Explore every episode of the podcast Life Acumen at Work
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is "FIRE" an Exit Fantasy | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:26:17 | |
PREVIEW: Financial Independence, Retire Early - What if FIRE is not really about money - but about the life you’re trying to escape? In this episode of Life Acumen at Work, we look beyond spreadsheets, savings targets, and early retirement dreams to explore the deeper leadership question underneath: what are you postponing until you feel “free”? For senior leaders, founders, and high achievers, the FIRE fantasy can reveal something important about work, identity, ambition, and agency. This is an episode about financial independence, yes - but more importantly, about designing a life and leadership you don’t need to run from. RESOURCES: Fulfilment and the FIRE Movement: The Realities of Life After Early Retirement INSEAD Knowledge: research on FIRE and the reality that financial freedom does not automatically create fulfillment. Great-attrition-or-great-attraction-the-choice-is-yours McKinsey: Great Attrition research on why employees leave, including not feeling valued and lack of belonging. Korn Ferry Hay Group Executive Survey Reveals Top Job Fulfillments and Frustrations Korn Ferry: executive survey showing values-aligned culture as a major driver of job feeling and satisfaction. Employee-wellness-in-the-corporate-workplace Deloitte with Workplace Intelligence: C-suite wellbeing research, including executives considering quitting for better wellbeing and difficulty disconnecting. Thriving in an age of continuous reinvention PwC: 27th Annual Global CEO Survey on inefficient time spent in meetings, admin, email, and decision-making meetings. Enjoying Work Matters More Than You May Realize BCG: research on joy at work and its relationship to attrition risk. OTHER EPISODES SUGGESTED FOR YOU: What Success Quietly Takes from You PODCAST DESCRIPTION: On Life Acumen at Work Podcast, Executive Coach Vinod Wadhwani shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they face in their work life. | |||
| Is Your Career Future-Proof | 21 Jun 2026 | 00:21:23 | |
Preview: You did everything right. You studied hard, built a successful career, earned the title, the credibility, and the rewards. But in a world where people live longer, careers last decades longer, and AI is reshaping work, a new question emerges: Is the career you built still enough for the life ahead? In this episode, we explore why the traditional career ladder may no longer be sufficient, and how leaders can redesign their careers as portfolios of relevance, contribution, learning, and renewal for the next 20 to 30 years. Resources: THE NEW MAP OF LIFE | Stanford Center on Longevity AI Will Reshape More Jobs Than It Replaces Satya Nadella at Microsoft: Instilling a Growth Mindset A Report from The Stanford Center on Longevity Episodes Suggested for You: What Success Quietly Takes from You Podcast Description: On Life Acumen at Work Podcast, Executive Coach Vinod Wadhwani shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they face in their work life. | |||
| Why "Effective Feedback" Critical for Leadership Growth | 28 Sep 2024 | 00:12:03 | |
Many senior executives struggle to get effective feedback from their team. That’s a pivotal challenge leaders face constantly. When leaders don’t receive clear insights, into their strengths and areas of improvement, it can create a cascading effect, that ultimately impacts team performance. In Focus How can leaders effectively break down the barriers that hinder candid feedback from their teams? How can leaders create an open environment for feedback? Collaborative and respectful communication a must for effective feedback Modelling openness and vulnerability Detachment from personal ego Related episodes: Why is burnout so pervasive in the workplace? Why you must build bridges with your boss? Is your manager undermining you? Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 28 September 2024 | |||
| Prevent "Burnout" in the Workplace | 19 Sep 2024 | 00:13:30 | |
The World Health Organization has officially recognized burnout as an occupational syndrome. According to some estimates more than a third of employees' experience burnout intermittently, with nearly 25% feeling it recurrently or constantly. In Focus What is Burnout? Does, each one of us experience burnout differently? Why is burnout so pervasive and what triggers it? What is Employability? “Role overload”, “Role conflict” and “Role ambiguity Burnout in the workplace - Five things stand out for me. Related episodes: How do I hone my persuasive communications skills? Why you must build bridges with your boss? Is your manager undermining you? Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 19 September 2024 | |||
| How Do I Hone My Persuasive Communication Skills? | 23 Jan 2024 | 00:14:14 | |
Persuasion is not to be seen as tricking or forcing other people to your point of view, it is to be seen as understanding what engages and opens other people up to new ideas and insights. In Focus How do you define persuasion? How does engagement influence persuasion? What is physical and temporal proximity? What are some techniques for increasing engagement? What are some of the behaviors which come in the way of engaging persuasively with your stakeholders? How to enhance a person’s sense of certainty? What were the three key takeaways for KD in his coaching conversation? Related episodes: Why you must build bridges with your boss? Is your manager undermining you? Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 23 January 2024 | |||
| Why you must build bridges with your boss? | 09 Feb 2023 | 00:11:01 | |
Many middle managers make the mistake of relying too much on their job performance, consequently leave too much to chance and fail to effectively manage their careers. In Focus Are modesty and quiet work not virtues in the corporate world? But doesn’t good performance help you secure your job? Is there a weak link between job performance and promotion? Great job performance by itself is insufficient and may not even be necessary for getting and holding positions in the c-suite? it is imperative to manage and have a good equation with your boss. But why is It often an uneasy relationship? Boss as a supporter and evaluator Related episode: KC’s manager is denting his confidence! Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this show, he shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 9 February 2023 | |||
| Why do you feel dissonance despite having career success? | 26 Jan 2023 | 00:11:31 | |
Recent research on people’s life satisfaction by social scientists suggests, that in general, life satisfaction follows a “U” shape. It starts at the upper range in youth, bottoms out in 40s, and then picks up again in older age. In Focus Why do you feel anxious despite being successful? What are some of those specific things that start to get in our heads when we hit the 40’s? What does your definition of success look like? Related episode: My manager is denting my confidence! Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 26 January 2023 | |||
| Is your manager undermining you? | 11 Jan 2023 | 00:11:39 | |
Bad managers are the top cause of unhappiness in the workplace. According to a survey by an HR consulting firm, more than 50% employees leave their jobs to get away from a bad boss. Everyone who’s had a bad manager knows what it can do to your stress levels and job satisfaction. In Focus Keeping you in an off-balance state Passing along second-hand criticism Intimidation – turning a simple request in to a threat Shoring your sense of control Looking to your past achievements Related episode: How to overcome distraction and regain focus at work? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast:
11 January 2023 | |||
| How to overcome distraction and regain focus at work? | 29 Dec 2022 | 00:10:11 | |
Is multitasking a strength? Are human beings good at it? Or is this a delusion that majority of us have fallen for? In Focus: Where do we start in this distracted world to regain focus? How can you slow down in a world which takes pride in speed? What are the costs attached to constant switching? Does constant switching makes us slower? How do we fix this urge to constantly switch? What damage can Internet addiction do to us? How do we develop the skill of sustained attention? Is focus related to our happiness? What is a flow state? Related episode: Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 29 December 2022 | |||
| Making and keeping new year's resolutions! | 16 Dec 2022 | 00:11:53 | |
There is usually a lot of optimism this time of the year as the world slows down and people get time to reflect about what actually matters. Amid this hope what resolutions are people making for the new year and how to keep them.
Related Episode: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast:
16 December 2022 | |||
| Why is our attention span decreasing? | 26 Nov 2022 | 00:11:24 | |
A study by Professor Michael Posner at the University of Oregon found that if you are focusing on something and you get interrupted, on average it will take twenty-three minutes for you to get back to the same state of focus. Another study of office executives found that most of them never get an hour of uninterrupted work in a typical day. If this goes on for months and years, it scrambles your ability to figure out who you are and what you want. I believe one of the valuable gifts you can give yourself is focus, taking time to be more fully present. Can our attention be easily manipulated, do we have a fragile free will, why we feel so distracted so much of the time. We will be talking about these questions and many more in this episode. So, let’s dive straight into it.
* Why is it important to pay attention to our attention? * Why do so many of us, feel so distracted so much of the time in the first place? * Is distraction an integral part of our existence as human beings? * Why is it now that we are acutely feeling that our ability to focus has diminished? * Does distraction have upside? * What is mind wandering?
Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 26 November 2022 | |||
| Why candor in organizations so important? | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:14:02 | |
Candor is not just about telling the truth. It requires openness, sincerity and some degree of vulnerability. Lack of candor is not just remaining silent, it’s deceit by omission, which means that an element of honesty and truth is intentionally ignored
Related Episodes: Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast:
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| What Success Quietly Takes from You | 26 May 2026 | 00:12:12 | |
What success quietly takes from you: This episode explores the hidden vitality cost of ambition - the patience, presence, humor, and energy leaders often lose long before burnout appears. Resources:
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| Why many of us give up new year's resolutions? | 09 Jan 2021 | 00:13:05 | |
IN FOCUS: Many people set personal and professional goals this time of year. Why choose new year to set resolutions? New year’s resolutions can be as fleeting as fireworks, one study found that about 25% give up after 2 weeks and only about 12% actually achieve their goal. Why is that most of us fail at sticking to new year’s resolutions? How do we get our new year resolutions become a reality? What kind of goal should one set to increase its chances of success? How can one break bad habits and start replacing them with required actions? #17.1: Can human beings be reliable raters of other human beings? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast:
10 January 2021 | |||
| Is critical feedback important for high-performance? | 01 Jan 2021 | 00:06:50 | |
POINT OF VIEW: What is the issue with feedback reviews if they are used to improve performance? Isn’t it that we humans crave feedback? If feedback is perceived as a threat, how do managers point to employees when they are not performing well? Won’t employees prefer the manager tell them something that they are doing wrong rather than what they are doing right?
#17.1: Can human beings be reliable raters of other human beings? #12: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome?
Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: 2 January 2021 | |||
| Can human beings be reliable raters of other human beings? | 28 Dec 2020 | 00:08:35 | |
POINT OF VIEW: Does it mean 360-degree reviews are meaningless and companies will eventually move away from them? Isn’t it that 360-degree reviews uncover a person’s blind spots? How can we make 360-degree reviews more meaningful?
#17: Do feedback reviews help employees perform at their best? #12: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast:
28 December 2020 | |||
| Do feedback reviews help employees perform at their best? | 21 Dec 2020 | 00:13:08 | |
IN FOCUS: If feedback is perceived as a threat, how do managers point to employees when they are not performing well? And push them to do better? Won’t employees prefer the manager tell them something that they are doing wrong rather than what they are doing right? 360-degree reviews are well entrenched in performance review systems of companies, then why the skepticism around their utility? Does our evaluation of others tainted by our own understanding of these abstract qualities? Does it mean 360-degree reviews are meaningless and companies will eventually move away from them? Isn’t it that 360-degree reviews uncover a person’s blind spots? How can we make 360-degree reviews more meaningful? Related Episodes: #16: Why leaders need to be mindful how they are treating employees? #12: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast:
21 December 2020 | |||
| Why leaders need to be mindful how they are treating employees? | 24 Nov 2020 | 00:16:49 | |
IN FOCUS: What is workplace incivility? And what kinds of behaviors in the workplace can be seen as uncivil? Why is workplace incivility so prevalent? If leaders know that treating employees with respect is critical, why is then they struggle to demonstrate it? Do leaders need to tread carefully on how they are treating their employees? What can leaders do to demonstrate respect? Related Episodes: #8: Why high-achievement oriented employees do not "speak up" in the work-place? #9: The Pitfalls of Impostor Syndrome #12: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 24 November 2020. | |||
| How to handle our inner critic? | 14 Oct 2020 | 00:09:49 | |
POINT OF VIEW: Many successful executives get worn down with putting on a mask of confidence while burdened with internal feelings of incompetence. How can they navigate this duality? The inner critic in high achieving executives can be quite strong. How can one treat his or her inner critic? Related Episodes: #14: Better Things Happen When We View Ourselves as Work in Progress #13: Reprogramming Our Internal Compass to Overcome Imposture #9: The Pitfalls of Impostor syndrome Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 14 October 2020 | |||
| Better things happen when we view ourselves as work in progress | 07 Oct 2020 | 00:06:41 | |
POINT OF VIEW: What can one do to alleviate the negative effects of Impostor syndrome? How can people with Impostor Syndrome, overcome intense performance pressure, they build on themselves? Related Episodes: #9: The Pitfalls of Impostor Syndrome #15: How to handle our Inner Critic? #13: Reprogramming Our Internal Compass to Overcome Imposture Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 7 October 2020 | |||
| Reprogramming our internal compass to overcome impostor syndrome | 26 Sep 2020 | 00:06:07 | |
POINT OF VIEW: Learning Vs. Performance Mindset Identifying consequences through series of “what” questions Reframing and correcting negativity bias – simple techniques to overcome imposture Related Episodes: #14: Better Things Happen When We View Ourselves As Work-In-Progress #15: How to handle our inner critic? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 26 September 2020 | |||
| How to overcome impostor syndrome? | 25 Sep 2020 | 00:20:38 | |
IN FOCUS: What can one do to alleviate the negative effects of Impostor syndrome? How can people with Impostor Syndrome, overcome intense performance pressure, they build on themselves? How can one program his or her internal compass to overcome Impostor Syndrome? People having Impostor Syndrome put on a mask of confidence though internally tend to have deep feelings of incompetence. How to navigate this duality? The inner critic can be quite hard in people with Impostor Syndrome. How can one suppress the inner critic? Related Episodes: #10: What is impostor syndrome? Is it real? #11: How do leaders with impostor syndrome impact their organizations? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 25 September 2020 | |||
| How do leaders with impostor syndrome impact their organizations? | 23 Sep 2020 | 00:11:02 | |
POINT OF VIEW: Does perfectionism play a role in Impostor Syndrome? The underlying traits that researchers connect with Impostor syndrome; perfectionism and Neuroticism; seem to be a dangerous combo. You seek perfection, but you’re also neurotic, which probably makes you anxious, when you don’t achieve perfection. Seems like a vicious cycle? How do leaders with negative imposture syndrome, impact their organizations? Related Episodes: #12: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome? #10: What is Impostor Syndrome? Is it Real? Host: Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Podcast: Published: 23 September 2020 | |||
| How to See Beyond Positions | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:07:31 | |
How to See Beyond Positions: When a tough conversation gets tense, it often stops being about the real issue - and turns into a quiet battle over who will “blink first.” In this episode, you’ll learn how capable leaders get trapped defending a position, why that kills discovery and alignment, and the simple shift that lowers the emotional temperature fast: stop asking “How do I get them to agree?” and start asking, “What are they trying to protect?” If you want firmer decisions and better relationships, this one will change how you lead. | |||
| What is Impostor Syndrome? Is it Real? | 22 Sep 2020 | 00:08:52 | |
POINT OF VIEW: What is Imposter Syndrome? Is it real? What are some common thoughts and feelings, exhibited by people who seem to have Imposter Syndrome? Do events and experiences, in an individual’s formative years, have a bearing on developing Impostor syndrome in adulthood? Related Episodes: #11: How Do Leaders with Impostor Syndrome Impact their Organizations? Vinod Wadhwani is an executive coach and facilitator. Vinod founded Life Acumen LLP with a mission to help corporate executives with purposeful integration of work & life; and help build high performance culture in organizations. Vinod leverages over three decades of leadership experience in investment banking, management consulting and merchant navy to help corporate leaders in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. Host: Published: 23 September 2020. Disclaimer: No representation or warranty, express or implied, is given and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by or on behalf of Life Acumen LLP or by any of its designated partners, its directors, employees, agents or any other person as to the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information contained in this podcast or any other oral information made available and any such liability is expressly disclaimed. | |||
| The pitfalls of impostor syndrome | 14 Jul 2020 | 00:19:42 | |
IN FOCUS: In a survey of senior corporate executives on what are some of their deep-seated fears, researchers found that the biggest fear among these c-suite executives was the fear of being discovered to be incompetent, also known as the “impostor syndrome.” | |||
| Why high-achievement oriented employees do not "speak up" in the work-place? | 20 Jun 2020 | 00:11:13 | |
IN FOCUS: | |||
| Stop Negotiating Your Position | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:17:37 | |
Stop Negotiating Your Position explains how positional bargaining turns problem-solving into a contest of credibility, slowing decisions and damaging trust - especially for senior executives who must preserve relationships beyond the deal. Using examples (Infosys board crisis, Camp David Accords, Disney–Pixar, and Oracle–PeopleSoft), it contrasts positions (what you demand) with interests (why you need it). It recommends diagnosing whether a situation is collaborative or a power contest, clarifying both sides’ underlying needs, using objective criteria, and being hard on the problem while staying respectful to people. Related episodes: Redefining Success In The Second Half Of Your Career Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares insights from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 22 April 2026 | |||
| Redefining Success in the Second Half of Your Career | 24 Jan 2025 | 00:13:28 | |
Picture this: You're standing at your office window on a quiet Friday evening, looking out at the setting sun. You've just closed a major deal, and by all traditional measures, you're at the peak of your career. You have been through the ruthless climb up the corporate ladder, the sacrifices, the wins, the losses, the political battles, the strategic victories. You've built the career, earned the respect, and achieved the position you wanted. Yet there is a question that keeps appearing during those rare moments of reflection. How to redefine what success means in the second half of the career” In Focus: Many senior executives have reached the pinnacle of their careers - the corner office, the title, the compensation package - yet they find themselves asking, "What's next?" or "Is this all there is?" For many senior leaders, the corner office isn't just where you work; it's become a fundamental part of who you are. Is the fear also about being stripped off this professional mask of title, power and authority and exposing to the world the vulnerable you? How do professional and personal relationships evolve in this stage of an executive's career? What about the work-life integration piece? How does that change in the second half of a career? How does financial security play into career decisions at this stage? How should executives think about their legacy in the second half of their career? Related episodes: Creating a Culture of Accountability Building Business-Savvy Executive Team Navigating Career Crossroads. Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares insights from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 24 January 2025 | |||
| Adapting to Tech Disruption as a Senior Leader | 03 Dec 2024 | 00:15:07 | |
Imagine you're a senior leader who has navigated market shifts for decades. But suddenly, you're confronted with technologies that don't just change how business operates, but fundamentally redefine what's possible. The question isn't just how you'll adjust – it's whether your leadership can transform this disruption from a threat into your organization's greatest competitive advantage In Focus How do you maintain strategic clarity when the technological landscape shifts beneath your feet almost daily? How do you lead with confidence when your younger team members might understand new technologies better than you do? And perhaps most crucially, how do you balance innovation with stability? Related episodes: Creating a Culture of Accountability Building Business-Savvy Executive Team Navigating Career Crossroads. Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares insights from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 2 December 2024 | |||
| Creating a Culture of Accountability | 16 Nov 2024 | 00:17:02 | |
What is a culture of accountability? How crucial it is for leaders to model accountability? What environment makes accountability thrive? In Focus How do we, as senior leaders, foster a culture of accountability? How do we navigate the complex web of human emotions, corporate politics, and bottom-line pressures to create an environment where accountability isn't just a buzzword, but a way of life? How do we create accountability without resorting to fear tactics? How do we ensure fairness in our accountability practices? How do we move from theory to action in creating a culture of accountability? Related episodes: Building Business-Savvy Executive Team Navigating career crossroads. Why effective feedback critical for leadership growth? Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares insights from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 16 November 2024 | |||
| Building Business-Savvy Executive Team | 18 Oct 2024 | 00:16:55 | |
Picture this, a founder CEO struggling to build a business savvy team? What exactly does it mean to have a 'business savvy' team? How to build such a team? In Focus How do you nurture holistic business acumen among your top-tier leaders? How do we help executives develop the breadth of understanding, needed to navigate the complexities of modern business? How do you balance this kind of broad exposure with the need for deep functional expertise? How do you create an environment where this kind of stretch-thinking is embraced rather than challenged? How do you maintain this focus on business savvy over the long term? Related episodes: Navigating career crossroads Why effective feedback critical for leadership growth? Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares insights from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. Published: 18 October 2024 | |||
| Navigating Career Crossroads | 04 Oct 2024 | 00:16:17 | |
Whether you’ve been a C-suite leader for just a few years or a seasoned veteran of many years, there comes a time when you reach a pivotal moment. A moment where you're faced with critical decisions that could reshape not just your career, but your legacy. Have you ever paused, to wonder, if the path you’re on, is still the right one? Or maybe, you’ve considered stepping away, but are not sure, how to take that next leap? In Focus Have you ever paused to wonder, if the path you’re on, is still the right one? Or maybe, you’ve considered stepping away but are not sure how to take that next leap? How often do you find yourselves stuck in a career rut, afraid to make a change? What exactly is a career crossroads for an executive? What does a career crossroads really feel like? How do you navigate this moment? How do you choose the right path? Related episodes: Prevent burnout in the workplace. Why effective feedback critical for leadership growth? Podcast Description: Vinod Wadhwani is long-time executive coach, who works with corporate leaders to help them in seeking new perspectives, while focusing on tangible benefits to them and their organization. On this podcast, he shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has had with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they faced in their work life. | |||
| What Can't AI Replace | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:19:21 | |
Preview: What Can’t AI Replace? - What if the real leadership challenge of AI is not learning what machines can do, but becoming clearer about what only humans should do? In this episode of Life Acumen at Work, we look beyond productivity, automation, and smarter decision-support to explore three responsibilities leaders cannot outsource: context, accountability, and relationship. As AI becomes faster at analyzing, recommending, and communicating, the value of leadership may shift from having the answers to asking better questions, owning difficult choices, and sustaining trust through change. For senior leaders, founders, and CXOs, this is an episode about using AI intelligently - without gradually surrendering judgment, responsibility, or the deeply human work of leadership. When Everyone Uses AI, Companies Risk Critical Skills | BCG 2026 Global Human Capital Trends | Deloitte Insights
Podcast Description: On Life Acumen at Work Podcast, Executive Coach Vinod Wadhwani shares perspectives from the coaching conversations he has with corporate leaders focusing on the specific leadership challenges they face in their work life. | |||