The Science of Charisma: How Compassion Creates Influence with Heather Hansen
The Enlightened Executive
What if charisma isn’t something you’re born with, but something you build? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm sits down with Heather Hansen, former trial attorney, communication expert, and CEO of Belief Builders, to explore how compassionate charisma transforms your leadership presence. You’ll discover: The neuroscience behind why power can reduce empathy, and how to reverse it 12 proven behaviors that make leaders more charismatic (based on Dr. John Antonakis' research) The difference between performing leadership and embodying...
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Burnout Is Not the Problem—It’s a Design Flaw
The Enlightened Executive
Is your leadership model silently draining your team? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, energy and culture expert Josh Allan Dykstra challenges the outdated belief that resilience means pushing through. Instead, he offers a new paradigm: designing work around energy flow, not just productivity. You’ll learn: Why burnout is a design issue, not a personal failing The leadership reflex that keeps you stuck in overdrive How to build teams that are energized, not just efficient A practical roadmap to shift from exhaustion to alignment This...
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Is Your Team Performing the Culture You Want?
The Enlightened Executive
You may not think of yourself as a performer, but as a leader, your presence is always on stage. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm interviews culture and storytelling expert Mike Ganino on the hidden performance behind every company culture. From improv stages to executive boardrooms, Mike reveals how unspoken patterns and leadership presence shape what your team believes, repeats, and trusts. Together, we explore: Why culture is always being performed, whether scripted or not How your leadership presence becomes the company’s culture...
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Unlocking Creativity: The Leadership Advantage You’re Overlooking with Natalie Nixon
The Enlightened Executive
Most leaders double down on strategy when pressure hits, but what if the real competitive edge lies in creativity? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, I speak with Natalie Nixon, creativity strategist and author of Move, Think, Rest, about why creativity, not control, is the next frontier in leadership. Natalie shares her human-centered framework for redesigning work in the face of burnout, complexity, and hybrid teams. You’ll learn: Why creativity is a teachable, practical skill (not just a personality trait) How the Move / Think / Rest framework can rewire the...
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When Smart Leaders Miss What’s Right in Front of Them: A Conversation with Jacquette Timmons
The Enlightened Executive
You can be brilliant with numbers and still miss the pattern that’s holding you back. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, financial behaviorist Jacquette Timmons shares the pivotal moment when her longtime CPA asked, “When are you going to stop mortgaging your life?” That one question revealed a blind spot that changed how she approached her business, her money, and her leadership. We discuss: Why blind spots form next to your strengths How success can reinforce outdated habits The emotional side of financial...
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The Midlife Remix: Petra Kolber on Resilience, Reinvention & Leading with Joy
The Enlightened Executive
What if your biggest life challenges became the catalyst for your boldest leadership chapter yet? Petra Kolber is no stranger to adversity. She’s survived cancer twice, pivoted from global fitness icon to mindset coach, and now serves as VP of Mindset for the Daisie Foundation. In this powerful conversation, Petra joins host Susan Drumm to share how midlife became her launchpad, not her slowdown. Together, they explore: Why resilience isn’t about bouncing back, but bouncing forward The mindset shifts that helped Petra rewrite her story How to let go of perfectionism and lead...
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Courageous Authenticity: How to Lead with Wisdom, Not Just Boldness
The Enlightened Executive
What does it really mean to lead with authenticity—and how do you know when it's courageous vs. careless? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, host Susan Drumm sits down with Cindy Adams, executive coach and co-founder of The Enneagram in Business Network, to explore one of the most misunderstood leadership traits: authenticity. Together, we unpack: Why "saying it like it is" can sometimes sabotage your impact How your Enneagram type shapes your version of authenticity The difference between emotional...
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How to Lead Through Chaos with Crisis Expert Juliette Kayyem
The Enlightened Executive
What do you do when everything goes sideways? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, I sit down with Juliette Kayyem, Harvard professor, former Assistant Secretary at Homeland Security under President Obama, and CNN Senior National Security Analyst. Juliette shares how today’s leaders can build resilience before the crisis hits, and what it takes to make clear, confident decisions under pressure. We cover: The neuroscience behind decision-making in high-stress situations Why “urgent calm” is the most underutilized leadership skill How to train your team to act—not panic—in...
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The CEO Bottleneck: How to Build a Business That Runs Without You
The Enlightened Executive
What if your greatest strength as a CEO is also your biggest limitation? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm sits down with Allison Maslan, aserial entrepreneur, author, and CEO of Pinnacle Global Network, to explore a critical challenge most high-performing leaders face: 👉 Becoming the bottleneck in their own business. Allison has built 10 companies and now mentors thousands of CEOs through her Scale-It Method®—a framework for growing businesses that thrive without constant founder involvement. Together, we dive into: Why top...
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The Leadership Power of Forgiveness with Candice Mama
The Enlightened Executive
What would you do if you came face to face with the person who murdered your father? Candice Mama chose forgiveness and in doing so transformed her life and her leadership. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive Candice shares her journey from deep resentment to peace and the lessons leaders can use to navigate betrayal conflict and personal hardship. You will hear how to: Recognize the hidden costs of staying in a victim mindset Shift to a responsible mindset and reclaim your influence Use Candice’s War Book exercise to rewrite the stories that hold you back Master emotional...
info_outlineIt’s often thought that the pillar of a good leader is someone with the ability to put the needs of the team before their own. But neglecting your needs does nothing but hold your team back and limits your effectiveness. By denying the primal needs of your mind, body, and soul, you won’t have the mental, physical, or emotional strength to fulfill the duties you’ve taken on.
You strengthen your skills when you take control of how you operate as a leader, by prioritizing and honoring the needs of your well-being. When you do this, you develop a sound foundation for leadership that allows you to perform at your highest capacity for those around you every day.
When you develop a mindset that understands the importance of your needs and how it affects your team’s ability to succeed, you take steps toward becoming resilient. And being resilient is one of the most important skills leaders can have.
In the latest episode of The Enlightened Executive podcast, we welcome guest Jim Hotaling, former Commander in Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard, with 20+ years in Special Forces, who is currently the head of leadership development and assessment at N2Growth. Jim previously served as an advisor to senior executives within the US Department of Defense, which gave him a unique perspective on leadership and resilience.
Jim practices and teaches leadership from the fundamental belief that to weather the pressures of leadership and maintain the strengths of a leader’s various skills, you must learn to put your needs first. In this episode, Jim demystifies the idea of being selfish while sharing what it takes to build resiliency and a healthy approach to the “never quit” mentality.