The Executive Career Playbook

The executive talent landscape is shifting faster than ever. AI expectations are reshaping hiring criteria. Generational transitions are opening C-suite doors. Board opportunities are at unprecedented levels. The skills that got you where you are now may not be the ones that get you where you want to be in the future. Join Debra Boggs and Ascentria Search Partners’ Ken Schmitt for a focused 30-min...

We've had the same conversation with dozens of C-suite executives lately: "I've been trying to land a board seat for two years and I'm not getting anywhere. Here's the thing, being qualified for a board and being positioned to land one are two completely different challenges. And most executives are solving the wrong problem. If 2026 is your year to land a board seat, we need to talk about what ha...

For executives navigating career transitions or pursuing board appointments, courage isn't optional. It's the differentiator between settling and strategic advancement. In this conversation with Debra Boggs, Christopher O.H. Williams, NACD.DC, author of C.O.U.R.A.G.E.: 7 Choices for Living a Life Without Regret, draws from his leadership roles at Nike, Adidas, Goldman Sachs, and as the first presi...

Compensation negotiations in 2026 demand a different playbook. Join Debra Boggs and Michelle Merritt for 30 minutes of straight talk on what it takes to secure the package you've earned. This session is for you if: You're a C-suite executive or senior leader planning a move, expecting a promotion, or ensuring your current compensation reflects your actual value. Walk away with a clear strategy to...

This episode is your roadmap to finding opportunities in today’s hiring landscape, not the one from 5 years ago.   Work with D&S (Executive Search Support): https://www.dscareermanagement.com/   Visit us at: https://www.dscareermanagement.com/ to learn how we can help you stand out, stay visible, and move your career forward.   Book a call with us today here: https://meetings.hubspot.com/cpoff...

The Shocking Truth: A recent IT Manager posting received 1,600 applications. Your odds of getting hired? Worse than becoming a NASA astronaut.   When companies face this tsunami of applications, they don't review them all. They tap their network or hire a recruiter to start over. Your perfect resume? Never even opened.   Join Debra Boggs, CEO, and Michelle Merritt, Chief Strategy Officer of D&...

Executive recruiters can be your secret weapon in landing your next leadership role, but most marketing executives don't know how to leverage these relationships effectively. Join Debra Boggs for a candid conversation with David Honig, one of the top marketing executive recruiters in the business, as they pull back the curtain on what really happens in executive search, and how you can position yo...

    How to Maintain Hope and Confidence During Your Executive Career Transition   The average executive search now spans 6-9 months. If you're feeling the weight of an extended transition, you're not alone, and more importantly, you're not broken. Our panel has guided over 3,000 executives through successful transitions, and they're here to share what actually works. Our experts reveal the #1 ment...

In today’s unpredictable market, timing is everything. Join Debra Boggs, CEO of D&S Executive Career Management, and Michelle Merritt, Chief Strategy Officer, for a candid 30-minute discussion designed for senior leaders, VPs, C-Suite executives, and board-ready professionals. You’ll discover: ✅ Real-time insights into the executive job market ✅ A proven decision framework for smart career t...

Join Debra Boggs (CEO) and Michelle Merritt (CSO) of D&S Executive Career Management live from the Private Directors Association’s PRISM 2025 Conference at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Get exclusive insights on what’s shaping private company boards in 2025 — from governance trends and board effectiveness to how top executives are landing paid board seats. 🎯 You’ll learn: What board nominatin...

The holidays are coming. So are the questions. You know the ones: "Still looking?" "Any leads?" "My cousin knows someone who..." Before you face another round of well-meaning career interrogations over turkey and cocktails, this episode will save your sanity (and your search momentum). We're talking real executive survival tactics: ✔️ Turning awkward dinner conversations into strategic connections...

Your title doesn’t make you influential, your story does. Join Debra Boggs, CEO of D&S Executive Career Management, and Ari Butler, Founder of The AB3 Group, as they unpack how top executives turn expertise into influence through the power of storytelling. You’ll learn how to: ✅ Communicate with impact in high-stakes moments ✅ Turn technical brilliance into leadership influence ✅ Build exec...

Most execs focus on getting in. The smart ones also plan how to get out. In this short, Ezra Singer breaks down why negotiating your severance before you accept an offer could protect your compensation, equity, benefits, and career momentum, just like a prenup.   From outplacement support to post-exit pay, these aren’t soft asks—they’re strategic plays in today’s high-stakes economy.  Don’t wait u...

Board interviews aren’t like any other conversation in your career. In this video, Debra Boggs and Michelle Merritt dive into what boards really ask, how they evaluate candidates, and the presence you need to demonstrate behind closed doors. If you’re preparing for a director interview or planning ahead for your first board role, you don’t want to miss this.   Subscribe for weekly strategies on ex...

Your next executive role or board seat won’t be decided by your résumé alone. In today’s market, executive search consultants and board nominating committees are digging deeper. They’re looking at your entire digital footprint before making million-dollar decisions. In this exclusive conversation, Debra Boggs, CEO of D&S Executive Career Management, sits down with Donald Thompson, award-winnin...

Are you an executive leader struggling to land your next role? Traditional job search methods don’t work at the C-suite. That’s why 73% of executive searches drag on for months. In this video, Michelle Merritt (Chief Strategy Officer) and Dr. Norma Dávila (Director of Coaching) from D&S Executive Career Management reveal insider strategies to help you: + Position yourself as the obvious choice...

Navigating the executive job market can feel like a minefield. Do you really need a new resume for every role? Can AI do it all for you? And what about LinkedIn, how visible should you really be? Join Michelle Merritt (Chief Strategy Officer) and Carmen Poff (Client Success Director) of D&S Executive Career Management as they answer the most frequently asked and often misunderstood questions f...

Maximize your conference ROI with The Strategic Schmooze, a proven system to turn casual chats into lasting partnerships. Senior executives, this one’s for you. ✅ Learn executive-level conversation starters ✅ Master the 3-Touch System to turn contacts into connections ✅ Discover how to identify and engage the right stakeholders ✅ Upgrade your follow-up game to stand out as a leader 📌 Don’t ju...

What if your biggest career blow felt public, personal, and impossible to bounce back from? That’s exactly where Brittney Ezell found herself. After two decades as a Division I head basketball coach, her entire identity was tied to the title—until it wasn’t. In this powerful conversation, Brittney reveals what it really takes to bounce forward, not just bounce back. Now the CEO of Keller Williams...

If you're a senior leader or C-suite executive stepping into a new role, or interviewing for one, your first 100 days can either build momentum or cost your organization up to $1.5M in hiring failures. Here, we break down the exact framework used by successful executives to navigate high-level transitions with confidence and clarity. What you'll learn in this session: ✅ Strategic stakeholder mapp...

In this 30-minute power session, Michelle Merritt (Chief Strategy Officer) and Allan Wojahn (Lead Writer) from D&S Executive Career Management break down what you must do to stand out in the busiest hiring window of the year. Perfect for CEOs, CMOs, CFOs, CHROs, and other C-level leaders—especially those eyeing new opportunities or career transitions. You will learn: - The exact months top com...

Ready to land your first—or next—C-suite role in 2025? Join Michelle Merritt, Chief Strategy Officer, and Debra Boggs, CEO of D&S Executive Career Management, as they share actionable insights on reframing your value proposition, crafting a compelling executive resume, and leveraging LinkedIn for a successful C-suite job search. What you’ll learn in this episode: ✔ How to reposition your value...