From the CEOs Perspective
My Secret Sauce to Masterful Networking
Recently, we hosted brunch, and someone asked how, after living in Austin for only six months, were we able to throw our first annual ‘Naughty or Nice’ holiday party and have 40 curated guests show up. It comes down to masterful networking. I arrived in Austin, with two goals: To become part of the business community and to make friends. Before Austin, we’d…
Who’s Out, What’s Out, Knives Out
Two causes: Hypothermia temperatures last month and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Effect: Nothing better to do than pour a glass of wine, and reflect the shit out of 2022. So I lit enough candles to burn the house down and disavowed the need to meet anyone's expectations over the holidays (or any time, really.) First question: Did I like Knives Out 2?…
Executive Presence – What are you missing?
I’m noticing a pattern in conversation with some of my coaching clients. They received feedback that they need to increase their executive presence, but the feedback stops there. So, I want to shed light on the mystery of executive presence, because when you break it down, it’s not a mystery at all. People with executive presence stand out. They command attention, project strength, and…
How Do You Know If You Have Executive Presence?
I’m not going to lie; I didn’t hate quarantine. But like many who are coming out of the cocoon and evolving toward our new sense of normalcy, I’m beginning to notice a few things I missed. For example, I recently attended a live event and I loved seeing many leaders I’ve worked with and feeling that raw, live energy – a.k.a. executive presence. People with…
WTF! NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang
As I was listening in the world today to what was and wasn't being said, a few important dots connected. SUPERPOWER: Listening "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been wait ing for. We are the change that we seek." No, Jenson Huang didn't say that. Barack Obama did. That led…
Washington Athletic Club Partners with Teri Citterman
For Immediate Release SEATTLE (April 2, 2019) — The Washington Athletic Club (WAC) announces a partnership with Teri Citterman, member of Forbes National Coaches Council and author of From the CEO’s Perspective. This partnership establishes the WAC as the home of Ms. Citterman’s successful CEO forum series and will also include Executive Performance coaching programs held at the WAC, Executive Book Club events, socials…
CEOs Speak Up As Leaders, As Citizens
From the CEO’s Perspective forum is next Thursday morning, June 7th at the World Trade Center in Seattle. It’s an important conversation because over the last 18 months, we’ve seen more and more CEOs speaking up as leaders and speaking out as a citizens. The issues are highly-charged ranging from immigration, racism, sexual harassment and gun control, and the charge is amplified by the…
Leadership Insight: Expedia CPO
Many of you, I'm heads down working on the Leadership Lab no. 19 (LL19), a powerful, invite-only networking and leadership experience for emerging executives, who will be the thought leaders and industry shapers in our future C-Suites. It’s happening this fall, and nominations are open. For more information visit The Leadership Lab no. 19. In doing my research, I’m asking C-suite executives for advice…
Leadership Lab 19: Invite-Only for Rockstar Executives
If CEOs had three wishes, what would they be? Having coached and interviewed hundreds of them, I know one wish would be that the whole executive team see through the CEO’s lens into the inner-workings of the company and how each decision affects the interconnections. This is a common theme echoed throughout my coaching chambers. But having a CEO’s perspective isn’t something taught in…
SEPT 14: Women, Men & Leadership
When I feel a little helpless in the world, I do what I do best, which is to gather the great thinkers and ask hard questions. So that’s what I’m doing on Thursday, September 14th. We are talking about women, men and leadership, and it will be an important discussion for both men and women to attend. Even though research shows companies perform better…
How CEOs Lead Fast, Build Culture on May 2
Company culture isn’t an afterthought. It happens whether leaders choose to design it deliberately, or because they didn’t. Either way, culture is – and it can be directly measured by how much time, energy, communication and resources, a CEO is willing to give it. Someone I think is an amazing culture builder is Raj Singh, CEO of Accolade. I asked him something along the lines…
U is for Unbelievably…Shitty Leadership
Two brands that sit right next to each other at the bottom of the alphabetical order. They’re also both in the business of transporting customers from point A to point B, and… they both have arrogant, tone-deaf, ass biter CEOs who blame others and make excuses when they really should just say “Sorry.” I find this juxtaposition hilarious. Now, I know what you’re…
CEOs Give Best Advice On Leading Change
This topic could not have come at a better time given the political environment we are currently enduring. While I know, some people feel optimistic, a good many Americans feel fearful and uncertain about their lives in the US and the future of America. And, while change in companies and organizations is different, in some ways, it evokes some of the same feelings for…
March CEO Forum: Leading Through Change
Leaders juggle. It’s what they do. So imagine what occurs when you go from juggling a few red rubber balls to juggling hundreds of tiny puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together according to the picture on the box. How does this happen? Merge with another company or take one over as its new CEO...that’s how. That’s how I imagine Steve Singh, CEO of Concur…
CEOs Advise on Diversity From a Personal Perspective
Benjamin Franklin said “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” I took creative license and revised his sentiment:Workforce Diversity will not be achieved until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are. #TRUTH Diversity is awkward. Right after the last “From the CEO’s Perspective” leadership forum, I had a conversation with…
October CEO Forum: What Leaders Need to Know About Diversity
Much of the coaching work I do focuses on the ways in which executives are standing in their own way, and how we can implement behavioral changes to make them more successful. In fact, I’d go further to say, any of the work we do, typically starts there, because it’s that damaging stuff that limits success, creativity and growth. Now consider trying to change…
Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol Director Survived an Avalanche of Challenges
It didn't take long to see that Kim Kircher is a superboss. She is the director of the Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol and one of only three women in the US to head a ski patrol. Here’s the most recent Puget Sound Business Journal article I wrote about Kim: Kim Kircher’s parents signed her up for ski lessons in the Powder Pigs program at Snoqualmie Pass…
CEO Perspective: Chris Gregoire, Head of Challenge Seattle
I’m a student of the question and I have a new favorite. I’m asking all the CEOs I interview or who are guests on my CEO Leadership Forum ‘Are you a leader who loves to win or hates to lose?’ It’s interesting because often the question gets equated with failure. I’m not sure if they hear something I’m not asking or if it’s the…
CEOs Discuss Strategies for Leading a Multi-Gen Workforce
In another sold out CEO Forum, three, amazing CEOs–Ken Alterman, SAVERS/Value Village, Kimberly Harris, Puget Sound Energy and Kevin Klock, Talking Rain–shed light on their biggest challenges, mistakes and takeaways from leading a multi-generational workforce. One of the reasons I chose this topic is because a former colleague of mine said that all this talk about Millennials and their influence is making her feel…
Learn How CEOs of Savers, Talking Rain and Puget Sound Energy Maneuver Multi-Gen Culture on July 21st
My really smart friend, David Youssefnia, President of Critical Metrics, which makes sense out of employee data, recently shared a research paper with me. The paper, titled, “Generationally Based Differences in the Workplace: Is There a There There?” completely burst my dogmatic bubble. The research stated that all this millennial stereotyping is not entirely justified, with “minimal empirical evidence actually supporting generationally based difference.” What?!…
CEO Perspective: Diane Neal, CEO of Sur La Table
I’m pretty excited about Diane Neal. She’s a really cool chic, and like me, her dad played a pivotal role in her life and leadership. It was an honor to talk with her and learn more. Diane Neal serves as CEO of Sur La Table, a retailer of kitchen and dining supplies. She has learned over the years, as the retail industry has changed, some valuable lessons about leadership. Read…
Toughness Breeds Success. Prince Said So.
You say your dad was tough on you? You felt like nothing you did was ever good enough? Or your mom was a tiger, before "Tiger Moms" were a thing? And look at you now. You succeed at whatever you set your mind to: being the CEO of something major, an exceptional athlete or a mastered musician. In a lot of peoples' minds, there’s…
8 Game-Changing Tips for Rising Leaders
I’m still marinating on the discussion I had with Rebecca and Sachi for the #WomenWhoLead event last week at WeWork. Here’s a list of takeaways, tips and habits I gleaned for rising leaders who want to be at the top of their game. Thanks again to fellow panelists Sachi Shenoy, Chief Innovation Officer of Upaya Social Ventures, and Rebecca Lovell, Director of Entrepreneurship &…
Actionable Advice for Men and Women Leaders
The tables were turned Wednesday evening, and instead of being the moderator, I was a panelist for the #WomenWhoLead event, hosted by WeWork. Alongside me were two, rockstar leaders: Sachi Shenoy, Chief Innovation Officer of Upaya Social Ventures, and Rebecca Lovell, Director of Entrepreneurship & Industry, City of Seattle. Our moderator was Gina Phillips, the PNW Lead for WeWork. We spoke to a room…
Experts Advise on the Power of Purpose-Driven Leadership
If you missed our conversation yesterday, I am so so sorry for you. It was unbelievable. Yesterday, three amazing purpose-driven leaders: Jim Weber, CEO, Brooks Running, Darrell Cavens, CEO, zuiliy and Darryl Rawlings, CEO, Trupanion shared their insights on how they discovered their true purpose - and how that transcends their leadership and impacts everything they do. Here are their summary points and the…
The Power of Purpose Driven Leadership
Jim Weber, CEO of Brooks Running, is one of the coolest and smartest leaders in Seattle. He has some amazing stories and I can’t wait for you all to hear them. I left our meeting at Brooks headquarters earlier this week feeling even more excited about the conversation Jim and I are going to have (along with two other exceptional leaders: Darrell Cavens, CEO of…
CEO Perspective: Rajeev Singh, CEO of Accolade
When I speak about leadership, I am often asked who my favorite leaders are. The smart people would skirt the question, but I don’t. The reality is, I have several favorite leaders for different reasons. Currently, I’m leadership-crushing on Raj Singh, because he truly is one of the most authentic people I know. So it was no surprise that when I posed the question…
CEO Perspective: Daryl Campbell, CEO of Goodwill
When I talked to Daryl, a lot stood out. Something that stuck with me was the creative logic that came about when he and his friends were naming their boy band. One day, they were down at the marina and they saw a boat. “There were four guys, and the name of a boat was Forvus.” And that became their name. #MoreCleverThanOneDirection Daryl Campbell joined…
Hey, CEO! It IS About YOU
Can I get a dollar for every time a CEO tells me “It’s not about me”? It’s annoying and untrue. Frankly, it makes me trust you less. You set the standards and the pace. You set the vision. You set expectations. You motivate and engage your team and their teams. You do the things only a CEO can do. So, explain to me how…
The Book That Changed Everything: Profiles of Female Genius
No, not mine. Profiles of Female Genius is a book that appeared in my life many years ago. It was a gift from a very shady character. And because I have cat-like curiosity and believe it’s ‘better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t,’ I held onto it with cautious interest. About 10 years ago, I finally read it. It changed my…
CEO Perspective: Darryl Rawlings, CEO of Trupanion
When combined, my cat’s collective name is Satan. I didn’t plan it that way. I named them Matan and Sinclair, and a college kid I mentored coined the name. I tell you this because, today’s post is about a guy who started a company to help cats like Satan (and dogs). Darryl Rawlings has a passion for pets, (get the tissue before you read…
How to use Intimidation as a Leadership Strategy
To be clear, I’m not talking about the full on fear, Trump-like strategy where employees work for a successful leader who wins at all costs. This a someone who feels empowered by bullying, has a volatile personality and most importantly, has an exceedingly delicate ego. I’ve been there, done that. Can you tell? (At least the CEO I worked for was smart but that’s…
Are you a Superboss?
The latest HBR has a great article by Sydney Finkelstein on what makes a boss a Superboss. I can’t tell you how many times this article has landed in my inbox – because it’s a great one! Thank you to all who have forwarded it to me. This article reminds me of a book I read a trillion years ago called, Profiles of Female Genius. If…
CEO Perspective: David Niu, CEO of TINYpulse
I’ve been mind-crushing on David Niu ever since I met him. He told me the story of how, a few years back, he was feeling burned out so he quit life. He bought one-way tickets for himself, his wife and their 11 month old, and off they flew to explore the world. On their round-the-world trip, David interviewed entrepreneurs and learned all kinds of…
Why Successful Leaders Have Decision Anchors
Many of my clients are successful leaders who want to continue that success in a different, more deliberate way. It’s awesome! We work together to define their true purpose and what brings them serious joy. Serious joy is my way of saying – "I help them figure out the very few things that matter most." At the highest level of leadership, a lot matters…
4 Patterns of Great Executives
If you read nothing else this week, understand this: Among the high failure rate of transitioning executives, failed relationships account for a disproportionately higher percentage of all executive failure. Read it again, just in case. This was referred to in the recent release of A 10-Year Study Reveals What Great Executives Know and Do. The study tells us what great executives do that other executives…
Experts Advise on Employee Engagement Trends
The house was packed on February 4th during a rapid fire discussion on why more companies don’t view employee engagement as a strategic initiative. Despite the research (not to mention common sense) showing that engaged employees provide higher service, which leads to higher customer satisfaction results in increased sales and causes high profit and ultimately higher returns for shareholders, it's still difficult subject matter…
When a Funding Round is About More than Money
On Thursday, February 4, David is one of three CEOs that will discuss "Engaging Employees in 2016." You'll also be able to learn about his personal leadership and recommendations for measuring success of employee engagement. Read more about the event and buy tickets here. David has proven his success with TINYPulse, as you'll read in my latest PSBJ feature regarding his most recent funding…
How to Engage Employees in 2016
“Well-being” rolls my mind back to the sidebar headlines on the covers of my mom’s Redbook or Better Homes and Gardens magazines circa 1979. In yellow font, they screamed “3 Easy Steps to Improving Your Well-Being.” And like most things, ‘well-being’ became so passé that it’s hip and cool, especially as it relates to employee engagement. An employee’s well-being has to do with how…
3 Tips to Inspire and Engage Your Employees
In my trimestral email, I described my theory on what inspired the great navigators, Da Gama, Magellan and Columbus, to secure a boat, rally a crew and sail off into the sunset to see if, at the very least, they’d stumble upon some sort of discoverable land before falling off the edge of the world. I asked the leaders who received the email: How…
4 Leadership Strategies to Increase your Influence
Influence infuses everything we do in life. It’s what enables us to get further faster. An unstoppable leader will have a clearly defined purpose; they know how to leverage his or her influence. This is how a leader achieves longstanding significance. I think of it as an absolute. If you’re not influencing others, they are influencing you. A large part of my work as…
CEO Perspective: Ron Sevart, CEO of the Space Needle
When I moved to Seattle, my first job was publicist for the Space Needle. Besides knowing random trivia like the Space Needle is as high as Elliot Bay is deep, it was around the same time that the Sonics were playing the Bulls for the national championship. We painted the player’s jerseys on the roof only to realize Shawn Kemp’s number was wrong. #Fail.…
7 Leadership Behaviors to Stop in 2016
I showed up at the gym last week for Bootcamp, and like every January, a bunch of newbies invaded my space. I know it's the human thing to do -- gather hope and intentions, get excited for what’s possible, set some goals and climb aboard the success train. But since this isn’t my first rodeo, and it’s not yours either, so let’s cut to…
From the CEO’s Perspective Forums: Announcing the 2016 Line Up
For those of you that have been wondering and inquiring, I'm so pleased to finally share the big news! Here’s the 2016 line up for my “From the CEO’s Perspective” forums at the World Trade Center, Seattle. If you were lucky enough to attend our last forum in 2015, you heard the amazing stories from culture creators: Scott Svenson, CEO of MOD Pizza; Raj…
David Bowie: Courage + Authenticity = Leadership
The world is dimmer for the loss of such an iconic symbol of courage and authenticity. I’m not going to claim I was the biggest Bowie fan. His influence reigned heavy before I was born. But I am an admirer of what he symbolized: the courage to live his eccentric view of the world in the most authentic way he could. For leaders and…
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