Executiveland
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
Episodes
34 episodes
"Our job is to do great things" - Maia Josebachvili, Chief Revenue Officer of AI at Stripe
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman talks with Maia Josebachvili, Chief Revenue Officer for AI at Stripe, about what it really takes to lead at the frontier. Maia shares why authority is never handed to you and why the best lea...
Why Executives Lose Confidence in Leaders
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman explains why even highly capable leaders can lose the confidence of senior executives, not because they lack talent, but because trust is built on whether senior leaders believe you can consi...
From ‘You’ll Never Make It’ to the C-Suite: Dr. DeRetta Rhodes, EVP & Chief People & Culture Officer, The Atlanta Braves
On Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman sits down with Dr. DeRetta Rhodes, EVP and Chief People and Culture Officer for the Atlanta Braves, to talk about resilience, self-worth, and intentional leadership. DeRetta shares how she pushed pa...
“Every Time You Walk in the Room, You’re Being Evaluated” –Ricky Hopson, Catalent Group President and Chief of Staff
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman talks with Ricky Hopson, Group President, Clinical and Specialty Services at Catalent and Chief of Staff. With over 25 years at Catalent, Ricky has navigated roles across finance, operations,...
Why Ego Is the New Enterprise Risk with Deborah Borg, EVP, Chief People & Culture Officer, IFF.
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman speaks to Deborah Borg, EVP, Chief People and Culture Officer at IFF. Deborah shares her insights on navigating the C-Suite, balancing leadership roles, and the power of clear communication. ...
Plot Twist: Your Executive Role Just Changed
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman uses the analogy of landing in Paris after expecting a perfect trip to reveal why executive leadership feels so different today. The job changes while you are in it, leaving even seasoned lea...
“The Gap No One Prepares You For: Executive to C-Suite” - Dr. Mitch Stevison, CEO, Frontgrade Technologies | U.S. Army Veteran
On this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman sits down with Dr. Mitch Stevenson, President and CEO of Frontgrade Technologies, to explore what it really takes to lead through constant change. Drawing from his military background, Mitch ...
The 3 Types of Negative Executive Energy
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman explores the subtle forms of negative executive energy that quietly undermine trust and performance. She breaks down how even high-performing leaders can unintentionally shift into self-prote...
"You Don’t Grow Into Being a Good CEO by Pretending to Be Someone You’re Not" with Kevin Campbell, CEO, Capgemini Insights & Data GBL | CEO, Syniti
On this episode of Executiveland, Kevin Campbell, CEO of Insights and Data at Capgemini and former CEO of Syniti, joins Elizabeth Freedman to share the unspoken realities of stepping into the top job. Drawing on decades of experience leading gl...
How to Deliver Bad News to Your CEO (Without Losing Credibility)
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman tackles a high-stakes challenge for senior leaders: rebuilding lost credibility in the C-Suite. She shares actionable strategies for navigating this, focusing specifically on how to deliver b...
Neal Sheorey, CFO of Albemarle Corp: Finance Leadership, Fast Decisions, and Leading Through Change
CFO Neal Sheorey joins Elizabeth Freedman to share what it really takes to step into the C suite when there is no playbook to follow. As a first time CFO at Albemarle, a global specialty chemicals company and one of the world’s largest lithium ...
When Smart Executives Can't Get People to Follow
Followership is often framed as something your direct reports give to you. In this solo episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman challenges that view, reframing followership as a core skill for senior leaders.At the highest levels, i...
How to Build Executive Presence and Influence with CEOs with TV News Anchor, CEO, Board Member Suzanne Bates
In this episode of Executiveland, Elizabeth Freedman reconnects with her former CEO and mentor, Suzanne Bates. Suzanne, founder of Bates Communications, shares her journey of selling her company to BTS and reflects on the leadership transitions...
'Here’s Why That Won’t Work’: The Language That Undermines Executive Trust
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 ...
Mark Berthiaume: The Business-First Mindset of Successful CIOs
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 evolu...
Build Your Career Before You Need It: How the Best Executives Stay in Control of Their Futures
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-perf...
When Bad Teams Happen to Great Leaders: Why Smart Executive Teams Underperform
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 te...
Robert Clarkson, Former CRO Americas at Stripe: Why Empathy and Co-Creation Win
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 mi...
Executive Reinvention with Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva
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 rei...
Elevate Your Executive Image with Dressing Well CEO Mary Lou Andre
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 no...
The Strategic CIO: Kevin Dushney on Leading as a True C-Suite Partner
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 ...
The Executive Advantage: Influence That Actually Works at the Top
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, ...
Advising the C-Suite: What Really Happens When You Coach CEOs
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 coachabl...
The Executive Impact Formula: Master Effortless Executive Influence
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 e...
Mary Draves: Former Dow CSO and Congressional Candidate - Leading with Humanity
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...