From Goldman to Growth: Strategic Partnerships, AI Adoption, and Building Exit-Ready Businesses: A conversation with Candice Elsmore
Release Date: 07/24/2025
The Stress Bucket, and Why High Performers Hit the Wall
The Executive Edge
Episode 239 Released August 5, 2026 ’s story will resonate with anyone who has ever pushed a little too hard for a little too long. Boomer — CEO at Troscriptions & Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe) — started early. He was trading stocks at 12 and reading macroeconomics for fun. He started on Wall Street on 15 September 2008, the very day Lehman Brothers collapsed. From there his career climbed steeply. He covered a fourteen-country territory from Singapore and travelled to around forty countries in four years. From the outside it looked like he was living it up in...
info_outline
Better, Not Perfect
The Executive Edge
Episode 238 Released July 23, 2026 This week on Episode 238 of The Executive Edge, I talk to , founder of , CEO of healthcare content agency , and author of . Christy has built her business around an idea that rarely appears in a strategy document but shapes everything she does: kindness. Together, we explore why so many younger employees arrive at work technically capable but lacking the interpersonal skills employers quietly assume they already possess. We discuss why this isn’t a character flaw or a generational weakness—it’s a gap in how we’ve prepared people for work. With AI...
info_outline
The Reputation Advantage
The Executive Edge
Episode 237 Released July 9, 2026 This episode of my podcast sits a little outside my usual territory. Most weeks I’m here talking about the psychology behind performance, leadership and how we show up. However, this week I’m taking you somewhere more practical: my guest is of Solomon Turner PR. We talk about public relations, and how getting it right builds your reputation over time. It still fits everything I care about on this show, giving you an edge in life and business. Reputation is one of the quietest advantages you can have, so I think there’s plenty here worth your time. Steve...
info_outline
Lead With Clarity, Courage and Curiosity
The Executive Edge
Episode 236. Released June 25, 2026 This week I’m joined by , a global executive advisor, board member and author of . Louisa has spent more than two decades at the heart of some of the world’s biggest businesses, including Diageo, Maersk and Google. Change is everywhere right now, and Louisa sees it for what it really is. A genuine opportunity to add another valuable piece to your business. The encouraging part is that it starts with something you already have. Clarity about who you are, what you do well, and where you want to go. What we cover Why change is an invitation rather...
info_outline
Momentum Has Two Parts. Most Businesses Only Chase One
The Executive Edge
Episode 235 Released June 11, 2026 Everyone wants momentum. Move faster, scale quicker, get ahead. Yet very few businesses actually have it. This week I talk with , author of The Bizzics Way. Chip took one equation from physics, mass times velocity, and turned it into a refreshingly practical model for growth. His point is simple: we pour everything into velocity and ignore mass. You need both. Mass is weight, not size. A volleyball and a bowling ball can be the same size with very different mass. In business, your mass is your density. The calibre of your team, the clarity of your...
info_outline
Dealing with your inner critic (and what actually works!)
The Executive Edge
Episode 234 Released May 28, 2026 You know the feeling. You've read the books, done the therapy, tried the positive thinking. And yet. Same patterns. Same reactions. Same stuck points — just in slightly different circumstances. In this episode, Sue talks with — a psychotherapist and leadership coach with 30 years of experience and the creator of the Mind Method. Joanna's work starts from a simple but radical premise: you can't change your conditioned mind. But you can stop letting it run the show. This is a conversation about why high achievers often feel the least fulfilled, why the...
info_outline
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. ...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outlineReleased July 24, 2025
Interview with Candice Elsmore - 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 Insights
Top criteria banks consider for business investment:
- Financial fundamentals - Numbers remain paramount
- Strategic value - How the acquisition enhances existing business
- Geographic/product synergies - Complementary capabilities or market access
- Operational improvement potential - Ability to enhance cash flows
- Future impact assessment - Particularly relevant for emerging technologies like AI
Strategic Partnerships: Two Main Categories
- Capability Building - Acquiring specific technology or skills to grow market share
- Distribution Access - Gaining connectivity to end users and new markets
Note: Strategic partnerships are particularly prevalent in fintech, where businesses need multiple channels but acquiring many companies isn't feasible.
Preparing Your Business for Sale
Critical considerations for business owners:
- Customer diversification - Avoid concentration risk with only 1-2 major clients
- Scalable processes - Build systems that don't depend solely on the founder
- Talent and structure - Ensure the business can operate without daily founder involvement
- Multiple stakeholder perspective - Consider how buyers will evaluate customers, products, and talent
Key insight: Buyers examine businesses from multiple angles - owners should proactively address potential blind spots.
Future Trends & AI Adoption
Practical AI recommendations:
- Start using AI tools daily - ChatGPT, Claude (Anthropic), Perplexity
- Begin with simple tasks - Letter writing, routine work (without sensitive information)
- Build confidence gradually - Let AI learn your style and preferences
- Strategic applications - Use for skill assessment, strategic thinking support
- Expect 60-70% accuracy - Sufficient for overcoming writer's block and idea generation
Why change is difficult:
- Human "caveman brain" associates change with danger
- Evolution hasn't caught up with modern business needs
- Small daily interactions (5-10 minutes) help build comfort
Managing Executive Pressure
Essential strategies for high-stakes decision making:
- Diversify your identity - Don't tie self-worth solely to career success
- Develop multiple outlets - Family, sports, faith, hobbies
- Build habits over time - Can't create reserves during crisis moments
- Non-negotiable personal time - 20-30 minutes daily for balance and control
- Accept the reality - Senior roles come with unique stress and responsibility
Example: Many Goldman Sachs executives were marathon runners - long runs provide head-clearing, fresh air, exercise, and endorphins.
Navigating Workplace Diversity Challenges
Practical approaches:
- Ask questions - Stay curious rather than defensive when facing bias
- Professional boundaries - Know when to stand your ground appropriately
- Develop diplomacy skills - Critical for senior diverse leaders
- Stay calm and assertive - Avoid fight-or-flight responses
- Ground yourself - Leverage other life aspects during difficult situations
Regional Expansion: Middle East Focus
Candice's new initiative:
- Developing a private women's network in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)
- Initial focus: UAE and Saudi Arabia
- Addressing gap in professional women's networking in the region
- Drawing from successful UK experience with women's network "CHIEF"
Special Offer
Candice is offering free 15-minute consultations to three fintech professionals from the podcast audience.
Topics covered:
- Capital raising timing and strategy
- Business scaling and go-to-market approaches
- Geographic expansion decisions
- Fundraising and dilution considerations
- Strategic partnership alignment
Key Takeaways
- Numbers drive investment decisions, but strategic value and future potential are equally important
- Strategic partnerships are essential in tech/fintech for capability building and market access
- Business preparation for sale requires addressing customer concentration, operational dependencies, and structural weaknesses
- AI adoption should start small and build daily habits rather than wholesale transformation
- Executive resilience requires diverse identity, consistent personal practices, and strong support systems
- Workplace navigation for diverse leaders demands curiosity, diplomacy, and professional boundaries
- Change is the only constant - adaptability across markets and cultures is essential for success
About The Executive Edge
The Executive Edge provides practical skills for achieving and maintaining success in life and business. Available on all major podcast platforms.
For more episodes and resources, subscribe to The Executive Edge wherever you listen to podcasts.