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...
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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...
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.