Explore every episode of the podcast Excellent Executive Coaching: Growing Your Business and Enhancing Your Craft.

Kiersten Farmer is a Data Strategist, Organizational Excellence Coach, and Managing Director of DataCivic. With nearly two decades of experience in applied data practices, performance management, and organizational evolution, she helps leaders answer the defining question of the AI age: What makes me necessary?

• What does an "AI identity crisis" actually look like inside an organization, and how do you know when you're in one?
• Why isn't upskilling and learning AI tools the answer on its own?
• Does the AI identity crisis show up differently in government, mission-driven organizations, and the private sector?
• What does a leader who is confident amidst data and AI look like in practice, and how is that different from someone who's just comfortable with technology?
• What does it cost an organization to ignore this problem?

Kiersten Farmer is a Data Strategist, Organizational Excellence Coach, and Managing Director of DataCivic. With nearly two decades of experience in applied data practices, performance management, and organizational evolution, she helps leaders answer the defining question of the AI age: What makes me necessary? A CBAP-certified data scientist, Ph.D. candidate, and dual master's degree holder in Technology Entrepreneurship and Public Administration, Kiersten is a published author and national speaker. She is known for helping organizations preserve their competitive edge, build leadership confidence with data and AI, and lead boldly through uncertainty with clarity and confidence.

www.datacivic.com

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Michael Wood is a Consciousness Awareness Professional and the creator of the Learn To Love Being You program, a 10-week journey designed to help people break free from anxiety, self-doubt, and the emotional spirals that keep them stuck.

• How can we rewire subconscious beliefs formed in childhood without years of therapy?
• What actually heals trauma, beyond talk therapy alone?
• What is the shift from the Fear Bucket to the Love Bucket, and how can brain chemistry help us escape anxiety on demand?
• How can we quiet the mental chatter and access our intuition, even if we "can't meditate"?
• Why is forgiveness not a weakness, but your escape from someone else's prison?

Michael is a Consciousness Awareness Professional and the creator of the Learn To Love Being You program, a 10-week journey designed to help people break free from anxiety, self-doubt, and the emotional spirals that keep them stuck. After rebuilding his own life from the inside out, Michael has dedicated himself to helping others rewrite the beliefs that shape their reality and reconnect with the part of themselves they forgot they had.

As COO of Jarrett Companies, Michael has led hundreds of high-stakes, emotionally charged conversations—experiences that shaped his direct, no-nonsense approach to personal transformation. He blends spiritual insight, grounded psychology, and a goofy sense of humor to help people open up, relax, and finally breathe.

Whether he's teaching breathwork in a maximum-security prison, building businesses that actually uplift their people, or guiding someone through a major breakthrough, Michael's mission is simple: help people remember who they are, unlock what they're capable of, and actually enjoy being themselves again.

www.learntolovebeingyou.com

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

With over 25 years of experience, Kristina Katayama is the founder and lead consultant of Be Possible, which supports discerning, legacy-minded leaders across public, nonprofit, and private organizations who feel called to effect social change beyond their job description.

• Why do you say that many leaders do not actually have a conflict problem, but a relational culture problem?
• What does a conflict-capable organization look like in practice?
• How does nervous-system awareness change the way we lead, coach, and navigate tension?
• What can leaders do when trust is frayed, communication is breaking down, or people are either checked out or reactive?
• How can executive coaches help leaders shift from managing symptoms to building the conditions for genuine collaboration?

With over 25 years of experience, Kristina Katayama is the founder and lead consultant of Be Possible, which supports discerning, legacy-minded leaders across public, nonprofit, and private organizations who feel called to effect social change beyond their job description. Our work helps leaders and teams transform conflict into collaboration and operationalize values through nervous-system-wise, relational practices in everyday interactions. Using an appreciative approach, we create action-learning processes that build relational accountability, develop agency at every level, and embed scalable micro-practices to strengthen trust, vitality, and collaboration. Grounded in appreciative inquiry, adaptive leadership, and restorative practices, our approach integrates organizational change, leadership development, and nervous-system-wise dynamics. We help organizations transform patterns of passivity and reactivity under tension into cultures rooted in grounded engagement, collective ownership, and vitality. Over time, organizations shift from conflict-avoidant, hero-based firefighting to conflict-capable human systems that can navigate complexity and thrive.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Nate Amidon is a former U.S. Air Force combat pilot turned CEO and founder of Form 100 Consulting. He helps enterprise technology and program leaders create alignment, drive predictable execution, and implement AI with real ROI.

• You have a military background; what leadership principles from that experience apply directly to business and technology teams?
• How do you help people in the military convert to the business world?
• What are the biggest mistakes leaders make when trying to implement AI in their organizations?
• How can leaders create clarity in complex programs where multiple teams and stakeholders are involved?
• Why do so many agile programs struggle with predictability, even when teams are performing well?
• You talk a lot about alignment; what does alignment actually look like inside a large enterprise program?

Nate Amidon is a former U.S. Air Force combat pilot turned CEO and founder of Form 100 Consulting. He helps enterprise technology and program leaders create alignment, drive predictable execution, and implement AI with real ROI. Drawing on military precision and hard-won civilian experience, Nate specializes in cutting through complexity to deliver clarity, for teams, leaders, and organizations navigating large-scale change.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Alexis Kennedy built her career at the intersection of law and forensic psychology. With both a PhD in Forensic Psychology and a JD, she spent decades researching child abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking. After years of absorbing the cumulative weight of that work, she experienced firsthand what she had only studied in others: burnout.

• You built a career studying trauma, and then burned out. What did that actually look like?
• Corporate leaders are often celebrated for their ability to push through. From a neuroscience standpoint, what is actually happening in the brain and body when someone has been in that "push through" mode for too long?
• You work with judges, executives, and first responders. What do these groups have in common when it comes to why they resist asking for help? W
• You have said that protecting yourself is not a weakness; it is the strategy. For a skeptical executive who sees self-care as soft, what does the science actually say about the cost of not protecting yourself?
• Your approach is specifically designed for people who are too busy or too skeptical to slow down. What does an evidence-based recovery strategy look?

Dr. Alexis Kennedy built her career at the intersection of law and forensic psychology. With both a PhD in Forensic Psychology and a JD, she spent decades researching child abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking. After years of absorbing the cumulative weight of that work, she experienced firsthand what she had only studied in others: burnout.

That turning point became her catalyst. She redirected her research expertise toward understanding why driven, accomplished professionals hit the wall and what the science says about getting back up. She now works with the audiences least likely to ask for help: judges, lawyers, executives, firefighters, and first responders who are too busy or too skeptical to slow down.

Her approach is practical and evidence-based. She translates neuroscience and stress physiology into concrete strategies that high-performing professionals will actually use.

Dr. Kennedy is a sought-after speaker, researcher, and advisor who has worked inside courtrooms, fire stations, law firms, and corporate boardrooms across North America. Her message is simple: protecting yourself is not a weakness. It is the strategy.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Erin Hedinger is an LCSW with more than a decade of expertise in integrative psychospiritual and humanistic modalities and an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies. She started her practice, EH Therapy LLC, in 2019 and has since curated a holistic approach that combines evidence-based treatment models with the timeless wisdom of ancient myths, rituals, symbols, and storytelling.

• You created a Modern Day Hero's Journey- a holistic model for healing and ecstatic living. Can you tell listeners why you think this model is needed at this time and what inspired you to create it?
• At the heart of your model is a pretty bold claim: that healing and ecstatic living are not two separate journeys but one. Can you unpack that for us?
• You bring this to life through the metaphor of an inner-world theater. Can you take us on a tour of that inner world and help listeners understand what is actually happening inside them? And walk us through the model's different phases?
• You write about the Fall as a universal human experience. Why is understanding our own falls so central to this journey, and what role does shame play in keeping us stuck?
• So what does it actually look like when someone does the work and steps out of survival into what you call ecstatic living?

Erin Hedinger is an LCSW with more than a decade of expertise in integrative psychospiritual and humanistic modalities and an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies. She started her practice, EH Therapy LLC, in 2019 and has since curated a holistic approach that combines evidence-based treatment models with the timeless wisdom of ancient myths, rituals, symbols, and storytelling.

At the heart of Erin's work is a belief that healing and living fully are not two separate journeys, but one. Her framework guides clients inward, helping them process grief, trauma, and unmet needs, while simultaneously reclaiming the hidden desires and gifts within. The goal, she believes, is not simply to survive or merely exist, but to build the most authentic, ecstatic life possible from the inside out.

Her therapeutic approach is the foundation of her recently completed book, Your Modern-Day Hero's Journey: A Guide to Ecstatic Living, a transformative guide that weaves archetypal storytelling with leading psychological research to help readers heal and thrive.

Beyond her practice, Erin has been a member of the Amherst Writers & Artists since 2012 and became a certified writing group leader in 2016. When not working with clients, Erin can be found practicing yoga, exploring the gorgeous wooded trails of Morristown, New Jersey, engaging in creative writing, spending time with loved ones, or indulging in glorious works of fiction!

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Pat has authored two cookbooks: Whisk Upon a Star and Mouth of the South. Her latest book: Hurdles in a Girdle...Holding Life Together When You're Bursting at the Seams was published by the same group that produced Jack Canfield's books, known for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

• How did you get interested in hypnotherapy?
• What is the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy?
• Why do willpower and motivation fail at the conscious level, and how does hypnotherapy address that?
• What role does the subconscious mind play in our ability to stay motivated or consistent?
• Can you share an example where hypnotherapy helped someone succeed where willpower alone didn't?
• How does hypnotherapy help people stay inspired? Can you describe the process?

Pat Allen went into real estate and opened Pat Allen Realty Group fourteen years ago, where she consistently ranks among the top 1.5% of brokers nationwide.

Pat has authored two cookbooks: Whisk Upon a Star and Mouth of the South. Her latest book: Hurdles in a Girdle...Holding Life Together When You're Bursting at the Seams was published by the same group that produced Jack Canfield's books, known for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and The Success Principles. Jack endorsed Pat's book on the cover.

Pat is dedicated, determined, and driven, and her success is due to the fact that she always makes it about her client...not herself. She felt compelled to help other women find love, purpose, and joy in their lives.

"My message is that we should never stay stuck in a bad marriage/relationship or an unfulfilled job. Fear holds us back from a life of joy, love, and purpose. If children are involved, thinking it's better to stay in a bad marriage is wrong…they will be impacted the rest of their lives."

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Lucy Lewand is a hospitality consultant, speaker, and founder of Happy Hospitality Solutions, with more than 40 years of experience helping organizations turn everyday interactions into a real competitive advantage.

• What's the difference between good service and true hospitality — and why does it matter for business results?
• What are the biggest missed opportunities you see in the first 7 seconds of a customer experience?
• You talk about hospitality as a competitive advantage — what does that actually look like in real life?
• What are a few phrases or habits that quietly damage interactions — and what should replace them?
• For leaders who feel like their team is 'good but not great,' what's one simple shift that creates immediate impact?

Lucy Lewand is a hospitality consultant, speaker, and founder of Happy Hospitality Solutions, with more than 40 years of experience helping organizations turn everyday interactions into a real competitive advantage.

She works with leaders across industries to create what she calls the "hospitality hum" — how people are welcomed, how they're engaged, and ultimately how they feel from the very first moment. Her work brings decades of hands-on experience into simple, practical frameworks leaders can use right away, whether they run a hotel, a nonprofit, or a sales team.

Lucy knows hospitality isn't just an industry — it's a leadership discipline. And the organizations that treat it that way consistently outperform those that don't.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Holly Beitel is a transformational speaker, coach, and creator of the A.R.C. Method™, helping leaders and entrepreneurs eliminate self-sabotage at the root by re-authoring the internal stories shaping their decisions, identity, and results.

• You are a transformational speaker. Where do you lead your clients from what to what?
• What is your A.R.C. Method, and how is it different than mindset work?
• What makes your method of working with leaders and entrepreneurs unique?
• What are the "symptoms" that would help someone realize they could benefit from your process? How long does it take? Can a three-day experience really create a sustainable transformation?
• What are the transformational results you deliver, and how fast do your clients see results?
• What kind of collaboration opportunities do you offer?

Holly Beitel is a transformational speaker, coach, and creator of the A.R.C. Method™, helping leaders and entrepreneurs eliminate self-sabotage at the root by re-authoring the internal stories shaping their decisions, identity, and results. Holly has:

• Worked with approximately 4,000 people to re-narrate and transform their stories
• Coached over 3,000 entrepreneurs to start and scale their online businesses
• Founder of the non-profit TRUE Stories Ministries
• Multi-6-figure earner in 3 different niches

Through immersive workshops, coaching, and interactive talks, Holly helps transform the stories that have been holding us back into our most strategic assets.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Janet's exploration of spirituality and psychology began when she experienced a profound near-death experience at eight years old. Hovering above her limp body near the ceiling of the family's bathroom, Janet watched as her mother's frantic attempts to resuscitate her failed.

• How has your near-death experience impacted your chosen career path?
• What have you been most amazed by when working to heal clients as a nature and hypnotherapist?
• Your book, ReGenesis: From Chaos to Conscious Co-Creation, highlights the 7 themes of ReGenesis that grew out of your doctoral research. Can you share a few of these themes with our audience that you feel are the most salient given our current struggles in the world.
• You met mythologist Dr. Joseph Campbell (Hero with a Thousand Faces) back in 1982. Tell us how your book helps guide a person's origin story toward healing?
• You created The Genesis Triad; three paintings – tell us about these paintings and how they are central to your healing work.

Dr. Janet's exploration of spirituality and psychology began when she experienced a profound near-death experience at eight years old. Hovering above her limp body near the ceiling of the family's bathroom, Janet watched as her mother's frantic attempts to resuscitate her failed. This profound experience laid the foundation for her life's work by providing her with firsthand knowledge of the fact that the spirit transcends the body. This led to her studies in spirituality, depth and ecopsychology, education, and art therapy. As the founder of "The Infinite Mind," her unique approach to coaching combines art and nature therapy with psychology to help clients define and direct their life's purpose. Her unique psychospiritual approach anchors quantum healing with practical tools for personal transformation by teaching the power of intention.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Ken Patterson is a dynamic speaker, leadership coach, and business growth strategist known for helping individuals and organizations unlock their highest level of performance through intentional leadership, mindset, and action.

• What is the biggest mistake leaders and sales professionals make when trying to grow their business or team?
• How do you help people move from feeling stuck to creating measurable momentum?
• What does intentional leadership actually look like in real life?
• In your experience, what separates high performers from those who stay average?
• If someone listening today wants to create breakthrough results, what is the first step they should take?

Ken Patterson is a dynamic speaker, leadership coach, and business growth strategist known for helping individuals and organizations unlock their highest level of performance through intentional leadership, mindset, and action.

With over a decade of experience in coaching, training, and leading high-performing professionals, Ken brings a rare blend of real-world business expertise and deeply human connection to every stage he steps onto. As a certified John Maxwell speaker, coach, and trainer, as well as a certified DISC personality consultant, he equips audiences with practical frameworks that drive measurable results in leadership, sales, culture, and personal growth.

A respected leader in the real estate industry and founder of Growth Intention, Ken has helped entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and teams increase performance, build scalable systems, and lead with greater purpose. His message is rooted in one core belief: kindness and accountability are not opposites…they are the foundation of sustainable success.

Whether speaking to corporate teams, entrepreneurs, associations, or growth-minded professionals, Ken's presentations are known for being high-energy, deeply relatable, and immediately actionable. Audiences leave inspired, challenged, and equipped with clear strategies they can implement right away.

Ken's mission is simple: to help people lead with intention, grow with purpose, and create lasting impact.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Danny M. Goldberg is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the leadership book "A Little Bit Asshole." He is the founder of multiple ventures, including GoldSRD, Crowne Cloth, DCL Cards, LikeMe App, and GoldTM.

• How can being "a little bit of an asshole" actually make you a better leader, entrepreneur, and communicator?
• What are the biggest communication mistakes professionals make when trying to be liked instead of respected?
• You've built businesses across training, consulting, collectibles, and other industries — what core principles have translated across every venture?
• In today's world of AI and automation, why do people-centric skills still separate top performers from everyone else?
• What's one hard truth about success that most people know deep down but are afraid to admit publicly?

Danny M. Goldberg is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the leadership book "A Little Bit Asshole." He is the founder of multiple ventures including GoldSRD (staffing, executive recruiting, and professional development), Crowne Cloth (a luxury lifestyle brand), DCL Cards (sports collectibles), LikeMe App (dating application), and GoldTM (ATM and vending services). Danny's work focuses on leadership, assertiveness, entrepreneurship, and the balance between empathy and decisiveness in business. His philosophy challenges the idea that success requires being ruthless—arguing instead that the most effective leaders learn how to be just assertive enough to get results while still earning respect. Through his speaking, consulting, and podcast appearances, Danny shares practical lessons from building businesses, navigating leadership challenges, and developing the confidence needed to succeed in modern workplaces.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Cameron Barbarick is a communication strategist, professional speaker, public speaking trainer, and creator of the A.R.K. Model for relational communication and the Charisma Speaking System. His passion is to help leaders discover the full potential of their voice.

• Why do traditional communication trainings fail when stakes are high-and what's missing?
• What is "response-able communication," and how does it differ from reactive communication?
• How does your A.R.K. Model (Awareness, Relatedness, Kenosis) transform workplace communication and leadership?
• What is the link between emotional intelligence, communication, and business performance?
• How can leaders build the internal capacity to communicate effectively under pressure-not just when it's easy?

Cameron Barbarick is a communication strategist, professional speaker, public speaking trainer, and creator of the A.R.K. Model for relational communication and the Charisma Speaking System. His passion is to help leaders discover the full potential of their voice.

His work is built on a powerful idea: communication breakdowns are not a technique problem - they're an internal capacity problem. Cameron helps leaders and teams move from reactive communication to response-able communication by developing the internal awareness, relational intelligence, and presence required to communicate effectively under pressure.

Cameron equips executives, business leaders, and teams to communicate with clarity, confidence, and connection - improving performance, strengthening relationships, and driving measurable business results. At the core of his mission is a simple belief: every person has a powerful voice, and when they learn to use it with presence and intention, they become the kind of communicator others naturally trust, follow, and connect with.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Alexandra (Alex) Adams, MD, PhD, is a physician–scientist, storyteller, and speaker whose current work explores the powerful connection between belonging and health. For more than 27 years, she has partnered with Native American communities to support family and community wellness by blending scientific rigor with Indigenous knowledge and community wisdom.

• Most people think health is mostly about individual choices—diet, exercise, and medical care. But your work suggests that belonging may be just as important. Can you explain that?
• Your work centers on belonging as a powerful force for healing. How do you define belonging?
• You often talk about the connection between adverse childhood experiences and adult health. What does the research show, and what gives you hope about healing?
• You've spent more than 27 years working in partnership with Indigenous communities. What have those partnerships taught you about health and wellness?
• If listeners are feeling disconnected—from community, from nature, or even from themselves—what is one small practice that could help them begin rebuilding a sense of belonging?

Alexandra (Alex) Adams, MD, PhD, is a physician–scientist, storyteller, and speaker whose current work explores the powerful connection between belonging and health. For more than 27 years, she has partnered with Native American communities to support family and community wellness by blending scientific rigor with Indigenous knowledge and community wisdom. She directs the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Excellence at Montana State University, where she builds community-led research partnerships and mentors the next generation of researchers. Land-based learning exchanges with Māori and Native American communities in the U.S. and New Zealand have deepened her understanding of how connection to people, place, culture, and the natural world shapes healing and well-being. She also uses storytelling and film to share these lessons and inspire healthier, more connected communities.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Cathey Armillas is a TEDx speaker coach known for helping people turn their ideas into talks that actually move people. She co-founded Speaker Skills Academy, the global "gym for speaking," where members drill their way to better storytelling.

• What's the brutally honest truth about why most talks are forgettable?
• What's something people would be shocked to learn about the behind-the-scenes process?
• If someone came to you with a talk that was a total hot mess, what's the very first thing you'd fix?
• You say people don't get better at speaking by speaking; they get better by drilling. Why is that?
• What's one drill or technique anyone listening could try today to instantly improve their speaking or storytelling?

Cathey Armillas is a TEDx speaker coach known for helping people turn their ideas into talks that actually move people. She co-founded Speaker Skills Academy, the global "gym for speaking," where members drill their way to better storytelling in a high-energy, deeply connected community. Cathey has coached CEOs to TEDx speakers, and she's obsessed with helping people speak with clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of creativity.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Tyrone A. Holmes is a professional speaker, coach, and content creator who has spent three decades teaching people to build powerful relationships in diverse settings.

• Why have we seen an increase in workplace incivility?
• How do you define uncivil behavior?
• What is the business cost of this incivility?
• What types of incivility are most common?
• What steps can leaders take to increase civility in the workplace?
• How has AI affected engagement in the workplace?

Dr. Holmes served as a full-time faculty member at Eastern Michigan University in the Department of Leadership and Counseling and at Wayne State University in the Department of Theoretical and Behavioral Foundations. He is certified as a Level 1 (Advanced) coach through USA Cycling and is a Past President of the Arizona Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Dr. Holmes has worked with hundreds of clients like Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen of America, and Boise Cascade, for example. He has also helped dozens of entrepreneurs build successful coaching, speaking, and consulting businesses. Dr. Holmes has earned the designation of eSpeakers Certified Virtual Presenter, Certified Virtual Host, and most recently, Certified Virtual Master Presenter.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Sara Vezensek walked away from a six-figure career on luxury superyachts to build a business entirely on her own terms, and in her first year, she closed $100K in sales in just 30 days. Now she's a Brand Strategist who helps service providers escape the delivery-heavy, founder-dependent model that's keeping them capped and burned out.

• You were working with billionaires selling Luxury yachts. What made you change your work?
• What was your vision after you left that job?
• What is the current mindset about success that you counter?
• What is your magic?
• How did you stay with your vision and help others stay in theirs?
• What mindset helps your success?
• Now that you have a successful business, what do you want to say to those billionaires you used to serve?

Sara Vezensek walked away from a six-figure career on luxury superyachts to build a business entirely on her own terms, and in her first year, she closed $100K in sales in just 30 days.

Now she's a Brand Strategist who helps service providers escape the delivery-heavy, founder-dependent model that's keeping them capped and burned out. Sara specializes in packaging your genius into scalable offers, elevating your client experience, and building an evergreen brand that attracts and converts without you being plugged in around the clock.

She's proof that when your brand is built right, freedom and revenue aren't opposites; they're the strategy.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Kimberly Jentzen is a California native who has spent a career coaching actors and excavating what drives human behavior — inside her studio, on stage, and on film sets.

• Tell us about your book, "Acting with Impact?"
• You have an acting school. What do actors need to know about acting?
• What does good listening mean to you?
• What is the difference between needs and wants?
• What does your school offer in courses?

Kimberly Jentzen is a California native who has spent a career coaching actors and excavating what drives human behavior — inside her studio, on stage, and on film sets. An internationally recognized acting coach, director, and author, she is the bestselling author of Acting with Impact, 2nd Edition, and Life Emotion Cards, and a Back Stage Reader's Choice Award winner. Her films have earned festival awards, including Best Direction, Best Short, and Audience Favorite — among them Reign, an Oscar-qualified short. She holds a degree from UCLA, where she now returns to teach, and a Master's in Spiritual Psychology from USM.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Hoong Yee Lee is a speaker on power, language, and alignment—focused on what happens before decisions are made. A former funder and national grants panelist, she has awarded over $10 million and spent years inside high-stakes rooms where outcomes are shaped long before they're announced.

• You say power moves before the decision—can you explain what that looks like in real life?
• How can someone tell, in real time, that a shift is happening in the room?
• What is The Velvet No, and how do you actually use it in a high-stakes moment?
• What happens when you don't catch the shift—what does it actually cost people?
• What personal experience did you have to create your interest in the Velvet No?

Hoong Yee Lee is a speaker on power, language, and alignment—focused on what happens before decisions are made.

A former funder and national grants panelist, she has awarded over $10 million and spent years inside high-stakes rooms where outcomes are shaped long before they're announced.

She is the creator of The Velvet No, a precise intervention used to intercept shifts in real time and restore authorship without force or escalation.

Through her framework—Know Your Room, See the Shift, and The Velvet No—she teaches leaders how to recognize when dynamics change, respond with clarity, and define what happens next.

Her work reframes success entirely: not as winning the room, but knowing when the room is no longer yours—to act on it.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dawn Goldstein, M.Ed., is a literacy educator, wellness advocate, College of Education Professor at NSU Fischler, and Founder & CEO of Freely Reading — a platform built on the conviction that Literacy Is Liberation.

• What is sexual literacy, and how is it different from sex education?
• How does shame about our bodies and sexuality show up in your private life?
• You say "Sexual Literacy is Mental Health Literacy" — what do you mean by that?
• How does the behavior play out by a person who has been sexually abused?
• What are the key questions you ask someone who has been sexually abused?

Dawn Goldstein, M.Ed., is a literacy educator, wellness advocate, College of Education Professor at NSU Fischler, and Founder & CEO of Freely Reading — a platform built on the conviction that Literacy Is Liberation. With 30+ years of experience across K–12 and higher education, Dawn has spent her career naming the conversations institutions are afraid to have. Her signature framework — Sexual Literacy is Mental Health Literacy — challenges leaders, coaches, and educators to understand that what we don't teach about bodies, boundaries, shame, and agency doesn't disappear. It shows up in our teams, our relationships, and our leadership. Dawn's work moves people from shame to agency — and she believes that journey begins with learning to read the stories we were never given permission to tell.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Mike Ettore has a distinguished record of providing effective leadership and achieving superior results in a wide range of challenging environments. In addition to being a retired Marine Corps Infantry officer and decorated combat leader, he also served successfully as a C-Level executive in Kforce (NYSE: KFRC), a publicly traded professional services company with annual revenue exceeding $1 Billion.

• You were in leadership roles in two very different environments – the US Marine Corps and as a C-level executive in a +$1 Billion publicly traded company. What were the major adjustments you had to make?
• How applicable are the core values in the Marines compared to executives in Corporate America?
• How do you evaluate the core values of a corporation, whether they are applied or not?
• What is the impact of AI on leadership, and how should it be used?
• You have written leadership books extensively. Where can people get a hold of your book and your resources?
• If a leader who is promoted has no formal training, what do you suggest?

Mike Ettore has a distinguished record of providing effective leadership and achieving superior results in a wide range of challenging environments. In addition to being a retired Marine Corps Infantry officer and decorated combat leader, he also served successfully as a C-Level executive in Kforce (NYSE: KFRC), a publicly traded professional services company with annual revenue exceeding $1 Billion.

During his 15 years at Kforce, Mike served in the roles of Vice President of Leadership Development, Vice President of Operations, Chief Information Officer, and, for the last nine years, as Chief Services Officer and one of the Firm's 5 Named Executive Officers.

Mike is the author of seven books on the topic of leadership, and also hosts the Fidelis Leadership Podcast, which focuses on helping those who seek to achieve Leadership Excellence.

Mike truly understands the various challenges facing business leaders and has a history of helping his clients optimize their leadership skills and accelerate their professional development.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Joy Bertrand attended law school at Indiana University-Bloomington and the University of Arizona. She received her Juris Doctorate from Indiana University-Bloomington in 1996. While on assignment with the US Attorney's Office, Joy tried and won four federal jury trials and successfully litigated several Seventh Circuit appeals, including a Solicitor General appeal.

• You've been a faculty member for Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College, which is about as elite and high-pressure as it gets. What did you witness happening to the best lawyers in the country over time that made you realize this was a health crisis, not just occupational stress?
• You describe hostility not as something that happens to us, but as a mindset — even a habit, no different than chronic complaining. Can you further explain that?
• What happens physiologically when someone spends years living in a state of constant conflict and high alert?
• You talk about an emotional scale, and you make the point that people don't have to leap from hostility all the way to gratitude to see real health benefits — that massive gains happen just by moving toward the middle. What does that middle ground look like, and how do people start finding it in the middle of a brutal workday?
• What does it actually look like to stop letting that pressure dismantle your health, your sleep, and your relationships — without losing your edge?

Joy Bertrand attended law school at Indiana University-Bloomington and the University of Arizona. She received her Juris Doctorate from Indiana University-Bloomington in 1996.

While on assignment with the US Attorney's Office, Joy tried and won four federal jury trials and successfully litigated several Seventh Circuit appeals, including a Solicitor General appeal.

In 2005, Joy entered private practice, emphasizing federal litigation. Her criminal practice has handled all manner of cases, from disorderly conduct and littering to white collar fraud and homicide.

Her current practice interests include federal trial consulting, trial lawyer coaching, teaching trial advocacy, the medical and legal issues presented by pregnant women in custody, and advocating for the abolition of qualified of immunity.

In October 2011, Joy graduated from the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming. She completed the Trial Lawyers College's faculty training in May 2014 and joined the TLC faculty shortly thereafter.

Joy is the host of the Athena in the Well podcast and author of the upcoming book, "How to Fight Giants and Win: the Secret Lives of Women Trial Lawyers."  Joy is also a speaker and teacher.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Leah Ellis is the founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children build real businesses and practice leadership in the real world.

• Why do we underestimate children's ability to lead, and what happens when we change that belief?
• What does it actually look like for a child to run a real business?
• How can parents and educators build confidence without over-helping?
• What skills do children gain from entrepreneurship that traditional education often misses?
• How can communities create environments where children are trusted to contribute in meaningful ways?

Leah Ellis is the founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children build real businesses and practice leadership in the real world. Through hands-on programs, workshops, and business fairs, she equips kids with the confidence, financial literacy, and problem-solving skills they need to take action now, not someday.

As a speaker and educator, Leah challenges the belief that leadership is something we grow into later and instead shows how children rise when given real responsibility. Her work has been featured across media and community partnerships throughout Kansas, impacting families, schools, and young leaders alike.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. André Walton is a social psychologist, best-selling author, keynote and 2x TEDx speaker, and certified, accredited coach.

• How do you define creative thinking for leaders who don't see themselves as "creative"?
• What happens to creativity under sustained pressure?
• What conditions must exist for creativity and innovation to thrive in organizations?
• How is AI affecting one's creativity and critical thinking?
• How is working remotely affecting our creativity?
• What do you mean by Spherical Thinking?

Dr. André Walton is a social psychologist, best-selling author, keynote and 2x TEDx speaker, and certified, accredited coach. He helps entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, and organizations resolve stress and burnout while unlocking resilience, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Michael Pellegrino is the Founder of Resilient Minds On The Front Lines, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building resiliency and mental wellness across first responders, schools, and corporate communities nationwide.

• You spent 25 years in law enforcement—what experiences led you to create Resilient Minds On Front Lines?
• You often say, "When you change your mind, you change your life." What does that really mean in moments of stress or crisis?
• Can you explain "Mental CPR: Catch, Pause, Reframe" and how someone can actually use it in real time?
• You've worked with first responders, schools, and corporations—what are you seeing as the biggest challenge people are facing today when it comes to mental wellness?
• For someone listening right now who feels overwhelmed or stuck, what's one small shift they can make today to start turning things around?

Michael Pellegrino is the Founder of Resilient Minds On The Front Lines, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building resiliency and mental wellness across first responders, schools, and corporate communities nationwide. After a distinguished 25-year career in law enforcement—where he received multiple honors, including the Carnegie Medal of Honor—Michael now travels the country as a speaker, author of Crisis = Opportunity, and advocate for proactive mental wellness training.

Through his work, Michael equips individuals and organizations with practical, real-time tools to navigate stress, build stronger connections, and perform at their best under pressure. His message is simple yet powerful: When you change your mind, you change your life.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Myke Wilder has lived his life between two languages, French and English. During a 28-year career in corporate communications, Myke worked in Employee Relations, SAP Change Management, and R&D Reporting; always in both languages.

• What is the biggest problem that faces managers who are leading teams of workers who speak English as a second language?
• How can that problem be solved?
• Why is this a problem? What is the fallout for businesses?
• What is the biggest roadblock managers face when attempting to improve communications with L2 English speakers?
• How has working with a hearing disability informed your work with multilingual teams?

Myke has lived his life between two languages, French and English. During a 28-year career in corporate communications, Myke worked in Employee Relations, SAP Change Management, and R&D Reporting; always in both languages. In 2013, Myke became a Business ESL Teacher, amassing 9,000 hours of coaching managers and entrepreneurs around the world. That experience, plus his corporate experience, 40 years working with a hearing disability, and his lifetime of working in his second language himself, has given Myke insight into the challenges second language speaking workers face every day, and how first language speakers can and should support them. That insight was the genesis for Myke's TEDx Talk and is now the basis for his Multilingual Mindset Training program. When not working, Myke is an avid cyclist and storyteller.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Reed Nyffeler is a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of multiple successful companies, including Signal, a leading security services franchisor. Over the past 17 years, he has helped more than 500 individuals achieve business ownership and has generated over $330 million in revenue.

• How can someone discover their true purpose in business and life?
• What are the first steps to becoming a successful business owner?
• How do you develop leadership skills that actually drive results?
• What separates those who succeed in entrepreneurship from those who don't?
• How can young entrepreneurs create meaningful impact early in their journey?

Reed Nyffeler is a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of multiple successful companies, including Signal, a leading security services franchisor. Over the past 17 years, he has helped more than 500 individuals achieve business ownership and has generated over $330 million in revenue. Reed is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders and helping them discover their purpose, build businesses, and create lasting impact.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Stephanie Bacon, PhD, is an organizational consultant, speaker, and researcher specializing in adult social and emotional competence, nervous system regulation, and human-centered leadership. She works with leaders who care deeply about performance, culture, and impact—and who recognize that strategy alone does not create alignment.

• You talk about "human capacity" as the missing piece in organizational performance. What do you mean by that?
• You describe your work as "Embodied SEL." How is that different from traditional emotional intelligence or leadership training?
• What are the hidden costs organizations pay when adult social and emotional competence is low?
• What is the difference between having a motivation problem and a capacity problem?

Stephanie Bacon, PhD, is an organizational consultant, speaker, and researcher specializing in adult social and emotional competence, nervous system regulation, and human-centered leadership. She works with leaders who care deeply about performance, culture, and impact—and who recognize that strategy alone does not create alignment.

Execution depends on the emotional, relational, and physiological capacity of the people carrying out the work. Stephanie's expertise sits at the intersection of research, applied nervous system science, group dynamics, and lived leadership experience. 

Stephanie understands what happens to decision-making, collaboration, and innovation when people are overwhelmed, fragmented, or operating in chronic stress. And she understands how to help teams rebuild the internal conditions required for clarity, coherence, and sustainable performance.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Katrina Burrus is a catalyst in transforming brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives whom people actually want to follow. She also helps leaders to fast-track high-potential talents to the C-Suite and coaches CEOs of multinationals through their most high-stakes moments of change.

• Do Brilliant Jerks have high EQ?
• What are their reasons for reacting in a destructive way with others?
• Do you find Brilliant Jerks in families?
• Can you see clues that a child might become a Brilliant Jerk?
• In your TEDxMakati, you said that Brilliant Jerks aren't villains but have a damaged framework of connection. What do you mean by this?
• Can Brilliant Jerks transform into inspiring leaders?
• In summary, what solution do you propose, and how do you get them to engage?
• For sustainable change in the Brilliant Jerks, what is important to remember?

What do you do when your most valuable executive is also your most difficult one? You call Dr. Katrina Burrus. As CEO of Excellent Executive Coaching LLC, Dr. Burrus transforms brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives people actually want to follow, fast-tracking high-potential talent to the C-suite and coaching multinational CEOs through their most high-stakes moments of change.

She is the author of Managing Brilliant Jerks and Global Leadership, and a keynote speaker whose work has been embraced by Nestlé, Novartis, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. She has spoken across Mexico, India, Kazakhstan, and Russia. As a founding board member of the International Coaching Federation in Switzerland, she helped define the standards of executive coaching before most of the business world knew the field existed.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Dr. Katrina Burrus is a catalyst in transforming brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives whom people actually want to follow. She also helps leaders to fast-track high-potential talents to the C-Suite and coaches CEOs of multinationals through their most high-stakes moments of change.

• How do you define a Brilliant Jerk or a toxic leader?
• What are the consequences of having a Brilliant Jerk in a company?
• How common do we find Brilliant Jerks in companies?
• What is the cost to the company of having a Brilliant Jerk leading a company?
• How do Brilliant Jerks behave?
• Do you behave as a Brilliant Jerk?
• What is the difference between a demanding boss and a Brilliant Jerk?

What do you do when your most valuable executive is also your most difficult one? You call Dr. Katrina Burrus. As CEO of Excellent Executive Coaching LLC, Dr. Burrus transforms brilliant but abrasive leaders into executives people actually want to follow, fast-tracking high-potential talent to the C-suite and coaching multinational CEOs through their most high-stakes moments of change.

She is the author of Managing Brilliant Jerks and Global Leadership, and a keynote speaker whose work has been embraced by Nestlé, Novartis, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. She has spoken across Mexico, India, Kazakhstan, and Russia. As a founding board member of the International Coaching Federation in Switzerland, she helped define the standards of executive coaching before most of the business world knew the field existed.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

As the visionary leader of Quantum Connections, Jonathan spearheads Quantum Connections' strategy to support its mission to bring the power of dialogue to workplaces and individuals while expanding the organization's global influence.

• What are performance metrics missing?
• What is most important to retain employees today in a environment where 70% if employees are disengaged from the company they work for?
• What is missing when you only use compensation, perks, or flexibility as retention tools?
• How can you scale and strengthen relationships?
• What role does connection play in periods of uncertainty?

As the visionary leader of Quantum Connections, Jonathan spearheads Quantum Connections' strategy to support its mission to bring the power of dialogue to workplaces and individuals while expanding the organization's global influence. Under his guidance, Quantum Connections seamlessly integrates the Safe Conversations Dialogue Methodology with the dedication of its practitioners, significantly enhancing the company's impact and reach.

Jonathan's expertise spans three distinct career paths—naval aviation, corporate training, and academia—providing him with a wealth of insights into adult learning. His diverse experiences have honed his understanding of optimal learning patterns, effective leadership strategies, and the importance of nurturing curiosity in students for enduring impact

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Pamela Steele, PhD, is an educational psychologist, certified mediator, and conflict resolution trainer who helps people communicate effectively and define practical, realistic ways to meet challenges head-on.

• How did you get from where you started professionally to where you are today?
• What inspired you to write your book?
• What personality characteristics do you believe have supported your growth and survival, given all the losses you've experienced?
• What do you hope people will take away from reading your book or hearing this interview?

Pamela Steele, PhD, is an educational psychologist, certified mediator, and conflict resolution trainer who helps people communicate effectively and define practical, realistic ways to meet challenges head-on. She has held executive leadership roles in four industries: Education, Financial, Media, and Healthcare.

Pamela is the Managing Partner of Navigate Grief, through which she has supported clients through end-of-life discussions and decision-making and facilitated workshops on Living Deeply, Dying Well.

Dr. Steele is the author of Nights of Hunger: A Cocktail of Grief, Dreams and Dating for Old-Ass Women.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Brit Nicole found herself leaving an abusive marriage with nothing. No money. No backup plan. Just herself, my dog, and the belief that she could build something — anything — from scratch.

• Tell me what challenges you have confronted and how, despite it you created a thriving business?
• What does "being happy without an agenda" mean to you?
• What are the similarities and differences between overcoming an abusive husband and being betrayed in business?
• How do you overcome people who project their own fears onto you because it's not something they would do?

Brit Nicole found herself leaving an abusive marriage with nothing. No money. No backup plan. Just herself, my dog, and the belief that she could build something — anything — from scratch. Brit remembers sitting in the quiet of that season, no clients, no certainty, just a journal full of prayers and the fire to figure it out. She told herself right then that she wasn't going to spend her life building someone else's dream. If she was capable of working that hard for the wrong people, she was going to work that hard for herself. Brit identified a market gap that nobody else saw in the early 2010s. Digital marketing wasn't even on the radar in her city, so she flew to New York to learn directly from established agencies. She returned with knowledge that didn't exist locally, secured a loan with her dad's help, and installed digital TVs throughout town and the mall. Brit built, scaled and sold that by the age of 22. Brit is interested in helping women create what they actually want.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Tiffany Jones is a Greenville, SC native who grew up in a culture where mental illness was stigmatized and often silenced. After almost 20 years of hiding and suffering quietly, Tiffany was determined to find real answers.

• Where does your interest in mental health come from?
• What do you mean when you say you have to be with the right people?
• What are the signs of a person being depression?
• What are the different types of shame, and how to overcome them?
• What happens if someone with depression self-medicates?

Tiffany Jones is a Greenville, SC native who grew up in a culture where mental illness was stigmatized and often silenced. After almost 20 years of hiding and suffering quietly, Tiffany was determined to find real answers. Through this journey, she discovered not only her own healing but a renewed purpose. She became an author and public speaker to further share her message of hope. Today, Tiffany is committed to helping others access the understanding, tools, and resources they need to build healthier, more resilient lives.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Helen Malinowski, LICSW, SEP, is the founder of the Somatic Integration Institute and the Catalyst Collective. She is passionate about supporting clinicians in building sustainable, nourishing practices that prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

• Why are so many experienced clinicians burning out, even when they love their work—and what can be done to prevent it?
• How does somatic regulation transform both clinical effectiveness and practitioner wellbeing?
• What makes community support essential—not optional—for sustaining a long-term clinical career?
• How can clinicians grow their practice without sacrificing themselves in the process?
• What are the biggest myths clinicians believe about burnout, and what actually keeps practitioners resourced for decades?

Helen Malinowski, LICSW, SEP, is the founder of the Somatic Integration Institute and the Catalyst Collective. She is passionate about supporting clinicians in building sustainable, nourishing practices that prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. Through the Catalyst Collective, she creates transformational community spaces where established practitioners can grow their impact while staying deeply resourced and connected. Helen believes clinicians deserve to thrive, not just survive. She works with practitioners who are ready to invest in their growth while also honoring their need for support and sustainability. Through somatic approaches and deep community connection, she helps clinicians build practices that sustain them for the long haul.

When she's not working with clients or leading cohorts, you'll find Helen running, hiking, at the beach with her dog, or connecting with friends over good conversation. As a mother navigating the beautiful complexity of family life, she understands firsthand the importance of building work that nourishes rather than depletes.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Randall Thames is an author, CEO, and Executive Leadership Advisor of Inspirit Institute, a Concierge Executive Leader Agency providing bespoke representation for current and aspiring CEOs.

• How did 8-year-old Randall go from "less than ordinary" to discovering his superpower?
• What internal 'dragons' prevent leaders from reaching 'Inevitable Outcomes'?
• Why leave corporate success to help others discover their superpower?
• What is "Process as Armor" and how does it neutralize adversaries?
• What's one quick win to 'elevate in place' and gain executive influence today?

Randall Thames is an author, CEO, and Executive Leadership Advisor of Inspirit Institute, a Concierge Executive Leader Agency providing bespoke representation for current and aspiring CEOs. Also an ordained pastor and a former Senior Partner at Korn Ferry and Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins University, he masterfully blends coaching, spiritual insight, and cognitive reframing to guide leaders and organizations to "Inevitable Outcomes™".

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Julius Lassalle is a leadership consultant, coach, and author based in Berlin who specializes in Embodied Leadership. After experiencing "Führungsfrust" (leadership frustration) during his 5+ years leading teams in high-pressure tech and e-commerce environments, Julius developed a revolutionary methodology that integrates psychology, neuroscience, and somatic practices.

• How did your experience working with leadership frustration lead you to develop Embodied Leadership?
• What role does somatic intelligence play in helping executives who resist traditional emotional intelligence approaches?
• How can coaches use body-based interventions to break through with difficult leaders?
• How do you identify when traditional coaching approaches aren't working and when to integrate body-based methods?
• What is your framework for helping leaders develop authentic emotional intelligence without triggering defensiveness

Julius Lassalle is a leadership consultant, coach, and author based in Berlin who specializes in Embodied Leadership. After experiencing "Führungsfrust" (leadership frustration) during his 5+ years leading teams in high-pressure tech and e-commerce environments, Julius developed a revolutionary methodology that integrates psychology, neuroscience, and somatic practices.

He holds a Psychology degree from Technical University Berlin and is a certified Professional Coach (DBVC). As co-author of "Self-Empowered Leadership: and contributor to Harvard Business Manager, Julius has established himself as a thought leader in the field.

He currently serves as Chair of the Board at the European Association for Gestalt Therapy and is the founder of the Alive School of Embodied Leadership & Transformation, working with organizations ranging from 51 to 10,000+ employees.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

If Swissair went bankrupt in the past, Swiss International Airlines in Swiss Romand is beginning to thrive with Lorenzo Stoll, and stay tuned, it is just the beginning. Dr. Katrina Burrus asked what he attributes to some of his leadership successes at Swiss International Airlines with the following questions:

What is one trait he possesses that makes him an effective leader at Swiss? How does he overcome challenges?

What routine does he attribute to his success at Swiss International Airlines? How does he relieve his stress? What is one piece of advice he would give to a younger version of himself? For you, Lorenzo Stoll shares his biggest failure and his biggest passion.

Lorenzo Stoll, born in 1971, joined SWISS in October 2013. Holding a diploma from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, he started his career working in the tourism and leisure industry at the Montreux-Vevey Tourism Office.

Lorenzo Stoll comes to SWISS from the Nestlé organization, where he has held various executive functions with a strong focus on customer and marketing affairs over the past 12 years. In 2007, he assumed responsibility for the global sales of Nestlé Waters, and two years later, he was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Nestlé Waters Switzerland.

As SWISS's Head of Western Switzerland, he is in charge of all aspects of SWISS's business unit in Geneva, and stay tuned for the changes that will be happening at SWISS. Lorenzo Stoll was asked:

• What trait of his does he attribute to making him an effective leader?
• How does he challenge himself to overcome resistance?
• What routine does he attribute to his success?
• How does he relieve stress?
• What advice would he give to a younger version of himself?
• What was his biggest failure?
• How can we get the cheapest flights at Swiss?

Dr. Seth Berkley walks us through his successful leadership journey as CEO of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. Tune in to learn more through Dr. Katrina Burrus's questions.

• What is your leadership strategy?
• What is one leadership trait you possess that makes you an effective leader? How did you use that trait to build organizational success?
• What were some of the biggest challenges in your career and how did you overcome them? Take us to your biggest failure?
• Who in your life had a lasting impact on your leadership journey?
• How do you motivate your employees and provide inspiring leadership?

Dr. Seth Berkley joined the GAVI Alliance as its CEO in August 2011. The GAVI Alliance is a public-private partnership whose mission is to save children's lives and protect public health by increasing access to immunization in developing countries.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Swiss law professor Xavier Oberson discusses with host Dr. Katrina Burrus the experiences and challenges to which he now attributes his successful international law practice.

Who is Xavier Oberson?

Xavier Oberson is a Professor in Swiss and International Tax Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After his studies at the University of Geneva, he obtained his law degree and his Doctorate in 1990.  He then pursued graduate studies and research at Harvard Law School, where he also completed the International Tax Program (ITP) in 1992.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Charles de Boissezon is past CEO of Geneva headquartered Hinduja Bank, a Private Bank, and brings with him more than 40 years of International banking experience in London, Hong Kong, New York, Geneva, Chile, and Jersey. Charles is both French and British. He grew up in Vietnam and Hong Kong and spent his formative years in Geneva attending the College de Leman School. He then left for the USA to earn his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Boston University, in Boston, Massachusetts.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Have you ever questioned the very nature of existence? Have you wondered how it all started and what secrets the universe holds? For most of us, these matters are beyond our comprehension. And yet, these are questions scientists at CERN - the world's leading research body for particle physics - are currently exploring.

Dr. Heuer discusses with host Dr. Katrina Burrus the experiences and challenges to which he now attributes his successful leadership and achievements within the scientific community.

Who is Rolf-Dieter Heuer?

Dr. Heuer studied physics at the University of Stuttgart. He then obtained his PhD in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg under Joachim Heintze.

His post-doc studies include the JADE experiment at the electron-positron storage ring PETRA at DESY, and from 1984, at the OPAL experiment at CERN, where he also became a spokesperson of the OPAL collaboration for many years. Having been offered a full professorship for experimental physics at the University of Hamburg, Heuer returned to DESY in 1998. In 2004, he was appointed DESY's Research Director. In December 2007, the CERN research council announced that Heuer will take office as CERN's Director General starting 1 January 2009.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Maria Gallucci is a multi-award-winning real estate agent and proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned ASL before English and helped her parents buy a home at just 12 years old.

• How did "Raised in Silence" teach you profound lessons on listening and love?
• Why do people struggle to connect in a hearing-centered world?
• What from your childhood inspired you to help others feel understood?
• What is "Deaf Gain" and how can it help build stronger relationships in leadership?
• What mindset shift turns awkwardness into a genuine connection?

Maria Gallucci is a multi-award-winning real estate agent and proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned ASL before English and helped her parents buy a home at just 12 years old. This experience shaped her passion for inclusive communication and helping those who are often overlooked.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute and co-author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions.

• What is your four-step process to persuade others?
• Why do people focus on logic rather than emotion?
• How can you build credibility quickly?
• When is the right time to go first in negotiations?
• What are the five main aspects of emotional intelligence?

Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute and co-author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions. His expertise ranges from coaching live negotiations for sports clients, including the Cleveland Browns and Brooklyn Nets, to developing online content for facilitating programs in real estate, advisory, media, banking, and pharmaceutical sectors. He is a guest lecturer on negotiation at universities like Johns Hopkins University, has been a contributor to numerous national media outlets, including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Selling Power, and many more.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Norman Wolfe is the Founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders, Inc., a strategy execution consulting firm focused on transforming businesses to unlock the power of the human spirit.

• The Living Organization® System emphasizes treating organizations as dynamic, living entities. How does this approach differ from traditional business paradigms, and how does it impact strategy execution?
• How can leaders create a culture where employees feel both valued and aligned with the company's mission?
• Leadership can often feel lonely at the top. Why?
• What strategies do you recommend for organizations trying to embrace change and innovate while maintaining alignment with their core values?
• What is your next book?

Norman Wolfe is the Founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders, Inc., a strategy execution consulting firm focused on transforming businesses to unlock the power of the human spirit. With over 30 years of experience, Norman is a pioneer in leadership and organizational performance, known for guiding companies through significant transitions to achieve extraordinary results. A former executive at Hewlett-Packard and board member of multiple organizations, Norman is also the author of The Living Organization, a groundbreaking book on creating high-performing companies. He is passionate about shifting business paradigms and helping leaders foster dynamic, living organizations.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Loren Greiff is an executive career coach and strategist. She is the founder and president of PortfolioRocket, a career coaching business she started in 2020 to help executives over 40 advance their careers, overcome ageism, and land jobs faster while earning more.

• Many executives over 40 hear the word "overqualified" in job searches. What does that term really mean?
• You've said that experience is no longer currency - relevance is! What strategies can senior executives use to package 20+ years of experience so it resonates in today's market?
• Traditional networking only has a 2% success rate, and you have developed methods that are much more successful. What are your methods?
• What role does age bias play in leadership opportunities, and how can executive coaches help their clients navigate that bias?
• For leaders who feel invisible despite their accomplishments, what practical steps do you recommend to reignite confidence?

Loren Greiff is an executive career coach and strategist. She is the founder and president of PortfolioRocket, a career coaching business she started in 2020 to help executives over 40 advance their careers, overcome ageism, and land jobs faster while earning more. Loren has extensive experience working in executive search and corporate roles, and she focuses on helping clients develop actionable strategies for job search, interviewing, salary negotiation, and personal brand articulation.

She also hosts a podcast called Career Blast In A Half and is active as an executive board member for Fast Company. Her coaching emphasizes turning clients into opportunity magnets by mastering the hidden job market and overcoming limiting beliefs related to ageism and hiring biases.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Steff Vanhaverbeke is a Lecturer and AI Adoption Coach at Syntra, where she empowers professionals and entrepreneurs to navigate the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence.

• How can professionals develop "cognitive agility" to thrive alongside AI rather than fear being replaced?
• What are the five human skills that AI can't automate, and why are they crucial for career security?
• What is an AI Agent?
• What is the "Superworker" methodology and how does it deliver 3x productivity gains?

Steff Vanhaverbeke is a Lecturer and AI Adoption Coach at Syntra, where she empowers professionals and entrepreneurs to navigate the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence. With a sharp eye for both human potential and technological innovation, she guides learners in understanding, integrating, and confidently using AI tools to enhance their work without losing their human edge.

Steff brings over 28 years of experience in coaching, facilitation, and training to the classroom, blending cognitive agility, systems thinking, and practical tech know-how into every session. Her teaching goes beyond tooltips and trends, she creates safe, interactive learning environments where participants develop critical thinking, creative resilience, and a clear vision of their role in an AI-augmented world.

Her mission: help people become not just users of technology, but adaptive thinkers and ethical decision-makers in a world shaped by it.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

A parallel entrepreneur, Timothy Totten, runs his legacy family business in the funeral product manufacturing industry, and creates escape games and other team-building activities with his FunVenture partner.

• Why did you get involved with TEDx?
• What are the biggest mistakes you've seen hopeful TEDx speakers make?
• How has landing a TEDx talk changed over the years, and how should people approach the stage today?
• Besides memorizing a talk, what are the most important steps to having a successful TEDx experience?
• How do you help those aspiring to the world's most influential stage, and can you guarantee they will get onto that red dot?

A parallel entrepreneur, Timothy Totten runs his legacy family business in the funeral product manufacturing industry, creates escape games and other team-building activities with his FunVenture partner, shares his expert knowledge of famed American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in storytelling sessions across the country, and volunteers as a curator and coach for TEDxEustis, the event which he created and led from 2018-2025.

Today, Totten shares his storytelling expertise and behind-the-scenes TEDx knowledge with hopeful speakers through social media videos and his newsletter, along with both group and one-on-one coaching.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Paul Vanderbroeck is an international executive educator and coach. In his leadership development, he uses a transdisciplinary approach, combining leadership theory and diagnostic instruments with history, arts, and theatre.

• What are the leadership models that you have chosen for your research and why?
• What can modern leaders learn from Caesar's career, and how does it apply to leaders today?
• What can modern leaders learn from Caesar's behavior and development over time?
• What can modern leaders learn from Caesar's personality?
• What new elements did your research bring to Caesar's story?

A historian by training and a former HR executive, Paul Vanderbroeck is an international executive educator and coach. In his leadership development, he uses a transdisciplinary approach, combining leadership theory and diagnostic instruments with history, arts, and theatre. He partners with corporations, non-profit organizations, and business schools. As an independent researcher, he publishes on leadership and organizational behavior. He has authored business books on women leadership and on dual career couples, a textbook on international human resource management, and has co-created a theatre play on women leaders. His latest book is Lead Like Julius Caesar. Leadership Lessons From History's Most Influential Leader.

Paul holds a PhD in History from Radboud University (Nijmegen, NL). Paul is married, a father of two adult children, and currently lives in Switzerland.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

Mathew Pohl is a former data analytics professional turned small business owner and advocate for organizational growth. He applied the Stages of Growth methodology, achieving a 10x increase in his company's value.

• What was the driving force behind you becoming an entrepreneur?
• Tell us about the two seasons of your first business and why those were so different?
• Why is having a roadmap so important for SMB owners?
• What is the ReWild Group's roadmap based on?
• How does Organizational ReWilding differ from EOS?

Mathew Pohl is a former data analytics professional turned small business owner and advocate for organizational growth. He applied the Stages of Growth methodology, achieving a 10x increase in his company's value. Pohl founded the ReWild Group to share this approach and authored the "Organizational ReWilding Rules for Business Growth" series. He is passionate about helping business leaders and advisers. Pohl enjoys the outdoors in Colorado and spending time with his family. He welcomes collaborations and aims to empower businesses to reach their full potential.

If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.