Handling Unfamiliar Acronyms Without Feeling Embarrassed
06/05/2026 | 23min
The episode looks at jargon and acronyms in the workplace, using examples like ARR (annual rate of return) and CPA (cost per acquisition or certified public accountant), and talks about ways to learn or clarify business lingo. It emphasizes that asking questions doesn’t make you look stupid and highlights the Chief of Staff’s role in creating a shared language across teams, especially during mergers or integrations. Tips include using tools like Google or ChatGPT, paying attention to context, and not overcomplicating things with unnecessary jargon.
Get in touch with Emily: Confused by business jargon? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.
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Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:25 The Acronym Anxiety 01:34 Step Back and Normalize Jargon 04:05 Learn by Context and Quick Lookups 06:45 Ask Anyway You're Not Dumb 09:45 Why Clarifying Helps Everyone 12:12 Chief of Staff Shared Language 17:38 Communicate Clearly Avoid Buzzwords 21:47 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up
Exploring Feedback and Emotional Intelligence for Thriving Workplace Cultures
04/05/2026 | 36min
Emily Sander talks with Maren Perry, founder and CEO of Arden Coaching, about what HR really does beyond paperwork, why leadership development should start early, and the habits of high-performing teams. They cover tips for giving and receiving feedback, how emotional intelligence works in day-to-day situations, and how small changes - like starting meetings on time - can improve team culture. Maren Perry also explains Arden Coaching’s assessment tools and approaches for building better leaders at all stages of their careers.
Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.
Free Leadership Resources
LinkedIn Website Newsletter
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:59 Why Arden Coaching 04:20 Develop Leaders Earlier 08:24 Feedback and EQ Skills 17:41 Align With The Leader 20:52 Small Shifts Big Impact 22:04 Common Team Breakdowns 32:59 Assessment Services And Wrap
Q&A: Practical Ways Chiefs of Staff Can Collaborate Laterally
29/04/2026 | 17min
The conversation focuses on practical ways a Chief of Staff can work with peers across departments, like finding small ways to make someone’s workflow easier or kicking off cross-team projects such as company-wide KPI dashboards and revamped performance reviews. Real examples include removing unnecessary steps from daily processes, automating Salesforce reports, and even simple gestures like ordering a camera cover for a colleague’s laptop. The episode also covers building trust through these actions and handling resistance from team members.
Get in touch with Emily: Need help improving cross-team collaboration? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.
Free Leadership Resources
LinkedIn Website Newsletter
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:25 Listener Question Setup 01:31 Small Wins Build Trust 02:00 Workflow Fixes and Shortcuts 03:44 A Tiny Gesture Example 05:54 KPI Dashboards and Automation 08:58 Handling Peer Resistance 10:27 Time and Political Capital 16:58 Wrap Up and Next Steps
The Intersection of Sports Psychology, Mindfulness, and Effective Leadership
27/04/2026 | 47min
Emily talks with performance coach Benjamin Smith about using sports psychology and mindfulness for better leadership. They cover tools like visualization, breathwork, and grounding exercises for handling pressure, and discuss the importance of play, self-compassion, and knowing your core values. Benjamin also shares why striving for endless self-improvement isn’t always the answer and how feeling “whole” is key to real performance.
Links Mentioned: Benjamin Smith's Website Benjamin Smith’s Substack
Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.
Free Leadership Resources
LinkedIn Website Newsletter
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 01:04 Sports Psychology Basics 02:27 Quarterback Pressure Tools 09:35 Flow State And Mindfulness 17:01 Conflict And Body Awareness 23:06 Body Based Calming Tools 25:09 Reframing Threat as Safety 26:20 Compassion in High Performance 27:48 Beyond Self Improvement Mindfulness 40:01 Play Joy and Closing
Q&A: Overcoming the Overqualified Hurdle as a Former Business Owner Seeking a New Role
22/04/2026 | 13min
Emily answers a listener named Dallas, a longtime tree company owner, who’s struggling to get traction applying for Chief of Staff roles after his business closed. She talks about being seen as overqualified, how to preempt concerns on a resume and in interviews, and ways to use founder experience as an advantage. Emily gives examples like using a simple explanation on LinkedIn and resumes, referencing candidates moving from CEO roles, and how to address the “overqualified” issue directly with hiring managers.
Get in touch with Emily: Want help repositioning your founder experience for a Chief of Staff role? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.
Free Leadership Resources
LinkedIn Website Newsletter
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:25 Listener Question Setup 01:22 Why You Seem Overqualified 02:57 Resume and LinkedIn Reframe 04:25 CFO Story Example 05:57 Practice a Calm Talk Track 06:53 Founder Experience as an Asset 08:22 Family Business Dynamics 09:44 Get Feedback and Target Fit 11:52 Disarm Concerns and Wrap Up
Are you ready to up your leadership game? Tune in to Leveraging Leadership, where Chiefs of Staff, executives, and business professionals 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 and their Principals, the insights are useful for any leader aiming to grow.Don’t miss your chance to advance as a leader.
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