Coaching Real Leaders

He’s spent years coming close to landing the most senior level executive roles, only to be passed over without clear feedback. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through what to do when you feel you've done everything "right" but still don't get the opportunity you were hoping for.
For further reading:
What to Do After a Final-Round Job Interview: https://hbr.org/2021/01/what-to-do-after-a-final-round-job-interview
Cracking the Code That Stalls People of Color: https://hbr.org/2014/01/cracking-the-code-that-stalls-multicultural-professionals
What Do Black Executives Really Want?: https://hbr.org/2021/11/what-do-black-executives-really-want
Connect with Muriel:
Website: murielwilkins.com
LinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins
Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins
Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.com
Read Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever been passed over for a promotion?
Are you wondering whether you're ready for the CEO role—or your next big career move?
Are you struggling to figure out when it's time to leave for good?
In this episode, CEO Coach and Advisor, Damien Faughnan, joins host, Muriel Wilkins, to answer questions from the Coaching Real Leaders community.
For further reading:
Learn more about Damien: https://damienfaughnan.com/
Rewriting the Playbook: Leading Through Compounding Uncertainty: https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/articles/rewriting-the-playbook-leading-through-compounding-uncertainty
Leaders, It’s Time to Build Your Tolerance for Uncertainty: https://hbr.org/2026/01/leaders-its-time-to-build-your-tolerance-for-uncertainty
How to Become a First Time CEO: https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/about/careers/careers-with-our-clients/how-to-become-a-first-time-ceo
The Midlife Chrysalis: https://www.meawisdom.com/podcast/

Connect with Muriel:
Website: murielwilkins.com
LinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins
Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins
Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.com
Read Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She’s recently taken on a bigger leadership role and with that shift comes a new challenge: how to lead a team where one person’s style doesn’t seem to fit the culture she’s worked so hard to build. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to manage a difficult dynamic while addressing the larger team leadership issues it raises.
For further reading:
More on the DISC assessment: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8692-disc-assessment.html
Difficult People: https://hbr.org/podcast/2018/02/difficult-people
Stop Hiring for Culture Fit: https://hbr.org/2018/01/how-to-hire
How To Handle Employees Who Don’t Fit Your Culture: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/handandassociates_what-should-you-do-if-current-employees-don-activity-7299836392640020480-nzc0/
How to Support a New Employee Who Doesn’t Seem to Fit In: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ca/resources/manage-employees/employee-doesnt-fit-in-corporate-culture/

Connect with Muriel:
Website: murielwilkins.com
LinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins
Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins
Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.com
Read Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do I handle becoming my close friend’s boss?
How do I recover after upsetting a coworker?
How do I get my boss to stop micromanaging?
In this episode, Muriel and her producer, Mary, answer listeners’ questions to help you navigate the issues you face at work.

For further reading:
Good Leaders Admit Mistakes: https://hbr.org/video/2228473497001/good-leaders-admit-mistakes
Transitioning from Peer to Manager? Here’s What to Expect: https://www.csinsider.co/email/transitioning-from-peer-to-manager
The Secret to Building a High-Performance Team: https://hbr.org/2025/09/the-secret-to-building-a-high-performing-team
Why Micromanagement Is So Harmful: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-of-the-manager/202409/why-micromanagement-is-so-harmful

Connect with Muriel:
Website: murielwilkins.com
LinkedIn: @Muriel Maignan Wilkins
Instagram: @CoachMurielWIlkins
Join the Coaching Real Leaders Community: coachingrealleaderscommunity.com
Read Muriel’s book: LeadershipUnblocked.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He's built his career on technical excellence and those skills have always been his path to success. But as AI reshapes his organization and his role, he senses that expertise alone won't carry him to the next level and he's unsure where to spend his time and energy to grow. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how to expand his identity beyond the technical expert he's always been.
For further reading:
Our Favorite Management Tips on Leading With AI: https://hbr.org/2026/03/our-favorite-management-tips-on-leading-with-ai
AI Won’t Replace Leaders: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-kamanski_ai-wont-replace-leaders-but-leaders-who-activity-7353744446443700224-iz97
How Can a Manager Maintain a Balance Between Technical and Managerial Skills? https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/04/01/how-can-a-manager-maintain-a-balance-between-technical-and-managerial-skills/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.