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
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...
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Are you exhausted by the inconsistency of cold leads and instant funnels? For service-based Entrepreneurs, Consultants, and Coaches, warm intro referrals beat every other marketing channel in speed, cost, and conversion. This episode details the system that allows your business to grow while you sleep by creating an intentional Referral Ecosystem. In This Episode, You Will Master: The New Marketing Metric: Referrals as SEO. Learn why dedicating time to building a predictable warm intro system is the highest-leverage activity for sustainable Business Growth, far surpassing cold prospecting. ...
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Tired of the “do more with less” grind that burns out your best people? In this episode of the Influence & Growth Mastery Podcast, Tonya Gossage sits down with business psychologist and strategist Lee Walker to unpack his proven People + Process = Profit framework — a people-first leadership model that helps CEOs scale sustainably. This deep-dive conversation explores how people strategy, operational systems, and culture intersect to drive sustainable business growth. Lee shares real-world strategies for optimizing teams, improving processes, and transforming your people strategy...
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Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Business Owners: Are you exhausted by the constant hunt for the next client? Do you start every month at zero, trapped in the unforgiving 30-day sales cycle? Stability doesn't come from harder work or more sales; it comes from stronger alignment and the right Strategic Partnerships. In this powerful episode, I reveal the exact system I used to pivot from the corporate banking world to generating recurring revenue from referrals that have paid me for years, with single commissions exceeding $100,000. This is the ultimate guide to moving from prospecting to curated...
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AI is not optional. It is the new competitive mandate. Remember when businesses dismissed having a website or using social media? Artificial Intelligence is the same critical inflection point, but bigger, faster, and more impactful. This week, I reveal the brutal truth: every day your business delays implementation, your competitors are building compounding AI capabilities that will make them uncatchable. If you are a CEO, Founder, or Small Business Owner who wants to thrive, not just survive, this episode is your urgent wake up call. Learn the 7 AI Secrets separating the winners from the...
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Are you the "Chief Everything Officer" of a business that's actually running you? If you're losing 15 hours every week to non-revenue generating tasks, this episode is your intervention. In this direct, no-fluff solo episode, I share my own journey of breaking free from the admin quicksand that was stalling my growth. I break down why a Virtual Assistant isn't an expense, but the single most powerful investment you can make to reclaim your time, sanity, and strategic focus. ➡️ Ready to stop operating and start leading? This is your action plan. TIMESTAMPS: ⏰ 00:00 The...
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Are you trapped in an “Invisible Paycheck Prison” — a high-paying job that’s crushing your purpose and limiting your potential? In this episode of the Influence & Growth Mastery Podcast, Tonya Gossage sits down with sales and leadership expert Doug C. Brown, who shares the one life-changing question that helped him walk away from a $450k offer and build a business rooted in freedom, alignment, and massive growth. This conversation is a masterclass in overcoming self-doubt, breaking negative patterns, and developing the self-belief required to reach your next level. Whether you’re...
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Tired of grinding for sales? In this episode, relationship expert Greg Wasserman reveals the simple mindset shift that turns connections into a predictable stream of high-value opportunities, without ever "selling." This episode with Greg Wasserman is a deep dive into relationship selling, business networking, and community building for founders, CEOs, and sales professionals. If you want to improve your lead generation through warm introductions and a human-centric sales strategy, this conversation provides an actionable blueprint for sustainable business growth. ➡️ Want to grow...
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Are you a CEO, Founder, or Executive who feels more like a chief operator than a chief executive? If you're trapped in the daily execution, this episode will show you the way out. I share my own high-stakes journey from a switchboard operator battling burnout to an Executive Vice President leading massive acquisitions. I reveal the exact moment my career hit a wall when I was told I couldn't be promoted because I was "too essential." It wasn’t a compliment; it was a cage. That realization forced me to dismantle a broken leadership model and build the powerful systems that finally...
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If you're tired of cold prospecting, burnt out on chasing leads, and wondering where your next high-quality client is coming from, this episode is about to change everything. I Pull back the curtain on how I build a powerful deal flow engine that generates consistent, high-value opportunities without the endless hustle of traditional lead generation. Listen to the full episode to learn the difference between a high-effort "lead generation pipeline" and a sustainable "deal flow engine," and discover the exact strategies you need to build a business that scales with relationships, not with...
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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