Executive Success with Lesley Everett

Executive Success (Aired 01-29-26) Unconventional Beginnings: How Penny Philpot Built Executive Influence Through Empathy

Juan D Guevara Torres — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:46:54 +0000

In this powerful episode of Executive Success, host Lesley Everett welcomes global IT leader Penny Philpot to explore how early, unconventional experiences can shape exceptional executive leadership. From teaching kayaking as a teenager to leading multi billion dollar partner ecosystems at companies like Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and Red Hat, Penny shares how responsibility, empathy, and trust became the foundation of her leadership style long before she entered the corporate world.

This episode highlights the importance of emotional intelligence, stakeholder management, and inclusive leadership in today’s complex business environments.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - How Unorthodox Beginnings Shape Elite Leaders
(00:01:53) - What did those early experiences teach you about leadership?
(00:04:57) - Treating People as You Want to Be Treated
(00:07:04) - The Challenges of Leading a Virtual Team
(00:13:18) - Executive Success
(00:14:08) - Gaining buy-in early in your career
(00:18:15) - What surprised you most about leading in multicultural cultures
(00:20:38) - How to Build Trust and Respect in the Organization
(00:22:54) - How Do Leaders Balance Confidence and Humility?
(00:24:31) - Red Hat's Penny Philpot on LinkedIn
(00:25:22) - Executive Success
(00:26:21) - What Leaders Learn From Difficult Experiences
(00:28:58) - Top Leaders: Growing Up
(00:31:56) - On the Respect for the Team
(00:35:07) - Leaders: Emotional Intelligence
(00:39:16) - Executive Success
(00:40:05) - Executive Success: Step Back and Reading the Room
(00:41:30) - Essie: Don't Get Married to a prestigious Company
(00:45:37) - Your ability to present in your career
(00:49:22) - 3 Key Leadership Principles
(00:50:42) - In the Elevator With Jeff Zucker
(00:51:09) - LinkedIn Interview With Penny Philpot
(00:51:26) - Executive Success: Penny's Story

Executive Success (Aired 01-22-26) Leading Beyond Numbers: How Kevin Kelly & Divya Gill Build Trust, Culture, and Executive Impact

Juan D Guevara Torres — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:21:00 +0000

In this dynamic episode of Executive Success, host Lesley Everett is joined by Kevin Kelly, General Manager of the Resort at Pelican Hill, and Divya Gill, Founder of Gill Tax Group, to explore what authentic leadership looks like across industries from luxury hospitality to finance and business strategy.

Together, they discuss the evolution from managing tasks to leading people, highlighting how trust, emotional intelligence, and clarity of vision shape high-performing cultures. Kevin shares insights from his decades with iconic brands like Ritz-Carlton and St.

Chapters

(00:00:08) - Executive Success: Luxury Hotel Executives
(00:00:39) - Leading With a Distinction
(00:01:56) - In the Elevator of True Leadership
(00:03:42) - How Working for Luxury Brands Changed My Leadership Style
(00:05:06) - The Challenges of Leadership in Luxury
(00:08:52) - The New Leadership: Leading with a Vision
(00:10:34) - 4 Rules for Aligning Your Team to Your Vision
(00:11:56) - Executive Success
(00:13:28) - How to Lead With Empathy
(00:15:49) - When Things Don't Go According to Plan
(00:17:51) - St. Regis: Authenticity in Luxury
(00:19:07) - How do you manage the authenticity of the hotel?
(00:21:50) - Does Emotional Intelligence Play a Role in Leading Teams?
(00:24:33) - Seeking Executive Success
(00:25:48) - The Culture of Luxury Hospitality
(00:27:42) - Luxury Hospitality: Emotional Intelligence
(00:29:51) - Marriott's Culture of Excellence
(00:31:01) - How to empower frontline staff to deliver great guest experience
(00:32:00) - The Luxury Hotel's Leadership Recruitment
(00:34:46) - Do you ever get at more senior level to do anything?
(00:36:03) - Kevin Kelly on His Leadership Legacy
(00:37:37) - Executive Success
(00:39:12) - Celebrating Leadership: Divya Gill
(00:40:36) - In the Elevator With Lesley Ferguson
(00:43:25) - How Do You Establish Core Values in Your Firm?
(00:45:59) - Corporate Leadership: Clarity is Kindness
(00:47:30) - The Role of Mentors in the Business
(00:49:08) - Divya Patel on Executive Success

Executive Success (Aired 01-15-26) Beyond Expertise: How Sean Weafer Redefines Executive Success Through Trust, Influence, and Relationships

Juan D Guevara Torres — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:16:15 +0000

In this new episode of Executive Success, host Lesley Everett sits down with globally respected leadership and business development coach Sean Weafer to challenge traditional definitions of what it means to succeed at the executive level. As organizations evolve and expertise alone is no longer enough, this conversation explores why trust, influence, and relationships have become the true currency of leadership.

Sean Weafer shares insights from his work across finance, legal, SaaS, and consulting sectors, supporting global organizations such as EY, DLA Piper, and Dell Technologies.

Chapters

(00:00:08) - Executive Success
(00:01:43) - The Relationship-Driven Executive Success
(00:03:14) - How to communicate your expertise effectively in an AI world
(00:05:17) - The Need for More Human Skill Sets
(00:07:29) - Have you got an example of a leader who's been overlooked for
(00:10:02) - Questions and Answers for Leaders
(00:11:27) - How Does Trust Accelerate Decision Making?
(00:12:30) - Welcome Back: Executive Success
(00:14:08) - The Secret to Leading With Communication
(00:16:05) - What does genuine executive presence look like in a hybrid and global environment
(00:20:38) - What are the major pitfalls of leaders?
(00:22:17) - How Can Leaders Communicate Authority Without Dominance?
(00:23:31) - How to Build Trust and Engagement
(00:25:03) - Executive Success
(00:26:20) - What Are the Core Skills of a Leader?
(00:27:33) - Making Time to Connect
(00:28:29) - What Does Real Accountability Look Like for Leaders?
(00:33:52) - How do emotional intelligence and influence intersect, do they?
(00:35:02) - Empathy as a leader's superpower
(00:38:19) - Welcome Back to Executive Success
(00:40:15) - Sean McDermott on the Highly Trusted Advisor
(00:42:30) - The Importance of Balance in Leadership
(00:44:02) - Exploring Resilience in the Executive World
(00:45:27) - What do leaders need to let go of when it comes to resilience
(00:46:35) - Where Do Leaders Mess Up?
(00:48:20) - The Next Shift in Executive Capability
(00:49:30) - The Highly Trusted Advisor

Executive Success (Aired 01-08-26) The Restless Executive: How Jo Meadwell Helps Leaders Reconnect With Values, Purpose, and Authentic Leadership

Juan D Guevara Torres — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:03:50 +0000

In this insightful episode of Executive Success, host Lesley Everett welcomes leadership coach, author, and former TEDx speaker Jo Meadwell for a deeply reflective conversation about restlessness, values, and what it truly means to lead with alignment. With more than 30 years of experience coaching CEOs, founders, and senior leaders across the globe, Joe shares how internal restlessness is often the first signal that leadership transformation is needed.

Jo explains why many high-achieving executives reach external success while feeling disconnected internally and how ignoring that signal can lead to burnout, misalignment, and cultural breakdowns within organizations.

Chapters

(00:00:08) - Executive Success
(00:01:28) - The Signs of Restlessness in Leaders
(00:03:27) - Leadership: From Ambition to Meaning
(00:06:40) - Getting it out of your head
(00:08:03) - What's Not Quite Right With Your Leadership?
(00:09:57) - Have I Got What I Needed?
(00:11:53) - Executive Success
(00:13:07) - Executive Success
(00:13:59) - Values
(00:15:55) - Vinod: Values and Trust
(00:17:29) - What do you think happens when leaders move away from their values?
(00:19:21) - How to Get Back on Track with Your Values
(00:21:12) - Jo Medwell on Values Alignment
(00:24:53) - "Rewilding Leadership": The Bold Idea
(00:26:23) - Rewilding: The Truth of Who You Are
(00:27:23) - How to Become More Viscous: Rewilding
(00:29:22) - What does it take to trust the untamed side of leadership?
(00:34:12) - Rewilding Leadership: The Future of Leadership
(00:36:46) - What is the Legacy of Your Career?
(00:39:23) - What is the one mindset shift that will define successful leaders in the
(00:41:15) - How to Make Time for Your Business
(00:42:03) - How can leaders bring more consciousness and depth into the organization?
(00:44:16) - A Moment of Stillness with Joanna Simpson

Executive Success (Aired 12-18-25) Redefining Executive Success: How David Goldstone Shapes Modern Leadership, Legacy, and Connection

Juan D Guevara Torres — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:29:40 +0000

In this insightful episode of Executive Success, host Lesley Everett welcomes executive search leader and leadership architect David Goldstone for a forward-looking conversation on what success truly means in today’s evolving executive landscape. With over 30 years of experience spanning global search firms, entrepreneurial ventures, and board-level advisory, David brings a rare perspective on leadership, impact, and long-term relevance.

Executive Success (Aired 12-11-25) Leading Beyond Comfort Zones: How Hannah Quinton Builds Trust, Talent & Resilient Leadership at Charles Schwab

Juan D Guevara Torres — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:41:36 +0000

In this episode of Executive Success, host Lesley Everett welcomes Hannah Quinton, Vice President and Branch Manager at Charles Schwab, for an inspiring and insightful conversation on leadership, growth, and resilience. Hannah has built a reputation for leading with clarity, compassion, and consistency within one of the world’s most trusted financial institutions, and she shares the experiences that shaped her executive journey.

Hannah reflects on the pivotal moment early in her career when she was unexpectedly asked to step into a leadership role long before she felt fully prepared. She opens up about navigating self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the importance of trusting the belief others see in you even before you see it yourself. Her story highlights how stepping outside of comfort zones often unlocks the most meaningful growth.

Executive Success (Aired 12-04-2025)Leadership, Discipline & High-Impact Strategies for Modern Executives with Mark Rockliffe

Juan D Guevara Torres — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:25:05 +0000

In this episode of Executive Success (12-04-2025), host Lesley Everett sits down with Mark Rockliffe, CEO of Pembroke Financial Services, to explore the leadership choices, habits, and defining moments that shape extraordinary executives. Drawing on his experience across SEI, Bank of Montreal, Zurich Group, and his own consultancy, Mark reflects on how early regulatory challenges reshaped his view of leadership—from focusing purely on numbers to prioritizing people, behaviors, and trust.

The conversation dives into practical leadership lessons, including empowering teams during uncertainty, building confidence through culture, and surrounding yourself with diverse talent rather than like-minded thinkers. Mark shares why true performance comes from investing in people, creating environments where individuals can grow beyond their comfort zones, and leading with humility rather than ego. The episode also explores how client-centric values, accountability, and long-term thinking drive sustainable success in highly technical industries.

Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or professional stepping into leadership, this episode delivers grounded insights on building resilient teams, shaping culture with intention, and leading through change without burning out. Tune in for real-world perspectives on trust, empowerment, and the mindset required to lead effectively in today’s evolving business landscape.