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Leveraging Leadership

Leveraging Leadership

By: Emily Sander
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About this listen

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.

© 2026 Leveraging Leadership Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Bringing Half-Baked Ideas to Your Boss Can Make You a Better Leader

    Why Bringing Half-Baked Ideas to Your Boss Can Make You a Better Leader
    Feb 11 2026

    Emily Sander explains why bringing “half baked” work to your boss - especially when you're new in a Chief of Staff role - can save time, spark valuable conversations, and help you calibrate quickly to your boss’s preferences. She gives real examples, like saving hours by checking in early, learning what your boss fixates on, and understanding the order they want detailed information presented. The episode encourages trying iterative updates instead of holding out for perfection.


    Get in touch with Emily:
    Want to calibrate faster with your principal? 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 The Half-Baked Idea: Why It's Beneficial

    02:30 The Importance of Calibration Sessions

    06:36 Understanding Your Boss's Fixations

    10:43 Iterative Processes for Long-Term Success

    11:12 Encouragement and Conclusion

    12:29 Sponsor Message: Next Level Coaching
    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • The CEO Perspective on Managing Chaos, Growth, and Building Strong Teams

    The CEO Perspective on Managing Chaos, Growth, and Building Strong Teams
    Feb 9 2026

    Chris Blauvelt shares his journey as a multi-time entrepreneur, how he hired his first Chief of Staff after learning about the role from House of Cards and leadership books, and why setting top three priorities every quarter changed his effectiveness as a CEO. He explains how his Chief of Staff tackled big challenges like product innovation, people operations, and compliance, even without previous experience in those areas. Chris also discusses bringing on a second Chief of Staff with a more technical background to focus on launching a new payments company.


    Links Mentioned:
    Chris’s mission-driven crowdfunding company

    Chris Blauvelt’s Twitter/X handle

    Connect with Chris Blauvelt on LinkedIn


    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:
    01:20 Chris Vet's Journey and Achievements

    03:26 The Role and Impact of a Chief of Staff

    06:40 Hiring and Integrating a Chief of Staff

    16:48 Taking Ownership and Delegation

    18:23 Onboarding and Establishing Cadence

    20:41 Hiring a New Chief of Staff

    29:43 Mission and Vision of Launchgood
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Judgement vs Assessment: Creating a Positive and Productive Leadership Culture

    Judgement vs Assessment: Creating a Positive and Productive Leadership Culture
    Feb 4 2026

    This episode lays out the difference between judgment and assessment at work, especially for leaders like the Chief of Staff. Emily shares real examples, from firing and hiring decisions to handling challenging team meeting behavior, showing how you can assess actions without judging someone's character. She explains how focusing on observable facts and assessments helps avoid negative assumptions, makes decisions easier, and benefits the whole team.


    Get in touch with Emily:
    Need help turning judgment into clear assessments? 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 Judgment vs. Assessment: Key Distinctions

    03:14 Real-Life Examples of Judgment and Assessment

    05:47 Observation vs. Assumption in Team Dynamics

    09:24 Making Effective Leadership Decisions

    13:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
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