Turning Adversity Into Leadership – with Ted Santos
The Executive Edge
Episode 221 Released November 13, 2025 Guest: Ted Santos, Business Strategist and Founder of Turnaround Investment Partners ----- In this episode, I sat down with Ted Santos, a business strategist who has pioneered a disruptive leadership model that challenges how executives think about change, adversity, and organisational transformation. Ted’s approach isn’t just theoretical – it’s forged from personal experience that would break most people. The Power of Early Adversity Ted’s story begins with tragedy. At just 21, he lost his mother and found himself responsible for his younger...
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Building Your Resilience Plan – with Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier
The Executive Edge
Episode 220 Released 2025-10-30 Building Your Resilience Plan with Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier Guest: Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, Workplace Mental Health Expert, Psychologist, and Speaker If you're a busy, I suspect you've already spotted yourself in this scenario: demands are increasing, deadlines are looming, and your natural response is to lean in harder, work longer hours, and push through with the same tools that have got you here. In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier to unpack why this instinct—whilst understandable—is precisely what leads...
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Mastering Salary Negotiation with John Gates
The Executive Edge
Episode 219 Released 2025-10-16 Guest: John Gates, Founder of Salary Coach Episode Summary I sit down with veteran recruiter , who shares over 30 years of insider knowledge on salary negotiation. With 75,000+ job offers under his belt, John reveals why 80% of people don't negotiate at all—and how much money they're leaving on the table. This episode is packed with practical techniques you can use immediately to maximize your compensation. Key Takeaways Why People Don't Negotiate Fear of losing the opportunity trumps everything else Most people lowball themselves at the first pay...
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Grasping Confidence with Tara Lafon Gooch
The Executive Edge
Episode 218 Released 2025-10-02 Episode Overview In this episode of The Executive Edge, host Sue Firth sits down with confidence coach and entrepreneur to discuss building authentic confidence, personal branding, and the transformative power of gratitude. Tara shares her journey from corporate burnout to becoming a TEDx speaker, author, and CEO, offering practical strategies for anyone looking to step into their power and purpose. Key Topics Discussed From Corporate Success to Personal Fulfillment Tara's 2022 turning point as a corporate sales director The difference between external success...
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From Trauma to Triumph: Building Multiple Successful Businesses
The Executive Edge
Episode 217 Released September 18, 2025 Guest: Jose Berlanga - From Trauma to Triumph: Building Multiple Successful Businesses Website: https://joseberlanga.com Episode Overview In this episode, Sue Firth interviews Jose Berlanga, a Houston-based entrepreneur who has built success across multiple industries despite facing significant early-life challenges. From overcoming severe childhood trauma to creating thriving businesses in real estate, construction, food service, and petrochemicals, Jose shares his unique perspective on entrepreneurship, resilience, and the art of building...
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Mastering Strategic Change with Dan Roberts
The Executive Edge
Released September 4, 2025 | Episode 216 Episode Summary In this episode of The Executive Edge, host Sue Firth sits down with leadership and strategic change advisor to explore the critical human element of organizational transformation. Drawing from extensive experience in change management and organizational development, Dan shares practical strategies for helping companies navigate change successfully while maintaining team engagement and momentum. Guest Bio Dan Roberts is a leadership and strategic change advisor with a background in behavioral psychology and business. His career has...
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From Goldman to Growth: Strategic Partnerships, AI Adoption, and Building Exit-Ready Businesses: A conversation with Candice Elsmore
The Executive Edge
Released July 24, 2025 Interview with - Former Investment Banker turned COO, Strategic Partnerships Expert Guest Background Candice Elsmore brings extensive international experience across four continents: South African origins: Grew up in Johannesburg Education: London Business School, Wharton (US) Career progression: Investment banker at Goldman Sachs → COO roles → Strategic partnerships in tech/fintech Current location: Middle East (UAE) Specialization: Working with startups, blockchain companies, and financial disruption technologies Key Discussion Topics Investment Banking...
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Colostrum & Health with Freddie Rostand
The Executive Edge
Episode 214 Released: July 10, 2025 The Story wife Liz has MS and was declining rapidly - could barely walk ¾ mile before collapse. Traditional medicine offered little hope, according to Freddie. An Australian journalist friend shared how bovine colostrum got his wheelchair-bound wife walking again. Within weeks, Liz could walk miles and her life transformed. What is Colostrum? First milk produced after birth, known as "liquid gold" Contains 400+ bioactive ingredients Acts like an "operating system" for biological processes Used for 5,000+ years in traditional medicine Farmers have always...
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Leadership is a Skill, Not a Position
The Executive Edge
Episode 213 Released June 26, 2025 Episode: Leadership is a Skill, Not a Position Guest: Andy Coley - Leadership Development Expert & TEDx Speaker of the Year Episode Overview Join Sue Firth as she interviews Andy Coley, a leadership development expert who transitioned from tech to transforming how people think about leadership. Andy shares his personal journey from IT professional to TEDx Speaker of the Year, revealing why leadership is a learnable skill rather than an automatic privilege of position. Key Topics & Timestamps Andy's Background & Career Transition (5:00-12:00) ...
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Finding Work-Life Balance with Lauren Taubes
The Executive Edge
Episode 212 Released June 12, 2025 Guest Bio brings over 20 years of experience in fashion technology, with a unique background spanning trend forecasting, retail training platforms, ERP systems, and data analytics. She holds a degree in apparel merchandising with a minor in business and currently serves as Director of Business Development at Seventh Online, where she helps fashion companies optimize their merchandise planning through advanced technology solutions. Key Topics Discussed Fashion Technology Evolution Journey from trend forecasting at WGSN to SaaS platforms Experience at...
info_outlineEpisode 196
Released October 24, 2024
An interview with Dennis Franczak, 20 Year CEO with experience in building companies, leading business transformation, maximizing operations efficiency, driving revenue growth, increasing profitability and increasing valuation for M&A.
He is also founder of brightmatteradvisors.com.
Dennis talks about his experience of burning out, hitting the wall, his role as a business leader and the impact of burn out on his business. He also talks candidly about how he built himself up again and made the decision to help other executives avoid a similar path.
Show notes:
Visit www.suefirthltd.com for more.
Also, connect with Sue on:
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Podcast editing & production: @jonbuscall