Executiveland

Mary Draves: Former Dow CSO and Congressional Candidate - Leading with Humanity

Elizabeth Freedman Episode 9

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 leadership in both boardrooms and political campaigns. This episode is a clear look at the emotional weight of executive roles and the clarity that comes from overcoming challenges.

You’ll explore:

  • The steep, and silent, learning curve of the C-suite
  • Why feedback often surprises even experienced leaders
  • The executive cost of over-preparing and overpleasing
  • How to make better, faster decisions, without losing your edge
  • What leaders can learn about purpose and clarity from political campaigns 

For more insights and tools to lead at the highest level, visit Elizabeth’s website to explore free resources, take the C-Suite Readiness Assessment, and subscribe so you never miss a new chapter of the unwritten playbook!

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