Podcast
The Enlightened Executive
Hosted by Susan Drumm · EN
Are you hungry for ground-breaking techniques and strategies to evolve your personal and leadership effectiveness?
Our mission is to raise the consciousness of leaders through highlighting leading-edge programs, mindsets, and tools, as well as provide examples of leaders who have "done their own work" along the journey to becoming more enlightened. Some might call these growth tools cutting edge and others may be skeptical — but either way there is an intense curiosity for outside-the-box personal growth programs that help you be both a better human and a better leader. Guests will include founders of these programs and the executives who have experienced them. Up-level your leadership and join the (r)evolution!
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Reinvention Is the Leadership Skill AI Can't Replace
3w ago00:26:26Tap to summarizeAI is changing how we work, create, and lead. But as technology gets faster, the most valuable leadership skills may be the most human ones: creativity, judgment, authenticity, and reinvention. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm speaks with Jason Miller about how leaders can stay relevant in an AI-driven world. Jason shares why it's risky to become too one-dimensional, how to build a unique "talent stack," and why putting your ideas into the world before you feel fully ready can become a powerful growth practice. Together, Susan and Jason explore what it takes to break old patterns, develop a distinct point of view, and lead with more creativity and courage as the future of work continues to evolve. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
Transcribe →How AI Is Changing Customers, Trust, and Leadership
May 600:28:40Tap to summarizeAI is not just changing how we work. It is changing how customers think, decide, trust, and relate. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm speaks with marketing strategist, futurist, and author Mark Schaefer about how AI is reshaping customer behavior and what leaders need to understand now. They explore the risks of cognitive offloading, the importance of protecting human judgment, and why trust, curiosity, and agency may become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. You'll learn how AI is influencing customer decisions, why leaders must protect critical thinking, what "cognitive surrender" means for teams and organizations, and how brands can build trust in an AI-shaped marketplace. The opportunity is not to reject AI. It is to use it with discernment. Listen now to learn how leaders can stay relevant, trusted, and human in the age of AI. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
Transcribe →How Small Acts of Kindness Create Big Leadership Impact
Apr 2200:29:47Tap to summarizeWhat if one small act of kindness could create a ripple effect far beyond what you imagined? In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with entrepreneur Braxton Kilgo to explore how a simple mission grew into a business, a movement, and a model for meaningful leadership. Braxton shares his journey from small-town beginnings to building a purpose-driven brand centered on human connection, service, and impact. Together, they unpack what leaders can learn about scaling a mission without losing its heart, why discernment matters as much as vision, and how trust becomes the foundation for lasting influence. This conversation is a powerful reminder that enlightened leadership is not just about strategy or performance. It is about building something real enough that people can feel it, believe in it, and carry it forward.
Transcribe →When Success Becomes a Cage
Apr 800:36:25Tap to summarizeWhat if the success you built is no longer setting you free? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm sits down with investor, entrepreneur, and Fulfillionaire founder JP Newman to explore a truth many high achievers quietly wrestle with: external success does not always create internal fulfillment. JP shares his journey from chasing financial milestones to redefining wealth through a more meaningful lens—one that includes purpose, people, presence, and play, not just prosperity. Together, Susan and JP unpack why so many leaders confuse achievement with freedom, how ambition can become a hidden trap, and what it takes to create a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. This conversation is for executives, entrepreneurs, and growth-minded leaders ready to move beyond performance alone and lead from deeper alignment. In this episode, you'll hear: Why success can start to feel like a cage The emotional drivers underneath ambition Why money alone does not create fulfillment A broader definition of wealth for leaders How self-awareness shapes both life and leadership
Transcribe →When Success Creates Self-Doubt: How Leaders Move Through "Wonderhell"
Mar 2600:31:42Tap to summarizeWhat happens when success does not bring the confidence you expected? In this episode, Susan Drumm sits down with Laura Gassner Otting to explore the tension many leaders feel after reaching a new level of achievement. Instead of clarity, they often experience pressure, self-doubt, and the sense that they now have even more to prove. Together, they unpack Laura's concept of "Wonderhell," the space between recognizing your potential and fully stepping into it. They also discuss why imposter syndrome often shows up at moments of growth, how external success can pull leaders away from intrinsic motivation, and why self-awareness is essential for sustainable leadership. This conversation is especially relevant for executives, founders, and high achievers who are navigating the discomfort that often comes with growth. In this episode, you'll hear: Why success can trigger uncertainty and self-doubt How to reframe imposter syndrome The difference between external validation and intrinsic motivation Why self-awareness helps leaders grow with more clarity How high performers can avoid chasing someone else's definition of success Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
Transcribe →Unlocking Energy Intelligence for Sustainable Leadership
Feb 1100:30:09Tap to summarizeAre you leading on an empty tank? In this high-energy episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm is joined by keynote speaker and joy instigator Marli Williams to explore how cultivating energy intelligence can radically elevate your leadership presence, resilience, and impact. You'll discover: Why managing your energy, not just your time, is the secret to leading sustainably The 4 pillars of energetic leadership: Presence, Authenticity, Capacity, and Vitality Marli's "Fully Charged" framework: Fuel, Focus, Filter, Fun, and Frequency A mindset shift that turns draining obligations into energizing opportunities Practical rituals to recharge your energy and amplify your influence Marli's journey, from wilderness guide to executive coach, reveals how awareness creates choice, and how small, intentional shifts can transform how you lead and how your team performs. "When you choose you, others get the best of you, and you bring out the best in others." — Marli Williams If you're ready to stop performing and start powerfully showing up, this episode is your spark. 🎧 Subscribe and listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.
Transcribe →The Science of Charisma: How Compassion Creates Influence with Heather Hansen
Jan 2600:33:04Tap to summarizeWhat if charisma isn't something you're born with, but something you build? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm sits down with Heather Hansen, former trial attorney, communication expert, and CEO of Belief Builders, to explore how compassionate charisma transforms your leadership presence. You'll discover: The neuroscience behind why power can reduce empathy, and how to reverse it 12 proven behaviors that make leaders more charismatic (based on Dr. John Antonakis' research) The difference between performing leadership and embodying it Why compassion is a prerequisite, not an accessory, to true influence Whether you lead in healthcare, tech, or the C-suite, this episode will shift the way you think about presence, power, and persuasion. Want to grow your influence without losing your authenticity? This is your starting point. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
Transcribe →Burnout Is Not the Problem—It's a Design Flaw
Jan 1200:30:49Tap to summarizeIs your leadership model silently draining your team? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, energy and culture expert Josh Allan Dykstra challenges the outdated belief that resilience means pushing through. Instead, he offers a new paradigm: designing work around energy flow, not just productivity. You'll learn: Why burnout is a design issue, not a personal failing The leadership reflex that keeps you stuck in overdrive How to build teams that are energized, not just efficient A practical roadmap to shift from exhaustion to alignment This conversation is a must-listen for any leader ready to build sustainable high performance, from the inside out. Listen now and explore how your leadership patterns may be working against you. Want to uncover your blind spots? Explore the Enneagram Applied program.
Transcribe →Is Your Team Performing the Culture You Want?
Dec 3000:34:58Tap to summarizeYou may not think of yourself as a performer, but as a leader, your presence is always on stage. In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, Susan Drumm interviews culture and storytelling expert Mike Ganino on the hidden performance behind every company culture. From improv stages to executive boardrooms, Mike reveals how unspoken patterns and leadership presence shape what your team believes, repeats, and trusts. Together, we explore: Why culture is always being performed, whether scripted or not How your leadership presence becomes the company's culture cue The neuroscience of storytelling and its impact on team engagement How to "rehearse" the behaviors and values you want your team to embody Simple, actionable ways to lead with more clarity, intention, and impact Whether you're scaling a team or leading through change, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you're showing up, and what your team is learning from it. Don't just manage culture. Lead the one your team performs every day.
Transcribe →Unlocking Creativity: The Leadership Advantage You're Overlooking with Natalie Nixon
Dec 1600:33:42Tap to summarizeMost leaders double down on strategy when pressure hits, but what if the real competitive edge lies in creativity? In this episode of The Enlightened Executive, I speak with Natalie Nixon, creativity strategist and author of Move, Think, Rest, about why creativity, not control, is the next frontier in leadership. Natalie shares her human-centered framework for redesigning work in the face of burnout, complexity, and hybrid teams. You'll learn: Why creativity is a teachable, practical skill (not just a personality trait) How the Move / Think / Rest framework can rewire the way you lead What it takes to "unlearn" outdated leadership reflexes A powerful question to reimagine how you show up under pressure If you're ready to stop reacting and start imagining, this conversation is your next step forward. 📘 Explore her book Move, Think, Rest: http://enlightenedexec.com/ep112 🎧 Subscribe to The Enlightened Executive for weekly episodes that blend neuroscience, leadership, and real-world insight
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