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 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.