Secrets of the C-Suite: The Podcast

Listen agin to this powerful episode with Teja Smith, CEO and Founder of Get Social, a Los Angeles–based digital strategy and social media agency specializing in advocacy, culture, and impact-driven storytelling. With more than a decade at the intersection of social justice, politics, and pop culture, Teja shares how her upbringing, her grandmother’s legacy, and her commitment to equity shaped her...

What does great leadership have to do with luck, communication and knowing when to say yes? In this episode, Juliet and Susan sit down with Phil Grosse to explore his winding career, from wholesale distribution to occupational injury prevention, nonprofit leadership and community organizing. Phil shares lessons from decades of leadership, including how commitment-based communication can transform...

In this unplugged episode, Susan and Juliet explore why we’re often waiting to feel ready before taking the next step — and why readiness might actually be a decision, not a feeling. They talk about creating space to pause, finding perspective when everything feels urgent, and how the skills we use to navigate work can also help us navigate the messy realities of life. Plus, Susan shares what’s ev...

Listen back to this episode with Mark Cederborg, who shares with us his extensive experience in the construction industry, particularly Ecological Restoration Construction in Northern California. Mark started in the industry by doing and learning ALL the jobs (using his words) and ending up as CEO! His views of leadership are evident and articulate, and we loved our conversation. Mark is now CEO o...

Leadership is rarely about having all the answers. More often, it's about creating space for better conversations and focusing on what really matters. In this episode, Juliet and Susan are joined by leadership strategist and consultant John Newsome, founder of Public Equity Group. Drawing on decades of experience advising nonprofits, foundations and social impact organisations, John shares hi...

In this episode, Susan and Juliet sit down with flower farmer and entrepreneur Katie Specht, founder of Moonlight Blooms Farm. Katie shares how she turned a love of growing flowers into a thriving business, why building community has been just as important as building revenue, and the lessons she's learned about trusting her instincts along the way. From navigating setbacks and outgrowing men...

In this week's conversation on Secrets of the C-Suite, Susan and Juliet sit down with entrepreneur, healthcare professional, and advocate Sarita Parikh. After spending years helping others navigate healthcare, disability rights, and community support systems, Sarita found herself on the other side of the equation when a traumatic brain injury and breast cancer diagnosis turned her world upsid...

Season 4 is here, and to celebrate, Susan and Juliet are looking back on two years of conversations that have reshaped how they think about leadership. From unexpected lessons to unforgettable guests, they reflect on the quality that kept surfacing in some of their most impactful conversations, why so many leaders underestimate the value of their own stories, and how the podcast has evolved in way...

In this 'Best of S2' episode, Juliet & Susan welcome Shireen McSpadden, Executive Director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing for the City & County of San Francisco, California.  In a city where homelessness has become a hot button issue, Shireen brings extensive experience and remarkable calm to her role in finding solutions to a complex issue. There's...

In this 'Best of S1' episode, we sat down with Charles DeSantis, a passionate advocate for community wellness and humanitarian efforts. Charles shares his inspiring journey and motivations, emphasizing his commitment to his family, community, and those in greatest need. As Georgetown University’s Chief Benefits Officer, he leads initiatives that enhance employee wellbeing and support the...

In this 'Best of S2' episode, Juliet & Susan welcome Janéa Jackson, CEO of HomeRise, a San Francisco-based non-profit whose mission is to provide supportive housing to unhoused people. In less than 2 years since stepping into the role of CEO, Janéa has needed to assess and learn the people and business of the organization while overhauling it's finances and operating model. She&...

In this special season 3 finale of Secrets of the C-Suite , we take a step back to reflect on the conversations, themes and lessons that shaped this chapter of the podcast. We revisit standout moments from our guests—from bold, fearless leadership and career pivots to navigating crisis, embracing creativity and redefining what success looks like. Along the way, we notice some common threads: sayin...

In this episode of Secrets of the C-Suite , Susan and Juliet are joined by HR expert and founder of Destination HR Consulting, Dena Grunt, for a candid conversation on leadership, growth and the human side of HR. Dena shares her unexpected path into human resources, pivoting from speech pathology after discovering the work fit her strengths and desire to help people. Her career spans legal, hospit...

In this episode of Secrets of the C-Suite , we sit down with Barb Gustafson, co-owner of Paul Mathew Vineyards, to talk about entrepreneurship, leadership, and what it takes to build a business from the ground up. Barb shares how her career began in hospitality and restaurants in Vancouver, where a growing curiosity about wine turned into a passion that ultimately led her to California and into th...

In another "Unplugged" episode, we step away from guest interviews to explore a leadership concept we return to often in our work and in our own lives: the idea of your future self. Sparked by a New York Times article—and an unexpectedly revealing conversation about parking strategies—we reflect on how small, present-day decisions can shape who we become as leaders over time. From doing...

In this 'Best of Season 1' episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Melissa Hurrington, an unapologetic leader who has mastered the art of balancing personal and professional life. When her company turned to her for guidance during the pandemic in 2020, Melissa realized that no one truly has all the answers. This pivotal moment allowed her to show up authentically and highlight th...

In this episode of Secrets of the C-Suite , we’re joined by Pippa Parfait, strategist, business coach, and founder of The Disobedient Business Co—a business built for humans who don’t fit neatly into traditional models of work or leadership. Pippa shares her winding, unconventional career journey, from leaving formal education at 16 to senior leadership roles in the public sector, before “noping o...

In this unscripted “Unplugged” episode, we reflect on leadership, work, and life at this stage of our careers—and what we're ready to let go of as we look ahead. We dive into big, often unspoken questions: What does retirement really mean? What if we don’t actually want it? How do purpose, energy, money, and freedom evolve as our careers—and lives—change? Juliet shares the realization that re...

In this episode of Secrets of the C-Suite , we’re joined by Lisa Amador, a leader whose career has been shaped by purpose, people, and community—and whose path shows that some of the most impactful leadership journeys are anything but linear. Lisa shares how she moved from advertising and radio leadership into healthcare philanthropy at Sutter Health, taking on roles she’d never held before and le...

Secrets of the C-Suite: The Podcast is on a holiday break, as are Juliet and Susan. We thought you'd enjoy re-listening to this great episode with Valari Staab, Chairman of NBCUniversal, one of the 'best of' Season 2.  We'll be back on January 5th with a new episode.  All of us at Secrets of the C-Suite wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season! ———————————————————— Th...

This week, we sat down with crisis management expert and author Regina Phelps for a lively, wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to lead through chaos. Regina shares her unconventional path from oncology nursing to founding a global crisis consulting firm, including the moment she was fired (yes, fired!) and how that unexpected shock opened the door to the work she was truly mean...

In this special “Unplugged” episode, we step away from our usual format and dive into a spontaneous, unscripted conversation about something that’s been showing up in our lives and leadership lately: the idea of your future self—who you’ve been, who you are today, and who you’re intentionally becoming. Inspired by a story about a six-year-old navigating swim lessons, we talk about how even the sma...

Juliet and Susan had such fun on this episode as we interviewed our podcast producer (and Juliet's brother), Brian Clothier! Brian is a multi-skilled, mostly self-employed partner and CXO for small businesses – he can slot into any C-suite role in the businesses he works with – as well as a producer and an inspired musician. He got his start coveting his sister's "cool" red gui...

In this powerful episode of Secrets of the C-Suite , we welcome Teja Smith, CEO and Founder of Get Social , a Los Angeles–based digital strategy and social media agency specializing in advocacy, culture, and impact-driven storytelling. With more than a decade at the intersection of social justice, politics, and pop culture, Teja shares how her upbringing, her grandmother’s legacy, and her commitme...

Welcome back to Secrets of the C-Suite: The Podcast ! After a fairly long summer break, Juliet and Susan are back, this season focusing in particular (but not exclusively) on entrepreneurs. We're excited to explore the leadership, creativity and innovation, and resilience many entrepreneurs bring to their businesses. In this episode, we also share some reflections on our respective summers. J...