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...
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Building Culture Through Strategic Internal Communication
The Executive Edge
Episode 223 Released December 11, 2025 Guest: Alejandra Ramirez, Founder of Ready Cultures Episode Overview In this episode, Sue is joined by Alejandra Ramirez, an internal communications specialist with nearly 20 years of experience helping service-driven businesses shape their culture from the inside out. Together, they explore why so many organisations struggle to turn their values into lived reality—and what leaders can do about it. The Culture Gap We've all seen it: values proudly displayed on office walls that bear little resemblance to how things actually work day-to-day....
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Leading with Emotional Intelligence
The Executive Edge
Episode 222 Released November 27, 2025 Audio Quality Note Please note: Due to technical difficulties with the host's microphone during recording, Sue's audio quality is below our usual standard. We've chosen to release this episode despite these challenges because the conversation offers valuable insights that we believe are too important to delay. We appreciate your understanding and patience. Episode Overview In this conversation, Swedish-born CEO and leadership coach Andreas Pettersson shares his transformative approach to leadership that prioritizes emotional intelligence,...
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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...
info_outlineEpisode 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)
- Computer science degree sponsored by IBM in the late 90s
- Early career at Goldman Sachs in London tech sector
- Transition to web development and e-commerce in early 2000s
- Running own web development company as director
The Personal Crisis That Changed Everything (12:00-18:00)
- Mid-30s "epic life fail" around 2010-2011
- Business failure, debt, and 11-year marriage breakdown
- Weight gain to 23 stone (142kg) from overwork
- Near-suicidal thoughts and seeking help
- Discovery of NLP coaching as a turning point
The Leadership Philosophy: Skill vs Position (18:00-25:00)
- Why leadership doesn't automatically come with job titles
- The 82% statistic: Most leaders never receive formal leadership training
- Four stages of learning applied to leadership development:
- Unconsciously incompetent
- Consciously incompetent
- Consciously competent
- Unconsciously competent
Understanding NLP in Leadership (25:00-30:00)
- How people process information differently
- The thinking-feeling-doing connection
- Body language as primary non-verbal communication
- Using NLP to understand yourself and teach others
Common Leadership Challenges (30:00-35:00)
- "Why aren't my team doing what I'm telling them?"
- Matching leadership style to team experience level:
- Directive: For emergencies or new employees
- Coaching: For developing team members
- Delegating: For experienced professionals
- The micromanagement trap with experienced teams
Managing Change & Uncertainty (35:00-42:00)
- "Shift Happens" philosophy
- Chinese proverb: "When winds of change blow, some build walls, others build windmills"
- Circles of control vs influence vs concern
- Leading with limited information during volatile times
- Supporting teams through uncertainty
Key Takeaways
✅ Leadership is learnable - It's a skill set that can be developed, not an innate talent that comes with promotion
✅ Self-audit first - Assess your current leadership abilities through feedback and honest self-reflection
✅ Match your style to your team - Experienced teams need delegation, not micromanagement
✅ Focus on what you can control - During change, concentrate energy on your circle of control and influence
✅ Continuous feedback beats annual reviews - Regular micro-feedback is more effective than yearly performance dumps
✅ Personal crisis can become transformation - Sometimes our lowest points redirect us toward our true calling
Resources Mentioned
📚 Book: "Leadership is a Skill" by Andy Coley
🌐 Website: leadershipisaskill.com
🌐 Andy's Website: andycoley.com
🎤 TEDx Talk: "Leadership is a Skill and Not a Position"
📖 Additional Talk: "Shift Happens" - on managing change
About the Guest
Andy Coley is a leadership development expert, NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer, and TEDx Speaker of the Year. After transitioning from a successful tech career, Andy now helps leaders develop essential skills through workshops, keynotes, and coaching. His book "Leadership is a Skill" was released in February.
Specialties:
- Leadership development training
- NLP coaching and training
- Change management
- Conference speaking and workshops
Connect with Andy Coley
- Website: andycoley.com
- Book & Resources: leadershipisaskill.com
- Speaking Engagements: Available for conferences, keynotes, and workshops
About The Executive Edge
The Executive Edge gives you practical skills to achieve and maintain success in life and business. Hosted by Sue Firth, each episode delivers actionable insights from industry experts and thought leaders.
Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms
www.suefirthltd.com
Episode recorded in 2013. Book "Leadership is a Skill" was released at the end of February 2013.