Ep. 2 Opening Yourself to Healing & Connection with Ann Baltz

In this episode, Elena speaks with Brittany Cotton, an innovative leader in professional coaching. Brittany is the Head of Coaching at 7CTOs and also runs her own executive coaching business called Coach EXE. She shares how she stumbled into coaching after finishing her master's degree and feeling uncertain about pursuing a PhD program. Brittany talks about the fulfillment she found in coaching and how it allowed her to tap into something that was already inside her. She emphasizes that coaching is not about having all the answers, but rather supporting others to cultivate their own answers.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

As the Head of Coaching at 7 CTOs, Brittany is responsible for creating leadership content and facilitating peer coaching groups. She discusses how her work focuses on helping tech leaders develop heart-based leadership skills in addition to technical skills. She also shares some trends she has noticed, highlighting that leaders are now more comfortable embracing discomfort and sitting with problems instead of running from them.

Brittany offers advice on developing courage, encouraging leaders to step out of their comfort zones, embrace vulnerability, and learn from setbacks. She believes that small steps over time can lead to significant personal growth. She also emphasizes the importance of difficult conversations and sitting with uncertainty, as personal growth can have a profound impact on organizations.

Brittany emphasizes the importance of personal growth in navigating professional challenges and global difficulties. She believes that leaders who prioritize their own development can bring about positive change in their companies from the inside out. She shares stories of clients who experienced unexpected transformations long after coaching ended. Overall, Brittany's holistic approach centers on the humanity of leaders, emphasizing the importance of personal growth over technical skills.

Let’s Get Social! 

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Learn more about The C-Suite Collective

Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram

Connect with Elena on LinkedIn

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this final episode of 2023, Elena Armijo reflects on the year at The C-Suite Collective, the executive coaching company she founded, discussing the importance of slowing down in order to go fast. As a fast-paced leader, Elena realized that taking the time to ensure people were on board and understood expectations was crucial. Throughout the year, The C-Suite Collective intentionally focused on building strong foundations, including processes, values, and fostering community conversations.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena also shares her personal journey of working internally and from the inside out. She highlights the transformative power of working with a coach for an entire year, focusing on healing, boundaries, self-acceptance, and receiving support. By accepting herself more, Elena was able to effectively lead and serve others, encouraging them to also do their inner work.

The company's commitment to inclusion and belonging was another key lesson learned in 2023. The C-Suite Collective explored new approaches, engaged in difficult conversations, and emphasized the importance of everyone's right to belong. They prioritized connection over conflict and disagreement, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

Elena also emphasizes the significance of celebrating the journey, not just the end goals. With the guidance of her coach, she practiced daily self-appreciation and joy throughout December. This shift in mindset allowed her to find fulfillment in the process rather than solely focusing on achieving outcomes.

Looking ahead to 2024, Elena plans to simplify her goals by narrowing them down to just five things. This strategic approach will allow her to fully immerse herself in each goal's journey and ensure their successful realization.

Finally, Elena expresses deep gratitude for the support she has received from her family, partner, friends, colleagues, clients, and listeners. She wishes everyone a peaceful and restful end to 2023, while also encouraging them to embrace the possibilities that lie ahead in the new year.

In summary, Elena shares the key lessons that guided her growth and The C-Suite Collective's development in 2023. These include the importance of slowing down, engaging in internal work, promoting inclusion, celebrating the journey, simplifying goals, and expressing gratitude. It has been a year of self-reflection, growth, and building a strong foundation for continued success.

Let’s Get Social! 

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Learn more about The C-Suite Collective

Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram

Connect with Elena on LinkedIn

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this episode, Elena speaks with Nomsa Khalfani and Amy Moy, the co-CEOs of Essential Access Health, to discuss their unique approach to co-leadership and their vision for transforming organizational culture. Nomsa and Amy have a long history together, having worked side by side in senior leadership roles for the past 10 years. When the previous CEO left, the board made the groundbreaking decision to appoint Nomsa and Amy as co-CEOs, recognizing their strong partnership and dedication to the organization's mission.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

As co-CEOs, Nomsa and Amy prioritize the well-being of their staff. They lead by example, practicing mutual support, flexibility, rest, and vulnerability. This shift in mindset and focus on staff wellness has resulted in a more trusting, safe, and humane organizational culture. They also emphasize inclusion, community health, and freedom for all. Through coaching, fair compensation, and involving staff in decision-making, they empower their team to make a meaningful impact.

However, with this new style of leadership also come challenges. Nomsa and Amy stress the importance of being open to feedback, even when it's uncomfortable, and using it as an opportunity for self-reflection rather than defensiveness. They also recognize the need to embrace imperfection and allow for evolution in their leadership approach.

To measure their success, Nomsa and Amy look at metrics such as staff retention, feedback from employees about feeling valued, and recommendations of the organization. They believe that by creating an empowering culture, they can support their staff in doing their best work and ultimately make a significant impact.

Above all, Nomsa and Amy's vision for Essential Access Health is centered around respecting bodily autonomy and fundamental human rights and dignity for all. They believe that true freedom cannot exist as long as some individuals lack it. Their goal is to amplify voices and improve outcomes through courageous and pioneering leadership. Tune in to this enlightening episode to learn more about their journey and the transformative power of co-leadership.

Let’s Get Social! 

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Learn more about Essential Access Health

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Connect with Nomsa on LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram.

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

Today, Elena talks with Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, speaker, and author, Oakland McCulloch, about principles that can transform your leadership and your team.  

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. 

Listen to their conversation here!

How can we continue to grow as leaders? We’ve all heard the phrase, “leaders are readers,” and yes, reading is a huge part of growing. But this is not the only way we leaders can and should grow. Whether it’s learning from other people, nourishing yourself, letting go of preconceived notions, or creating new avenues for growth, your development as a leader can take many forms. In fact, one of the more overlooked ways you can grow as a leader is by continuing to practice what you preach. After all, if you’re not applying the principles you espouse to your own life, why should anyone else?  

In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares three key ways you can focus on your personal leadership development, while strengthening your character at the same time. In her interview segment, she talks with Retired Lieutenant Colonel Oakland “Oak” McCulloch. With over 40 years of leadership experience and almost 25 years serving in the US Army, he is a leadership powerhouse. In this conversation, you’ll be reminded of key leadership principles and learn new ones, like the brilliant 75% Rule that Oak learned from his father, how the environment you’re in during interactions with your team can build trust, the importance of curiosity as a leader, why people bringing problems to your attention is actually a good sign, and more! They also discuss Oak’s book, Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be, and how it can impact leaders, regardless of their age or stage.  

Let’s Get Social! 

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! 

Visit Oak's website to book him as a speaker and buy his book. 

Connect with Oak on Instagram. 

Follow him on LinkedIn! 

Contact Oak on Facebook. 

Learn more about Oak on YouTube. 

Message him on X. 

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting

Sam De Santo, Creative Director

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager

Raejan Noh, Content Writer

Jennifer Harshman, Content Writer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

In this episode, Elena speaks with psychotherapist and coach, Claudine Chiarmonte, about leading holistically, living with integrity, and engaging in self-healing.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

What does wholeheartedness mean as a leader? Being authentic as a leader and bringing all of who you are to the table can be difficult to put into practice. However, part of being wholehearted as a leader means cultivating authenticity and being open about the fact that you don’t know everything. You have to be okay with making mistakes and being human. You’re not the Terminator. In fact, one of the most powerful, albeit difficult, ways to embrace wholehearted living is by cultivating rest and play in your day-to-day life. In a world that is all about the “hustle,” this might seem counterintuitive to your productivity and your ability to lead. Nevertheless, this practice actually frees you to be able to embrace joy and gratitude, not just in your work life, but in all areas.

In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena delves into what it means to live wholeheartedly, so you can thrive in every aspect of your life. In her interview segment, she speaks with her friend, Claudine Chiarmonte, a coach, psychotherapist, senior executive trainer, and podcaster, who has been helping people transform their lives for over 30 years. From an early age, Claudine was called to help others navigate difficult situations, which led her to become a social worker and child advocate. Her life took an unexpected turn when she was struck by a drunk driver. This incident caused her to reevaluate her life, career, and relationships, prompting her to change directions and become a coach. In this conversation, Elena and Claudine talk about the journey of finding your purpose, the difference between principles and values, what it takes to lead with self-awareness, how to live and lead with vulnerability, and more.

Let’s Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Learn more about Claudine's psychotherapy practice.

Listen to Claudine’s podcast.

Connect with Claudine on Instagram.

Follow her on LinkedIn!

Friend her on Facebook.

Check out Claudine’s YouTube.

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting

Sam De Santo, Creative Director

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager

Raejan Noh, Content Writer

J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Today, Elena talks with coach and founder, Melanie Paez, about the C-Suite Collective Retreat, being an inclusive leader, and checking your prejudices at the door.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

What does it mean to create an environment of belonging? We hear this phrase a lot in the world, but what does it really mean? Well, it starts with awareness—awareness of yourself, of others, and of your environment. We all have blind spots that we need to address in order to have a full understanding of ourselves so we can create belonging. In fact, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you create belonging, not just with others, but within yourself, as well. This includes journaling, determining your wants and needs, figuring out where you are withholding, and highlighting the areas where you are afraid of being different.

In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena explains how you can begin to understand your own needs, wants, and desires, so you can be more attuned to others. In her interview segment, Elena talks with coach and founder of Chief Executive Angel, Melanie Paez. Melanie is also the Director of Coaching at the C-Suite Collective and is instrumental in helping the C-Suite thrive. In their conversation, Elena and Melanie talk about how to navigate being inclusive without excluding others, the balance of masculine and feminine leadership in the world, and owning who you are. They also cover highlights from the C-Suite Collective Retreat and share applicable steps you can use on your personal journey of self-discovery and belonging.

Let’s Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Find Melanie Paez on Facebook.

Connect with Melanie on Instagram.

Follow her on LinkedIn!

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting

Sam De Santo, Creative Director

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager

Raejan Noh, Content Writer

J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Elena speaks with the leader of TalentXponential, Andria Taylor. They discuss compassion and competence in leadership, creating a sustainable workforce, and more!

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

You know those times when we enter a difficult conversation and our guard goes up? Our bodies are taut, our hearts start racing, and we begin sweating. We get defensive. But how do we work through that defensiveness so we can engage in those tough conversations and truly hear and see other people? There are some key things that we can do to refocus and have discussions on topics that may make us uncomfortable. However, one of the most important things to remember is that the person we are talking with is just that—a fellow human being—and we want to move forward together.

In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena details three practices you can implement to work through your own defensiveness during difficult conversations, so you can be heard and hear others. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with Andria Taylor, a winning consultant who helps mid-sized, high-growth businesses develop their leaders and maximize avenues for growth. Andria is the head of TalentXponential, holds certifications in Myers-Briggs, DiSC, Crucial Conversations, Change Management and executive coaching (CTI), and is a mom to twins. In this conversation, you’ll discover how Andria’s experience being a mom of twins has helped hone her as a leader, why leading with compassion and competence is critical to developing a sustainable workforce, how leaders can sharpen one another, and what it means to give people the opportunity to grow into their role.

If you want to be encouraged in your leadership capacity, you don’t want to miss this episode!

Let’s Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Check out Andria's consulting firm, TalentXpontential.

Connect with Andria on LinkedIn!

Contact her here.

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting

Sam De Santo, Creative Director

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager

Raejan Noh, Content Writer

J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

Today, Elena talks with pianist and coach, Robert Kuang, about being open to self-discovery, expanding your abilities, and resting in your natural strengths.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Everyone wants an innovative team, but, as a leader, are you creating a space for innovation to thrive? Maybe you’re not having as many creative conversations with your team, or maybe they’re not as eager to share their ideas as they have been in the past. Here’s the thing: you need to make sure you enable an environment for innovation and creativity to be present. So, ask yourself, are you willing to be surprised by your people? Are you shutting down your team or uplifting them so they can express their ideas? Are you highlighting areas where they can be creative? Don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself and your team.

In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares how you can conduct a self-examination, so you create an open, creative environment and lead your team to fearlessly innovate. In her interview segment, Elena speaks with pianist and coach, Robert Kuang. Shortly after immigrating to America from Beijing, Robert discovered his natural aptitude for music and piano at the age of 9. This discovery led him on an unexpected journey that impacted the rest of his life and propelled him into a fulfilling and impactful career. Through this conversation, Robert shares his story of self-discovery and creative expression, and you’ll learn why it’s so important to continually expand your abilities, be open to taking new paths, and rest in your natural abilities.

Let’s Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/ and https://thec-suitecollective.com/

Learn more about Robert's coaching business and listen to his podcast here https://www.robertkuangcoaching.com/ 

Connect with Robert on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/robertkuanghome/ 

Follow him on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kuang-84345aa3/?msgOverlay=true 

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting https://www.imaginepodcasting.com/ 

Sam De Santo, Creative Director https://www.sandgstudios.com/ 

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer https://www.ryetaylor.com/ 

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer https://alanmeaney.ie/ 

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-mccarley/

Raejan Noh, Content Writer https://www.linkedin.com/in/raejan-noh/ 

J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist https://hollatchaboykin.com/ and get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jaaron_hi/ 

In this episode, Elena interviews Alycia James, a coach and healer who focuses on emotional freedom, intuitive development, and self-liberation.

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

What does celebrating Women’s History Month - and beyond - look like?  Elena has thought a lot about how it would look to not only celebrate this month every year but live this month intentionally throughout the year.  After a particularly draining workshop, a loving voice message from Aaron reminded Elena that women can’t leave men behind in the fight for equality.  Her advice and Weekly Coaching Tip are to surround yourself with allies – people who can see you and hear you (even if they don’t understand you), and honor what you’re up to in the world.  Think about who makes up your collective sisterhood, and if you are not intentionally looking to create sisterhood with other women, where could you find them, and gather them for support?

In her interview segment, Elena talks with Alycia James, whom she first met online to create a coaching show.  Alycia’s physical beauty, inner soul and kind heart concealed a very different inner feeling…that of hating being a woman.  Alycia experienced internalized misogyny for much of her life, and believed being born a woman was a hinderance.  As she began to explore coaching and mindset work with Elena, she realized nobody knows her better than herself, and gained confidence in standing up for her own opinion, even if it meant challenging a man’s authority.  Cultivating relationships with men who allow her to be her authentic self empowered her and made her more present.  

The conversation then turns to intuition and the tremendous power it has in our lives.  It’s easily accessible to both men and women - men follow their gut instinct while women need to lean into their femininity.  Alycia explains that for women, fear is often mistaken for intuition.  They must be clearly distinguished, and learning to act on one or dismiss the other is crucial.  For Alycia, it’s very clear which is which, because intuition comes with a sense of peace and a feeling of acceptance.  Always follow peace.  As a tip to the listeners to tap into their intuition more, she asks the simple question “If there was no right or wrong, what would you do?”, and the answer will usually come.  

If you’re interested in realizing your inner voice/intuition in a more profound way, you’ll enjoy this episode!

Let’s Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? https://elenaarmijo.com/ 

Alycia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alycia.clare.voyant/

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting

Sam De Santo, Creative Director

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager

Raejan Noh, Content Writer

J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)

In this episode, Elena and Isaac Quiroga talk about the importance of vision, valuable leadership principles, and why a willingness to try new things takes you on an incredible journey!

Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

What does leading with your heart mean? This is a question that Elena has pondered multiple times over the past two years. Many leaders are afraid to lead with their hearts and are even more uncertain in our ever-changing world. Her evaluation has led her to hone in on three qualities that are evident when you lead from the heart. They are: vulnerability, active listening, and creating a space where all voices matter. When we lead from the heart, we can create environments where we are not only leading from our strengths, but we are also giving strength to our team.

In her Weekly Coaching Tip, Elena shares the three qualities that are evident when you lead from the heart and how to demonstrate them as a leader. In her Interview Segment, Elena talks with her long-time friend Isaac Quiroga, a fellow NMSU graduate, New Yorker, and singer turned Mattel executive. Isaac’s adventurous spirit and innovative nature have propelled him to try new things and reach new heights in the corporate world. Isaac started out as a singer in New York, but soon realized he lacked the business acumen to truly excel as a performer. So, he dove into the business world as an executive assistant and eventually climbed the corporate ladder to become the Vice President of Digital Engagement at Mattel. In this conversation, Elena and Isaac talk about the importance of vision, the unique strengths performers have in the business world, Isaac’s challenges and lessons as a leader, and the importance of purpose in your work.

If you’re interested in business, leadership, or digital marketing, you’ll enjoy this episode!

Let’s Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Connect with Isaac on LinkedIn.

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

John Biethan, President of Imagine Podcasting

Sam De Santo, Creative Director

Rye Taylor, Podcast Design Strategist & Producer

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Meg McCarley, Brand Designer & Social Media Manager

Raejan Noh, Content Writer

J. Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)