Courageous Authenticity: How to Lead with Wisdom, Not Just Boldness
Release Date: 10/20/2025
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 We discuss: Why blind spots form next to your strengths How success can reinforce outdated habits The emotional side of financial...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...
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Why Smart Leaders Make Bad Calls—and How to Avoid Them
The Enlightened Executive
What if your biggest leadership mistakes aren’t due to poor judgment—but hidden assumptions? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm speaks with Dr. Alan Barnard, one of the world’s top decision scientists and a leading expert in the Theory of Constraints. Together, they unpack why even high-performing leaders make bad decisions—and how to avoid the most common traps that derail clarity and performance. You’ll discover: The 5 biggest decision-making mistakes (and how to avoid them) How to use emotions as strategic data—not...
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Discomfort Is the Shortcut to Breakthrough Leadership
The Enlightened Executive
Discomfort Isn’t the Enemy: How to Lead Through Challenge with Sterling Hawkins What if the key to becoming a breakthrough leader isn’t more confidence or clarity—but more discomfort? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm talks with Sterling Hawkins—author, keynote speaker, and founder of the “No Matter What” movement—about why the most effective leaders don’t avoid discomfort. They leverage it. Sterling shares his 5-step method for using discomfort to drive growth, from reframing challenges to building real accountability. Learn how to...
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Unlock Higher Performance With This Leadership Shift
The Enlightened Executive
The Power of Boundaries: Unlocking Innovation Through Constraints with Rachel Druckenmiller Episode Description: What do photographing polar bears in the Arctic and leading high-performing teams have in common? More than you might think. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm sits down with Rachel Druckenmiller—leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of Avenue M Group—to explore how boundaries and constraints can fuel creativity, drive innovation, and empower your team. Tune in to learn: Why clear constraints spark smarter...
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How Personal Growth Drives Team Success
The Enlightened Executive
What if the greatest leadership transformation doesn’t start with a new strategy—but with a shift in you? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Daniel McCollum joins Susan Drumm to explore how self-awareness, vulnerability, and intentional growth become the foundation for high-performing teams and thriving organizational culture. Together, they unpack why inner development is no longer optional for executives—and how simple, daily practices can help leaders move from reactivity to conscious, values-based influence. Whether you’re leading a team, scaling a company,...
info_outlineWhat 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 expression and emotional intelligence
- How to evolve your communication style as your leadership matures
Whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 team or scaling a growing business, this episode will help you lead with more discernment, presence, and power, not just bold expression.
🎧 Listen now to discover how to align your truth with timing, and why how you speak may matter more than what you say.