HBR On Leadership: Episode Summary – "Is the C-Suite Right for You?"

Release Date: July 16, 2025

Host: Hannah Bates | Executive Coach: Muriel Wilkins | Featured Leader: Sarah

Introduction

In the episode titled "Is the C-Suite Right for You?" from the HBR On Leadership podcast, host Hannah Bates engages in a profound conversation with executive coach Muriel Wilkins, focusing on Sarah’s contemplation of ascending to a C-level position. This episode delves into the nuanced considerations leaders face when deciding whether the next logical career step aligns with their intrinsic motivations and personal definitions of success.

Sarah’s Career Journey

Sarah begins by outlining her decade-long journey within her current organization, which she characterizes in three distinct chapters:

1. Chapter One – Building and Transformation ([01:24]): "Coming to the company to build a business, to transform a business... the job was more than a job."

   Initially, Sarah experienced a period of growth and fulfillment, feeling connected to a larger purpose and working alongside a motivated team.

2. Chapter Two – Organizational Change and Rebuilding ([02:58]): "There was a big organizational change... all of my champions at the company left... it felt like pushing a boulder up a hill."

   External changes led to a challenging period where Sarah had to reprove herself amidst new leadership and shifting company dynamics.

3. Chapter Three – Stasis and Stalled Learning ([03:43]): "I’ve weathered the storm... my learning has really stalled."

   Currently, Sarah feels a sense of stasis, having reestablished her reputation but finding her growth and motivation plateauing.

The Conflict: Potential vs. Purpose

Muriel Wilkins guides Sarah to explore the internal conflict between pursuing her potential (external achievements and roles) and her purpose (intrinsic motivations and impact).

• Potential-Driven Perspective ([05:11]): "Is the next step to take a bigger, more influential role... ultimately becoming a CEO."

  Sarah acknowledges societal and self-imposed expectations driving her towards higher prestige and larger-scale impact.

• Purpose-Driven Perspective ([16:22]): "Creating that feeling of building bigger than myself... truly get true satisfaction."

  She seeks fulfillment through direct impact, growth, and transformation within her work, which she feels may be compromised in higher executive roles.

Defining Success

The conversation delves into Sarah’s evolving definition of success:

• External (Outside-In) Success ([12:15]): "Success is like running a race... title and scale of impact is how I get there."

  Initially, Sarah equates success with achieving significant titles and broad influence within her industry.

• Internal (Inside-Out) Success ([16:24]): "Building bigger than myself... having transformative impact on an organization."

  She recognizes a shift towards valuing personal fulfillment and meaningful contributions over external accolades.

Coaching Strategies and Insights

Muriel employs strategic coaching techniques to help Sarah reconcile her conflicting perspectives:

1. Identifying Time Horizons ([06:00]): Muriel suggests Sarah considers her aspirations over different time frames (1 year, 5 years, 10 years) to better understand her evolving goals.

2. Exploring Definitions and Narratives ([14:40]): "Growing up, the definition of success was external milestones."

   Sarah reflects on how her upbringing as a first-generation immigrant influenced her initial external definition of success.

3. Purpose vs. Potential Analysis ([19:10]): Muriel encourages Sarah to differentiate between fulfilling her potential and living her purpose, uncovering their interconnectedness and mutual reinforcement.

4. Reframing Decision-Making ([28:07]): "Move to a company in the same industry but smaller, allowing for more direct impact."

   Sarah considers shifting from a linear corporate ladder to roles that better align with her intrinsic motivations, without completely abandoning her potential-driven aspirations.

5. Balancing Internal and External Drivers ([40:05]): They discuss the possibility of integrating both purpose and potential, ensuring career decisions support personal fulfillment while still leveraging her capabilities.

Action Steps and Conclusion

By the end of the session, Sarah gains clarity on balancing her internal motivations with external ambitions:

• Clarity on What She Knows ([37:33]): "I have built a mass of great experience... I want to make sure I'm running to something."

  Sarah identifies her strengths, current job satisfaction factors, and desire for continued growth.

• Action Plan ([39:10]): Sarah commits to:

  • Writing Down Career Components: Separating potential and purpose to evaluate their alignment.
  • Exploring Roles that Align with Purpose: Seeking senior roles in smaller companies where impact and vision-setting are more immediate.
  • Assessing Trade-Offs: Understanding and accepting the necessary compromises to pursue what she truly wants.

• Shift in Mindset ([44:27]): "This has been a great framework for me to think about."

  Sarah moves from feeling paralyzed by indecision to adopting a proactive, hypothesis-driven approach to her career decisions.

Final Reflections ([46:45]): Sarah expresses optimism and a structured plan to integrate her purpose with her career trajectory, recognizing that this balance may require ongoing negotiation.

Notable Quotes

• Sarah on Career Stagnation ([03:43]): "I've weathered the storm... my learning has really stalled."

• Muriel on Defining Success ([12:27]): "It's about fulfilling your potential versus fulfilling your purpose."

• Sarah on Internal Fulfillment ([18:03]): "Touching and building and growing and impacting on a day-to-day basis is where I get real satisfaction."

• Muriel on Balancing Drivers ([40:50]): "Potential is not driving; purpose is the driver's seat."

Conclusion

This episode of HBR On Leadership offers valuable insights into the intricate decision-making processes leaders face when contemplating upward mobility versus personal fulfillment. Through Sarah’s coaching session, listeners gain a framework for introspecting on their own career paths, balancing external ambitions with internal motivations, and making informed, peaceable decisions about their professional futures.

For more insights and conversations with top leadership experts, subscribe to HBR On Leadership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.