The Enlightened Executive

Feeling behind on AI? You're not alone, and rushing to catch up may be the costliest move you make. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, I sit down with Kate O'Neill, known as "the tech humanist," to talk about how leaders can make smarter AI decisions without regret. Kate has spent about 30 years in tech, including time as one of the first 100 employees at Netflix. She's the author of Wh...

Have you ever wondered why you're not landing that coveted piece of business?  You have the expertise, the results and the reputation. Yet the biggest opportunities still seem to go to someone else. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm sits down with Michael Roderick, former Broadway producer and CEO of Small Pond Enterprises. Michael says the doors that matter most often open...

What if the exhaustion you keep pushing through is not a time management problem, but a message you have stopped listening to?   In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with Iris van  Ooyen , a Dutch life transformation mentor, keynote speaker, and author of Radiant: How to Have All the Energy You Need to Live a Life You Love, to talk about why so many high achievers look successful on the outside...

Success is easier to measure than ever. Revenue targets, exits, titles, promotions, the markers are clear and constant. So why do so many leaders still feel like it's not enough? In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with Lynne Twist, bestselling author, founder of the Soul of Money Institute, and co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance, along with Sara Vetter, CEO of the Soul of Money Institute, to...

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work. It can generate ideas, analyze information, and make  expertise  more accessible than ever before.   So  what will set exceptional leaders apart?   In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with bestselling author, business strategist, and Hall of Fame speaker Jay Baer to explore how AI is reshaping leadership and why the leaders who thrive will be...

  What if self-doubt is not your greatest obstacle, but your greatest advantage?   In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and innovation expert Abhi Golhar to challenge one of leadership's biggest myths: that great leaders are always certain. Instead, they explore how self-doubt can become a powerful tool for making better decisions, driving innovation, and leading wit...

Success can be one of the most dangerous moments for a high-performing team.   In this episode of  The Enlightened Executive , Susan Drumm speaks with Jake Thompson, founder of Compete Every Day, about how leaders can recognize when a winning team starts to drift into comfort, busyness, or complacency.   Jake shares why strong results can sometimes hide weakening standards, how comparison pulls le...

  AI is changing how we work, create, and lead. But as technology gets faster, the most valuable leadership skills may be the most human ones: creativity, judgment, authenticity, and reinvention.   In this episode of  The Enlightened Executive , Susan Drumm speaks with Jason Miller about how leaders can stay relevant in an AI-driven world. Jason shares why  it's  risky to become too one-dimensiona...

AI is not just changing how we work. It is changing how customers think, decide, trust, and relate.   In this episode of  The Enlightened Executive , Susan Drumm speaks with marketing strategist, futurist, and author Mark Schaefer about how AI is reshaping customer behavior and what leaders need to understand now.   They explore the risks of cognitive offloading, the importance of protecting human...

What if one small act of kindness could create a ripple effect far beyond what you imagined?   In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with entrepreneur Braxton Kilgo to explore how a simple mission grew into a business,  a movement , and a model for meaningful leadership. Braxton shares his journey from small-town beginnings to building a purpose-driven brand centered on human connection, service,...

What if the success you built is no longer setting you free?   In this episode of  The Enlightened Executive , Susan Drumm sits down with investor, entrepreneur, and  Fulfillionaire  founder JP Newman to explore a truth many high achievers quietly wrestle  with:  external success does not always create internal fulfillment.   JP shares his journey from chasing financial milestones to redefining we...

What happens when success does not bring the confidence you  expected ?   In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with Laura Gassner Otting to explore the tension many leaders feel after reaching a new level of achievement. Instead of clarity, they often experience pressure, self-doubt, and the sense that they now have even more to prove.   Together, they unpack Laura's concept of " Wonderhell ," t...

Are you  leading on  an empty tank ?   In this high-energy episode of  The Enlightened Executive , Susan Drumm is joined by keynote speaker and joy instigator  Marli Williams  to explore how cultivating  energy intelligence  can radically elevate your leadership presence, resilience, and impact.   You'll  discover:   Why managing your energy ,  not just your time ,  is the secret to leading sustai...

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...

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 refl...

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...

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 b...

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...

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...

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" ca...

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...

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 thous...

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 hid...

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 derai...

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 discom...