The Gap Between Good and Great Isn't Technical
The Executive Edge
Released May 14, 2026 Episode 233 Fourteen years working with NBA players teaches you something most leadership books miss: the gap between good and great is almost never technical. It's psychological. This week I sit down with — 40+ years coaching elite athletes and business leaders, co-author of an Amazon bestseller with Joe Montana, and author of the new book Embrace Your Inner Coach. Tom’s central argument is deceptively simple: the gap between good and great is almost never technical. It’s psychological. And the tools that work in a locker room work just as well in a boardroom. ...
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Why Your Employer Brand Is Already Defined — Whether You Realise It Or Not
The Executive Edge
Episode 232 Released April 29, 2026 This week on The Executive Edge, I'm joined by , founder of and an employer brand strategist based in Melbourne. Sri works with leaders to close the gap between what their organisation says it stands for — and what talent actually experiences. It's a conversation that will make you look at your hiring process very differently. The big idea: Your employer brand is already being defined — by what you prioritise, what you fund, and what you tolerate. Whether or not you're paying attention to it. Three things that stood out for me: The talent...
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Executive Presence — How to Command, Connect and Close with Dr. Laura Sicola
The Executive Edge
Episode 231 Released April 16, 2026 About this episode You know what you want to say. So why doesn't it land? I'm joined by executive communication expert and author to unpack the real meaning of executive presence — and why it could be the single biggest factor holding talented leaders back. We discuss: The gap between brain and mouth The biggest communication challenge isn't knowledge or expertise — it's the three inches between what you think and what comes out. If your message isn't clear, concise, and compelling to your audience, it doesn't matter how brilliant you are. The Three Cs...
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Breathing Easy: The Antiviral Technology That Could Change the Way You Work and Live
The Executive Edge
Episode 230 Released April 2, 2026 In this episode, I sit down with Gemma Borgert — a medical device specialist with over 20 years of industry experience and a deeply personal reason for championing this technology. Gemma introduces the e4life personal, a groundbreaking portable antiviral device that uses electromagnetic waves to inactivate airborne viruses in real time. Whether you're protecting a vulnerable family member, supporting staff reluctant to return to the office, or simply wanting an extra layer of defence against seasonal illness, this conversation will make you think...
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The Uncertainty Advantage: How Smart Leaders Turn Volatility into Growth
The Executive Edge
Episode 229 Released March 19, 2026 Guest: Rebecca Homkes (Economist, Growth Strategist, Lecturer at London Business School & Duke University) Episode Overview In this episode, I am joined by economist and growth strategist Rebecca Homkes for a conversation about leading through uncertainty. With macro volatility showing no signs of letting up, Rebecca shares a practical, no-nonsense framework for how executives can stop reacting to the noise — and start growing through it. Key Themes & Takeaways Build internal predictability You can't control the macro environment, but...
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Are you coping, surviving — or actually thriving?
The Executive Edge
Episode 228 / Released March 5, 2026 Are you coping, surviving — or actually thriving? In this episode, I talked with , speaker and coach, who has spent over a decade helping leaders build the kind of resilience that lasts. His background spans the NHS, BT, and years of leadership development work — and he brings a refreshingly practical lens to a word that can feel overused: resilience. What We Covered VUCA — and its antidote We unpacked VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) — the environment most of us are operating in right now. Russell introduced me to VUCA Prime: Vision,...
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Act Like an Owner — How Culture Really Gets Built
The Executive Edge
Episode 227 Released February 19, 2026 With Greg Hawks, Corporate Culture Specialist What if the problem with employee engagement isn't the disengaged — it's the people you've been tolerating? That's the starting point for this week's conversation with Greg Hawks, corporate culture specialist, keynote speaker, and author of Act Like an Owner: Five Unlocks for Creating Culture People Love and Results People Need. Greg has spent 15 years helping organisations build environments where people genuinely buy in — and his framework is built around three types of employee. Owners, Renters,...
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Developing a Future-Ready Mindset with Allister Frost
The Executive Edge
Episode 226 Released February 5, 2026 In this episode, Sue Firth talks with about why cultivating a future-ready mindset is essential for leaders navigating constant change—and how to do it without feeling overwhelmed. About Allister Frost Allister spent ten years in traditional manufacturing before joining Microsoft, where Bill Gates' philosophy—"If it works, it's obsolete"—transformed his thinking about innovation. For the past 15 years, he has worked as a consultant, speaker and coach, helping individuals and organisations thrive amid relentless transformation. His mission: to...
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The Leadership We Need - with Maria Brinck
The Executive Edge
Episode 225 Released January 22, 2026 Episode Overview In this episode, I'm joined by , leadership consultant, public speaker, and author of The Leadership We Need. Maria shares her remarkable journey from corporate America to the rainforests of Cameroon, and explains why the leadership models we've relied upon for generations are no longer fit for purpose. This is an essential conversation for any leader ready to challenge conventional thinking and create meaningful, lasting change. About Maria Brinck Maria Brinck is the founder of Zynergy International and a certified StrengthsFinder...
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Selling Your Business: What Nobody Tells You About Letting Go
The Executive Edge
Episode 224 Released January 8, 2026 This week I’m joined by , a fellow Vistage member who’s been on quite a journey – from building a manufacturing business with his brother over nearly two decades, through its sale, to running a funeral director businesses in Kent. through acquisitions, post-acquisition challenges, and the transition out of businesses. What struck me most was James’s honesty about the emotional reality of selling a business. We hear the success stories – the champagne corks, the celebration – but rarely what comes next. James opens up about what he...
info_outlineEpisode 212
Released June 12, 2025
Guest Bio
Lauren Taubes 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 Multimedia Plus (retail associate training technology)
- Transition through ERP companies and data analytics
- Current role at Seventh Online focusing on merchandise planning
The Power of Data-Driven Planning
- How technology helps fashion companies avoid overstock and stockouts
- The psychological aspects of consumer buying behavior
- Supply chain optimization and inventory management
- Real-world impact on customer satisfaction and full-price sales
The Amazon Effect
- Consumer expectations for instant gratification
- How modern shoppers demand next-day delivery
- Challenges for retailers in meeting these expectations
- Balancing customer satisfaction with operational efficiency
Career Development Insights
- The importance of passion-driven work
- Benefits of working within established structures vs. entrepreneurship
- Building expertise through diverse roles in the same industry
- The value of relationship-building in B2B sales
Working Mom Realities
- Balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities
- The guilt factor and learning to manage it
- Importance of supportive workplace culture and flexible employers
- Practical strategies: Google Calendar as "brain," detailed documentation for travel
Success Mindset
- Influence of family work ethic and parental modeling
- The drive to make customers' work lives "better, faster, and easier"
- Building long-term relationships even when deals don't close
- Continuous learning and adaptation in technology sales
Notable Quotes
"I want people's lives to be better, faster, and easier. I want to sell them something that makes their jobs day-to-day within the fashion industry more effective, more efficient."
"Google Calendar is my best friend. It's my brain. Who has what sport? Who has what activity?"
"You have to decide, are you a career woman who happens to have children? Or are you a mom who happens to work? Which one are you?"
Company Spotlight: 7th Online
What they do: Merchandise planning technology that helps fashion companies optimize seasonal inventory and product availability
Problem they solve: Eliminating the guesswork in inventory planning to ensure customers can always find products at full price
Website: 7thonline.com
Target market: Fashion, apparel, footwear, and accessories companies globally
Key Takeaways
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Technology Integration: Small to medium fashion companies can significantly benefit from moving beyond Excel-based planning to sophisticated SaaS solutions
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Work-Life Integration: Success comes from finding supportive environments that understand the realities of being a working parent
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Relationship-First Sales: Building genuine connections and providing value leads to long-term success, even when immediate deals don't close
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Industry Expertise: Deep knowledge of your sector combined with genuine passion creates authentic sales conversations
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Supply Chain Reality: Modern consumer expectations require sophisticated planning and forecasting to maintain satisfaction
Connect with Lauren
- LinkedIn: Lauren Taubes
- Company Website: 7thonline.com
- Open to: Industry discussions, career conversations, and connecting with fellow working parents
About The Executive Edge
The Executive Edge provides practical skills for life and business success. Hosted by Sue Firth, each episode features insights from successful professionals sharing real-world strategies for achieving and maintaining success.
Topics: #FashionTech #WorkingMoms #SaaS #BusinessDevelopment #WomenInBusiness #WorkLifeBalance