News from Leaders By Design

Senior executive in reflective leadership conversation — personality traits effective leaders

The Personality Traits That Separate Good Leaders From Great Ones

The traits that got you to the C-suite aren’t always the ones that keep you effective there — and in my experience, the gap shows up in three specific places most senior leaders would rather not examine. I’ll show you exactly where to look.

Self-directed neuroplasticity - How attention and mindfulness shape executive performance

The Mind’s Interpretation: How Attention and Mindfulness Shape Executive Performance

Your brain reacts 165 milliseconds before your conscious mind catches up. For senior executives, that gap is where leadership is won or lost. In this installment of Cultivating Leaders, I explore how attention, mindfulness, and the science of reframing give leaders access to their best judgment precisely when pressure is highest.

Why women struggle to be heard in executive meetings, and what being heard actually requires

Why Women Struggle to Be Heard in Executive Meetings

Executive meetings have an architecture — one built over decades around the communication norms of male-dominated hierarchies. The rules are largely unwritten. But they are real. And they systematically disadvantage the way many senior women naturally communicate. Women who consistently get heard in high-stakes rooms aren’t louder or more aggressive. They’re more strategically positioned.

Self-Awareness is the Foundation of Great Leadership - Pause and Reflect

Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Leadership

Even the most accomplished executives plateau without self-awareness. Blind spots, ego protection, and low feedback tolerance quietly erode authority. In this installment of Cultivating Leaders, I explore why executive self-awareness is the true competitive advantage — and how structured leadership coaching helps senior leaders confront blind spots before they become derailments.

Every Woman Executive Needs a Strategic Mentor

Beyond the Confidence Gap: Executive Coaching & Strategic Mentoring for Women Leaders

Women executives need more than confidence—they need strategic mentorship. Learn how executive coaching helps senior women leaders identify the right mentors, expand influence, and accelerate advancement at the highest levels of leadership.