The Executive Edge

Episode 237 Released July 9, 2026 This episode of my podcast sits a little outside my usual territory. Most weeks I'm here talking about the psychology behind performance, leadership and how we show up. However, this week I'm taking you somewhere more practical: my guest is Steve Turner of Solomon Turner PR. We talk about public relations, and how getting it right builds your reputation over time....

Episode 236. Released June 25, 2026 This week I'm joined by  Louisa Loran , a global executive advisor, board member and author of Leadership Anatomy in Motion . Louisa has spent more than two decades at the heart of some of the world's biggest businesses, including Diageo, Maersk and Google. Change is everywhere right now, and Louisa sees it for what it really is. A genuine opportunity to add ano...

Episode 235 Released June 11, 2026 Everyone wants momentum. Move faster, scale quicker, get ahead. Yet very few businesses actually have it. This week I talk with  Chip Higgins , author of The Bizzics Way . Chip took one equation from physics, mass times velocity, and turned it into a refreshingly practical model for growth. His point is simple: we pour everything into velocity and ignore mass. Yo...

Episode 234 Released May 28, 2026 You know the feeling. You've read the books, done the therapy, tried the positive thinking. And yet. Same patterns. Same reactions. Same stuck points — just in slightly different circumstances. In this episode, Sue talks with Joanna Kleinman — a psychotherapist and leadership coach with 30 years of experience and the creator of the Mind Method. Joanna's work start...

Released May 14, 2026 Episode 233 Fourteen years working with NBA players teaches you something most leadership books miss: the gap between good and great is almost never technical. It's psychological. This week I sit down with Tom Mitchell — 40+ years coaching elite athletes and business leaders, co-author of an Amazon bestseller with Joe Montana, and author of the new book Embrace Your Inner Coa...

Episode 232  Released April 29, 2026 This week on The Executive Edge, I'm joined by Srimoyee (Sri) Dey , founder of BrandsLumen and an employer brand strategist based in Melbourne. Sri works with leaders to close the gap between what their organisation says it stands for — and what talent actually experiences. It's a conversation that will make you look at your hiring process very differently. The...

Episode 231 Released April 16, 2026 About this episode You know what you want to say. So why doesn't it land? I'm joined by executive communication expert and author Dr. Laura Sicola to unpack the real meaning of executive presence — and why it could be the single biggest factor holding talented leaders back. We discuss: The gap between brain and mouth The biggest communication challenge isn't kno...

Episode 230 Released April 2, 2026 In this episode, I sit down with Gemma Borgert — a medical device specialist with over 20 years of industry experience and a deeply personal reason for championing this technology. Gemma introduces the e4life personal , a groundbreaking portable antiviral device that uses electromagnetic waves to inactivate airborne viruses in real time. Whether you're protecting...

Episode 229 Released March 19, 2026 Guest: Rebecca Homkes (Economist, Growth Strategist, Lecturer at London Business School & Duke University) Episode Overview In this episode, I am joined by economist and growth strategist Rebecca Homkes for a conversation about leading through uncertainty. With macro volatility showing no signs of letting up, Rebecca shares a practical, no-nonsense framework for...

Episode 228 / Released March 5, 2026 Are you coping, surviving — or actually thriving ? In this episode, I talked with Russell Harvey , speaker and coach, who has spent over a decade helping leaders build the kind of resilience that lasts. His background spans the NHS, BT, and years of leadership development work — and he brings a refreshingly practical lens to a word that can feel overused: resil...

Episode 227 Released February 19, 2026 With Greg Hawks, Corporate Culture Specialist What if the problem with employee engagement isn't the disengaged — it's the people you've been tolerating? That's the starting point for this week's conversation with Greg Hawks, corporate culture specialist, keynote speaker, and author of Act Like an Owner: Five Unlocks for Creating Culture People Love and Resul...

Episode 226 Released February 5, 2026   In this episode, Sue Firth talks with Allister Frost about why cultivating a future-ready mindset is essential for leaders navigating constant change—and how to do it without feeling overwhelmed. About Allister Frost Allister spent ten years in traditional manufacturing before joining Microsoft, where Bill Gates' philosophy—"If it works, it's obsolete"—trans...

Episode 225  Released January 22, 2026 Episode Overview In this episode, I'm joined by Maria Brinck , leadership consultant, public speaker, and author of The Leadership We Need . Maria shares her remarkable journey from corporate America to the rainforests of Cameroon, and explains why the leadership models we've relied upon for generations are no longer fit for purpose. This is an essential conv...

Episode 224  Released January 8, 2026 This week I'm joined by James Gardner , a fellow Vistage member who's been on quite a journey – from building a manufacturing business with his brother over nearly two decades, through its sale, to running a funeral director businesses in Kent. James now mentors business owners through acquisitions, post-acquisition challenges, and the transition out of busine...

Episode 223 Released December 11, 2025 Guest: Alejandra Ramirez, Founder of Ready Cultures Episode Overview In this episode, Sue is joined by Alejandra Ramirez, an internal communications specialist with nearly 20 years of experience helping service-driven businesses shape their culture from the inside out. Together, they explore why so many organisations struggle to turn their values into lived r...

Episode 222 Released November 27, 2025 Audio Quality Note Please note: Due to technical difficulties with the host's microphone during recording, Sue's audio quality is below our usual standard. We've chosen to release this episode despite these challenges because the conversation offers valuable insights that we believe are too important to delay. We appreciate your understanding and patience. Ep...

Episode 221 Released November 13, 2025 Guest: Ted Santos, Business Strategist and Founder of Turnaround Investment Partners ----- In this episode, I sat down with Ted Santos, a business strategist who has pioneered a disruptive leadership model that challenges how executives think about change, adversity, and organisational transformation. Ted's approach isn't just theoretical – it's forged from p...

Episode 220 Released 2025-10-30 Building Your Resilience Plan with Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier Guest: Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, Workplace Mental Health Expert, Psychologist, and Speaker If you're a busy, I suspect you've already spotted yourself in this scenario: demands are increasing, deadlines are looming, and your natural response is to lean in harder, work longer hours, and push through with...

Episode 219 Released 2025-10-16 Guest: John Gates, Founder of Salary Coach Episode Summary I sit down with veteran recruiter John Gates , who shares over 30 years of insider knowledge on salary negotiation. With 75,000+ job offers under his belt, John reveals why 80% of people don't negotiate at all—and how much money they're leaving on the table. This episode is packed with practical techniques y...

Episode 218 Released 2025-10-02 Episode Overview In this episode of The Executive Edge, host Sue Firth sits down with confidence coach and entrepreneur Tara Lafon Gooch to discuss building authentic confidence, personal branding, and the transformative power of gratitude. Tara shares her journey from corporate burnout to becoming a TEDx speaker, author, and CEO, offering practical strategies for a...

Episode 217 Released September 18, 2025 Guest: Jose Berlanga - From Trauma to Triumph: Building Multiple Successful Businesses Website: https://joseberlanga.com Episode Overview In this episode, Sue Firth interviews Jose Berlanga, a Houston-based entrepreneur who has built success across multiple industries despite facing significant early-life challenges. From overcoming severe childhood trauma t...

Released September 4, 2025 | Episode 216 Episode Summary In this episode of The Executive Edge, host Sue Firth sits down with leadership and strategic change advisor Dan Roberts to explore the critical human element of organizational transformation. Drawing from extensive experience in change management and organizational development, Dan shares practical strategies for helping companies navigate...

Episode 215 Released July 24, 2025  Interview with Candice Elsmore - Former Investment Banker turned COO, Strategic Partnerships Expert Guest Background Candice Elsmore brings extensive international experience across four continents: South African origins: Grew up in Johannesburg Education: London Business School, Wharton (US) Career progression: Investment banker at Goldman Sachs → COO roles → S...

Episode 214 Released: July 10, 2025 The Story Freddie Rostand's wife Liz has MS and was declining rapidly - could barely walk ¾ mile before collapse. Traditional medicine offered little hope, according to Freddie. An Australian journalist friend shared how bovine colostrum got his wheelchair-bound wife walking again. Within weeks, Liz could walk miles and her life transformed. What is Colostrum? F...

Episode 213 Released June 26, 2025 Episode: Leadership is a Skill, Not a Position Guest: Andy Coley - Leadership Development Expert & TEDx Speaker of the Year Episode Overview Join Sue Firth as she interviews Andy Coley, a leadership development expert who transitioned from tech to transforming how people think about leadership. Andy shares his personal journey from IT professional to TEDx Speaker...