Leveraging Leadership

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Podcast by Emily Sander

Leveraging Leadership

Are you ready to up your leadership game? Tune in to Leveraging Leadership, where business professionals and leaders find the tools, strategies, and insights they need to excel. Hosted by Emily Sander, a C-suite executive turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers practical and tactical takeaways every week.

Whether you're tackling tough conversations, fine-tuning your KPIs, or mastering delegation, this show offers new perspectives and actionable advice to help you feel confident and thrive in your role.


Each Monday, enjoy interviews with leaders from diverse fields—primarily business, but also from military, politics, and higher education. Every Wednesday, catch a solo episode where Emily shares concise, actionable insights on a specific topic you can apply immediately.

If you appreciate relatable, informal conversations that pack a punch with no fluff, you’re in the right place. While especially valuable for Chiefs of Staff, the insights are useful for any leader aiming to grow.

Don’t miss your chance to advance as a leader.

Latest episodes

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11 September 2024

Leveraging Familiar Concepts to Enhance Leadership

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily Sander shares how using analogies can improve communication in leadership. She discusses examples like a soccer midfielder needing to "pass the ball" for effective delegation and a swimmer needing to "stay in their lane." Emily also emphasizes the importance of listening to the analogies others use and offering your own to help them explain their thoughts.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chi...

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09 September 2024

Founder of Chief of Staff Roundtable Phil Burns

In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Phil Burns talks about the crucial role of the Chief of Staff and the risks of not defining it properly. He and Emily discuss the differences between an Executive Assistant and a Chief of Staff, emphasizing strategic thinking and rebranding for those transitioning roles. Phil also shares about the Chief of Staff Roundtable, a community providing resources, peer learning, and discussions on key topics like executing business rhythms and solving big p...

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04 September 2024

Create (Good) Problems as Chief of Staff

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, host Emily discusses the concept of creating 'good' problems—like being swamped with sales or having too many top job candidates—as signs of a healthy business - comparing it to the Seattle Seahawks' strategy of drafting the best talent regardless of position. Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff Toolkit...

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02 September 2024

Mastering Salary Negotiations: A Chief of Staff's Guide with Dorothy Mashburn

Dorothy Mashburn, a leading expert in salary negotiations, shares straightforward strategies on compensation discussions for Chiefs of Staff. Learn how to effectively prepare for pay raise conversations, use data to back up your requests, and handle rejection to keep the discussion going. If you're looking to get a better handle on negotiating your worth in the workplace, this is the episode for you.Links Mentioned:COS Network Annual Compensation Report deep dive w/ Rahul DesaiDorothy Mashbur...

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28 August 2024

Showing You Understand: Leading with Empathy in Situations Beyond Your Control

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily discusses how showing empathy and really looking at the world from their perspective, can go A LONG way. Like when a chief of staff helps a CTO who's stuck with a messy, old tech system.Links Mentioned:Clarity Call with EmilyFree Resources:Strategic Planning Checklist Chief of Staff Skills Assessment ChecklistA Day in the Life of a Chief of StaffChief of Staff ToolkitGet in touch with Emily:Connect on LinkedInFollow on YouTubeLearn more abo...

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26 August 2024

Redefine Your Servant Leadership with Jon Kidwell

How do you lead and serve at the same time?Author Jon Kidwell discusses his definition of a true servant leader, focusing on three key attributes: character, relationships, and skills. Jon debunks nine myths about leadership, contrasting ideas such as mission over people-pleasing, embracing tension, and choosing 'and' over 'or'. Emily and Jon also emphasize defining missions in personal and professional life and the importance of embracing both positive and negative experiences. Listen in to ...

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