How to Get Promoted from Director to Vice President (It Had Nothing to Do with Technology)
Ten years ago, I made a transition that I have barely talked about since. I have spent years documenting what happened after I became a VP, the jump from IT to HR, building out ESG, leading safety and transportation. But I hardly ever talk about how I actually got to the VP level in the […]
Why You Didn’t Get the Promotion (And What You Did to Yourself)
Let me be straight with you. If you were passed over for that VP or C-suite role, there is a good chance you did it to yourself. That is a hard thing to hear. But the sooner you accept it, the sooner you can change it. I have had this conversation more times than I […]
5 Leadership Lessons from Jocko Willink
In 2016, I was an introverted IT guy who had just been handed the keys to an HR department. I had no background in it, and no obvious reason to succeed. Around that same time, I came across Jocko Willink. His podcast, his book Extreme Ownership, the work he and Leif Babin were doing at […]
How to Actually Get C-Suite Access (And Not Waste It)
Most people blow it the moment they get in the room with a C-suite executive. Here’s how not to be that person. After working alongside executives through 48 acquisitions and two IPOs, I’ve watched talented people fumble opportunities with senior leaders over and over again. Not because they weren’t capable, but because they approached it […]
Why Sending Your Resume Is Not Enough Anymore
For many professionals, the job search still begins and ends with one familiar action: submitting a resume and waiting. Years ago, that approach occasionally worked. Today, it rarely does. Modern hiring is shaped by automation, artificial intelligence, and a deep erosion of trust. Applicant tracking systems scan resumes before a human ever sees them. AI […]
Executive Interview Tips That Help Senior Leaders Get Hired Faster
Senior executives are facing a different hiring market than they did even a few years ago. Increased turnover at the top has created more competition for leadership roles, and the interview process has become far more demanding. At the executive level, resumes are rarely the issue. Most candidates are qualified. What determines who advances is […]
From Boardroom to Big Stage
How Houston Executives Create More Speaking Opportunities For many senior leaders in Houston, stepping onto larger stages feels out of reach. Keynotes, high-profile panels, and conference invitations often appear reserved for a small, visible group. In practice, most executives who regularly speak at events started far from confident. Many were technical leaders or reserved operators […]
Skills Make Hard Work Matter
Why effort alone will not get you to the next level of leadership “Do the work” has become one of the most popular phrases in modern leadership culture. It is everywhere. Entrepreneurship circles. Corporate leadership conversations. Social media. And to be clear, effort matters. But effort alone is not what separates managers from directors, or […]
How Senior Executives Can Master the Art of Working the Room
For many senior executives, networking events and conferences are positioned as essential career accelerators. Yet behind closed doors, a surprising number of leaders admit they find these environments uncomfortable, draining, or even anxiety-inducing. That was certainly my experience early in my career. I spent most of my life as an extreme introvert. Quiet. Reserved. If […]
Adaptability and Resilience: The Leadership Advantage No One Talks About Enough
The most dangerous thing a leader can do is get too comfortable. Leaders must cultivate adaptability and resilience to navigate the ever-changing landscape. Markets shift. Teams change. Plans fall apart. And when they do, the leaders who rise aren’t always the smartest in the room. They’re the ones who are most adaptable and resilient. These […]
