
Former Chief Sustainability Officer of Dow, Mary Draves joins Elizabeth Freedman to reflect on her journey to the top of a Fortune 100 company and the learning curve that came with it. Mary shares what no one tells you about stepping into a top job, why she felt temporarily lost despite being a high performer, and how coaching helped her course-correct. She opens up about running for Congress after retiring from corporate life, building resilience in the public eye, and what she learned about...
Enjoy this encore release of Executiveland's first episode! In this episode of Executiveland, host Elizabeth Freedman introduces the first chapter of the unwritten C-suite playbook titled, ‘I Thought This Was My Decision’. Drawing on two decades of advising senior leaders, she explores the surprising reality many executives face when they realize their authority is more limited than expected. Elizabeth breaks down why empowerment at the executive level looks different, why clarity around dec...
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman returns with Part 2 of the “Give and Get” Equation. While overgetting can be strategic in moments of transition or investment, it becomes a problem when leaders stop seeing value as a constant exchange. Elizabeth explains how it quietly erodes trust and brand, and why leaders need to check their assumptions about what they’re contributing. She also walks through subtle, but telling signs of overgetting, like passivity in meetings, lack of t...
“You need to deliver the message I need to hear - not just what you want to say.” David Roberts, CEO of Verra Mobility, joins Elizabeth Freedman on Executiveland to discuss leadership in the C-suite and the unwritten playbook for executives. He’s been the CEO of public, private, and PE-backed companies and offers insights on how executives best navigate each of these environments. You’ll also hear David share the realities of leading as CEO, why nobody gives you a pat on the back, and t...
In this solo episode, Elizabeth Freedman breaks down a surprising pattern she sees in even the most capable senior leaders - a mismatch in terms of the value they may be giving and getting back. Using the “give and get” equation, Elizabeth shares how healthy, high-performing leaders and organizations strike a healthy balance between what they give and what they get. The problem is when the Give and Get Equation gets out of balance, and it happens more than you might think. In this podcast epi...
Howard Ungerleider, former CFO and President of Dow, joins Elizabeth Freedman on this week’s episode to explore the unwritten playbook of the C-suite. With decades of experience inside one of the world’s largest companies, Howard shares the mindset shifts, leadership habits, and executive presence required to succeed in the C-suite. They unpack the challenges new executives face, why enterprise thinking is non-negotiable and how skills like influence, humility, and listening are often more va...
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman returns with a new chapter of the unwritten C-suite playbook: “Do I Really Have to Spell It Out?” Drawing from years of coaching senior leaders, she unpacks why clarity in communication is one of the most overlooked drivers of performance, and why even seasoned executives fall into common traps. Elizabeth explores how decoding, vague messaging, and a lack of ownership can derail strategy and credibility. Through practical examples, she show...
Join host Elizabeth Freedman for a candid conversation with Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, as he shares a behind-the-scenes view of what it truly takes to lead a global enterprise of over 350,000 employees. Ravi talks about the duality of leading in the present while staying relevant for the future, the concept of "strategic patience," and how influence is what truly drives transformation at scale. Ravi reflects on the underestimated value of roles that build influence, the importance of psych...
In this episode of Executiveland, host Elizabeth Freedman introduces the first chapter of the unwritten C-suite playbook titled, ‘I Thought This Was My Decision’. Drawing on two decades of advising senior leaders, she explores the surprising reality many executives face when they realize their authority is more limited than expected. Elizabeth breaks down why empowerment at the executive level looks different, why clarity around decision rights is essential, and how leaders can avoid turning ...
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