From Engineer to Executive: Master Executive Presence, Own Your Space, and Scale Your Career
Influence and Growth Mastery with Tonya Gossage
Release Date: 09/09/2025
Influence and Growth Mastery with Tonya Gossage
Are you posting content, networking, and "doing all the things" but still hearing crickets? Here is the hard truth most entrepreneurs ignore: Your business isn't stuck. Your message keeps moving, and that is exactly why people don't trust you. In a world full of noise, trust isn't a feeling, it’s math. (Truth + Time = Trust). When you change your offer every month, flip-flop your niche, or rebrand every quarter, you aren't being "innovative", you're being confusing. And a confused mind never buys. In this episode, I break down the "Trust Era" of 2026 and reveal the exact strategy to fix your...
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Do you constantly feel like you are working non-stop but never actually catching up? Here is the hard truth I’ve learned over 34 years in business: If your business lives in your brain, you will always feel behind. When you are the help desk, quality control, operations manual, and CEO all at once, you become the single biggest bottleneck in your own company. No one can read your mind, which means every decision, every follow-up, and every task has to go through you. That is not a business; that is a high-stress job you created for yourself. In today’s episode, I am breaking down exactly...
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Let me ask you a hard question: Does your business collapse the moment you step away? If the answer is yes, you don't have a growth problem. You have a leverage problem. You are good at what you do. Your clients love you. Yet somehow, the deals you should be closing are going to someone else, and you are stuck in the "labor trap"—working harder, posting more, and drowning in admin. In this episode, I am giving you the exact framework to fix this without turning your life into a treadmill. We are breaking down how to stop being the "best kept secret" and start becoming the only logical...
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Could you stand in front of a room and speak if you were terrified to even say your own name? I could not. Not at first. In this deeply personal episode, I take you behind the scenes of a transformation that shaped everything I now teach about Leadership Development, Influence Mastery, and sustainable Business Growth. I share the journey from a high school student who chose silence over speaking, to a leader facilitating multi-million-dollar mergers, managing 22 direct reports, and building a thriving consulting firm rooted in strategic influence. This is not a motivational highlight reel....
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Does AI make you want to close your laptop and walk away? You are not alone. With thousands of tools launching every month, most leaders are stuck in reactive adoption driven by FOMO, not strategy. AI feels overwhelming because most businesses are implementing it backward. In this episode, I cut through the noise and introduce the Inside Out AI Strategy, a practical framework rooted in Management Consulting, Process Improvement, and real-world Digital Transformation. Instead of chasing shiny software, you will learn how to apply a disciplined filter that protects your time, your team, and your...
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Are you spending your entire day on Zoom only to end it with more work than when you started? If AI still feels like a nice-to-have instead of a core business lever, you are quietly leaking time, money, and momentum. In this episode, I break down a new Zoom report revealing how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping productivity, profitability, and leadership inside small to mid-sized businesses. We move past speculation and fear and focus on what actually matters. Real data. Real ROI. Real operational impact. I walk through how SMB leaders are using AI to eliminate busy work, shorten decision...
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If you have ever explained the same process for the fourth time and thought, “I could have done this faster myself,” you are not alone. That frustration is not a personality flaw. It is a systems problem. When training your team feels like a second full-time job, you are operating inside a model that no longer matches how high-performing teams learn. In this episode, we explore the future of learning and the trends shaping 2026, from hyper-personalization to micro-training to AI-powered roleplay. This is where Leadership Development meets Digital Transformation. Your job is not to be the...
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Is your team already using AI behind the scenes? The truth is simple. They probably are. The bigger question is whether this is quiet slacking or the greatest Business Growth opportunity your company has ever had. In this episode, I break down the silent transformation reshaping organizations everywhere. We are leaving the outdated mindset where time equals value and shifting into a results-driven world where outcomes, efficiency, and strategic decision-making determine your competitive edge. You will learn how to stop policing effort and start leading with clarity, influence, and impact. I...
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Are you tired of "posting and praying"? One month you're booked solid, and the next, you're staring at an empty calendar, wondering where your next client will come from. If you're exhausted from the feast-or-famine rollercoaster, this episode is your wake-up call. I’m peeling back the layers on why luck is not a business strategy. In this direct and honest conversation, I break down the 4 critical gaps that are keeping you stuck in the hustle trap. You’ll learn why marketing alone won't fix a broken system, how to audit your operations for hidden leaks, and exactly what it takes to build...
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You are tired of the hustle. You are exhausted from posting content and praying it converts. In this episode, I am pulling back the curtain on why Referrals are the new SEO. We are ditching the manual prospecting grind for a system that works for you, even when you are sleeping. I share the exact "Warm Intro Ecosystem" framework that took one of my clients from a shy freelancer to a booked-out agency owner in just three months. You will learn why you do not need more cold leads. You need more champions talking about you when you are not in the room. If you are ready to stop chasing business...
info_outlineIn a world where success often feels like a race to the top, true leadership is a journey built on vision, resilience, and connection. Today, we're joined by Camille Batiste, an executive who redefined what it means to lead. From her roots as a chemical engineer in Jamaica to becoming a Senior Vice President at a global corporation, Camille's story isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about building one for others.
Most leaders talk about resilience, Camille lives it. Through every pivot, challenge, and major transformation, she has a proven framework for growth without burnout. We dive into her non-negotiable mantra for success, and why showing up with intention is the key to unlocking your true potential.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
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The Power of Observation: Why the smartest or hardest working person isn't always the one who gets promoted. Learn the surprising behaviors that high-impact leaders are modeling and how to apply them to your own career.
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The Mindset of a Leader: The pivotal shift from being an individual contributor to an enabler of others. Camille shares what she had to unlearn to lead a multibillion-dollar transformation and how to get out of the weeds and into a position of influence.
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Owning Your Space: How to demonstrate executive presence and find your voice in male-dominated rooms. Camille shares the life-changing moment that ignited her trajectory from manager to Vice President, and why a single conversation can be a catalyst for your entire career.
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The Unspoken Rules of Leadership: The critical importance of seeking honest feedback and strategically building a network of sponsors who will advocate for you when you're not in the room. This is the hidden "extra work" that separates those who get seen from those who remain invisible.
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The 5-Step Framework for Getting Ahead: A practical, proven approach to leadership development that goes beyond the "how-to" and focuses on the "how to get there." We break down the philosophy of Grow Up, Step Up, Show Up, Speak Up, and Level Up and why these actions are non-negotiable for lasting success.
Key Takeaways from Camille:
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The Job Changes as You Go Up: As a leader, your role is not to be the expert in the details, but to enable and advocate for your team.
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Believe the Story: As a leader, you must have full buy-in to the vision you're selling. If you don't believe it, your team won't either.
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Find Your Truth-Tellers: Seek out people who will provide honest, constructive feedback—not just praise. This is the fastest way to grow.
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Behave Like the Thing You Want: Start acting, talking, and thinking like an enterprise leader before you are one. This mental and physical shift is what makes your next opportunity possible.
Episode Timestamps:
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00:00 Introduction to Networking and Strategic Relationships
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01:01 Meet Camille Batiste: From Engineer to Executive
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02:56 Early Career and Educational Choices
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05:22 Transitioning from Technical Expertise to Leadership
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08:42 Redefining Procurement at Archer Daniels Midland
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13:13 Unlearning and Adapting to New Leadership Roles
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19:15 Building Confidence and Embracing Leadership Potential
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24:35 Observing and Emulating Leadership
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26:30 Advice for Leaders Feeling Invisible
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27:52 Setting Aspirations and Seeking Feedback
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28:38 The Importance of Networking and Visibility
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30:21 Mindset Shifts for Emerging Leaders
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31:57 The Five-Step Leadership Framework
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37:01 Case Studies and Coaching Insights
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45:53 Conclusion and Resources
Connect with Camille Batiste:
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Website: https://www.camillebatiste.com/
Special Offer for Listeners:
Download Camille's free ebook, "The Five Reasons You Aren't Getting Promoted," to unleash your potential and transform your career.
https://www.camillebatiste.com/services
Connect With Tonya Gossage:
Alignable: https://www.alignable.com/little-rock...
LinkedIn: / tonyagossage
Gossage Consulting Website: https://www.gossageconsulting.com/
Subscribe to My Newsletter: Influence & Growth Weekly: / influence-growth-weekly-7339697604038967296
Join The Power Connectors (Free Executive Plan): https://www.thepowerconnectors.org/join
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