The C-Suite Coach | I help senior leaders thrive in their roles by optimising their performance, energy and time to enjoy their careers once more (you deserve it). Book your discovery call today.

Most senior executives are technically brilliant but invisible.

I help C-suite executives build the executive presence and influence to get recognised as visionary leaders.

Why does this matter?

Despite your contributions, you're not getting the recognition you deserve. 
You're stuck managing tasks instead of leading strategically. 
Your boss wants you to be "more strategic," but you can't see the path.

Worst of all?

You're overlooked while others with less competence move ahead.
The problem isn't your intelligence or work ethic. 

It's your executive presence.

My Background: I've Walked This Path

I've spent 20+ years at the C-suite level at Citi and currently as GM at a Blackstone portfolio company. 
I know what it takes to command respect and lead with influence because I'm living it right now.
I coach from the arena, not the sidelines- which means I understand your current pressures and can help you carry the load. I'm also a Communications Professor at IESE Business School and have spoken at 50+ conferences globally.

The Transformation

I help senior executives who feel invisible become recognised leaders who:

→ Communicate with influence, not just authority 
→ Get recognised and advance their careers 
→ Command respect without demanding it 
→ Inspire teams instead of micromanaging 
→ Focus on strategy, not stuck in tasks

My Approach

Unlike coaches who only ask questions, I provide practical solutions based on C-suite experience.
I combine emotional intelligence with accountability to turn problems into action.
No corporate BS or cookie-cutter frameworks.

My methodology builds:

• Masterful Communication & Executive Presence 
• Authentic Leadership Identity 
• Resilient Inner Core 
• Strategic Influence

I integrate insights from marathon running, meditation, and Stoic philosophy for sustainable performance.

Who I Work With

C-suite executives across all industries who are ready to build executive presence that advances their careers.

What Clients Say

"Peter is a brilliant coach. He is a great listener, truly cares and freely shares his wisdom." 
Nora Tandberg, CFO, Papirfly

"Peter's unique perspective is very effective in a business setting and brings a fresh perspective to solving contemporary challenges." 
Guy Nicholas Mansfield, CFO, C-Quest Capital

Ready to Elevate Your Leadership Impact?

Book your strategy call today.

Peter McKenzie

Last Thursday I went for a carefree evening walk with my wife.
After a truly horrendous day.

Notification of a tax inspection, a leaking shower (with furious neighbours downstairs) and a curt response from the boss on a tricky subject.

Financial loss, a long drawn out dispute and a mail that makes you question your self-worth.

A triple whammy of despair.

But I realised during the walk that none were spinning round in my head!

Something that 10 years ago would have had me ruminating for a week.

I had taken it in my stride.

I wasn’t going to let it ruin my night.

After years of dealing with massive crisis in my head that never happened, I have learned how to be resilient.

The number one trait that leaders need to get through hard times: 

Because the shorter the length of time it takes you to return to your baseline state after a setback, the better your final response will be.

And the quicker you can shrug things off and get back to work, the better a leader you are.

People may spend billions trying to stay young.
But resilience and wisdom only come with age.

And the realisation that imagined disaster outcomes are worse than the actual problems you face.

You'll never recover the wasted time catastrophising.

But you can learn that lesson before you get too old.

-------------------------------
PS How long does it take you to bounce back from a setback? 
Do you put things in perspective or blow them out of proportion?
--------------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie 🕺

Try my FREE Executive Presence quiz here:
https://lnkd.in/dQEr7KYG

The C-Suite Coach | Elevating Executive Presence for Greater Leadership Impact | C-suite at Citi, currently GM at Anticipa - a Blackstone portfolio company | I coach from the arena, not the sidelines.

When IKIGAI goes badly wrong.
You finally discovered your deep purpose in life... 

But keep doing something else anyway.

Funny!

Or not?

So, how do you score?

I've made money - but not always at the things I'm best at.
 
And I spent plenty of time outside of the important blobs.

So what do I do now?  

And you?

Happy Friday, all!

(The answer can wait until Monday).

NB Kudos to the great Colby Kultgen for this sketch, which made me laugh out loud.  
.---------------------------------- 
I’m Peter McKenzie 🕺
🐟 Dead fish go with the flow.
🎸Rockstars challenge the status quo.

Sorry to tell you this: 
Your tough boss isn’t the root cause of your problems. 

Your response to them is. 

People complain when they work for a hard boss. 
And that applies to senior execs as well. 

Because the majority of CEOs aren’t easy people. 
(It’s often why they got the job!). 

The first time I had a tough CEO, I completely flunked the exam. 

I complained to anyone that would listen. 
Thought things were unfair. 

And the worst of all:

Passed the pressure onto my team. 

It changed the day my number 2 broke into tears in a team meeting.
I realised it wasn’t my boss, job or life that was unfair. 

It was me. 

Instead of absorbing the pressure, I was passing it down. 
A bad moment for her became a valuable one for me. 

I realised it was all a test. 

It was my job to shield my team – and prove my worth. 
Not whinge, whine and push my people to their limits. 

Years later, as a coach, I hear clients complain of the same. 

And things only shift when the story shifts. 
When they stop feeling sorry for themselves. 

And start doing their job. 

It’s exactly what happened to me. 

A tough CEO forces you to choose.
Either learn how to handle pressure. 

Or to turn into the very person you’re complaining about.

<<<>>>

PS Have you ever had a tough boss?
How did you react?

The long silence at the meeting table was unbearable.
I felt the need to step in. 

To say anything to break it.

I squirmed in my chair.
It felt like the deal was slipping from our grasp.
But my boss’s stern glance told me to keep my mouth shut.

He was one of the best bosses I had at Citi. 
He was never shy to speak up.
As regional Ops head, he had to drive results.
Which meant driving his team.

So why didn't he speak?

Because he was teaching us a lesson.
To me and those on the other side of the negotiating table.

It was so tense because there was a lot of money at stake. 
This particular relationship wasn't easy.

The silence became too much to bear.
So much that they caved in - and filled it. 
And their words revealed the details of what they were willing to offer.

That was exactly what we needed.

Priceless.

We had spoken the least - but gained the most.

I realised that my strategy of always talking and expressing my thoughts was just performance for my ego.

Instead of giving me power - my talking drained it.

Impact is knowing when to speak up,

And when to say nothing.

----------------------
PS When was one time you wish you had kept silent in a meeting?
Drop the details in the comments.
----------------------

I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Try my FREE Executive Presence quiz here:
https://lnkd.in/dQEr7KYG

As uncomfortable as it is being a spectator, it feels safer than risking looking stupid.

Or worse - proving that you’re not good enough.

But there are only two ways you’re perceived at work:

You’re either visible or invisible.
Important or irrelevant.
Powerful or powerless.

Your career’s going nowhere if you’re on the wrong side of that list.
Even if you work hard and do a great job.

Unfair?
 
It doesn’t matter.

That was what I said to an ex-colleague last Tuesday.
In a busy Barcelona cafe she stared back at me, letting that sink in.

She’s been HR head for 5 years at the Spanish branch of a multinational.

She's in the management team.
But never in the centre of the conversations that count.

She feels second class and overlooked.

Her boss constantly urges her to say what she thinks, even if it's not about HR.

But she admits it feels safer to watch and listen. 

Like an extra in a film, or a background figure in a videogame.

Unnoticed.

To earn points and win, you need to be the player.

Even losing is better than being irrelevant.

Her next game is her next meeting.
Her challenge is to grab the controls and play.

If you’re in the same game, it's your challenge too.

----------------------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Dead fish go with the flow.
Rockstars challenge the status quo.

You have to burn down your past to create the future.

That’s what the Valencians do every year when they celebrate the Fallas.
 
They spend months creating elaborate effigies, like this magnificent Charlie Chaplin, all around the city.
 
Then on the 18th March - on the Nit de foc (night of fire) - they burn them to ashes.
 
Madness? 
Pyromania?
Or celebration?
 
I came to live in Valencia 38 years ago. 
I had burned my bridges to my corporate career with PWC in London to set up as a poor English teacher here. 

It was the best move of my life.
 
Eventually though I went back into corporate ( a man has to eat!) and in the 30 years since haven’t done enough burning.
 
It’s easy to think you’re building something that lasts.
 
But nothing can.
Or should.
 
The Valencians have got it right. 

You must burn the baggage from your past to create space.
 
38 years ago I was excited but unsure what I was doing.
 
This time , with the match in my hand, I know its the right move.
 
Which of your effigies do you need to torch?

The price of never risking offending anyone is never risking saying anything important.
Hedging your opinions with caveats is masking your fear.

“Maybe, perhaps, I think…”

Tics I’ve used because I was allergic to conflict.

I figured the best way to keep people onside is never to state a strong opinion.

And I was right.

But my impact was negligible.
One of my bosses, who used to work for Swiss Air, gave me some advice.

“Be like a pilot taxiing down the runway to take off. 
You can’t “sort of fly”. You either go full thrust or abort.  
That’s how it should be with your statements.”

In other words:

If you’re going to say something, go all in.

No caveats, no tics, no hedging.

It may not always be “nice” to have an opinion.
But who wants (or needs) nice...

State your opinion without fear.

Go full throttle. 

Just say it.
-----------------
When was the last time you spoke your mind? 
And when did you last decide to play it safe?
-----------------

I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Dead fish go with the flow.
Rockstars challenge the status quo.

Helping Coaches & Creatives Master Sales & Sales Confidence | Attract & Close More Clients Online | 1:1 Support & Group Programs.

🗣️ Need a speaker for your podcast or panel?

As an experienced speaker featured on UK and international platforms, I offer valuable insights on heart-led sales and scaling businesses for women and entrepreneurs.

⭐️ As a Sales & Messaging Consultant I specialise in helping experienced visionaries, coaches and creative entrepreneurs scale their businesses by driving consistent, ethical sales. Through my tailored mentoring, I guide you in building powerful, authentic connections that lead to long-term growth and more meaningful client relationships.

With over three decades of experience leading award-winning sales teams for high-profile brands like Harrods, I’ve mastered the art of scaling businesses while staying true to your values. My approach is heart-led but focused on results — showing you how to sell confidently without the pressure or tactics that feel "icky."

✔️ How I help:

1:1 Private Client Consulting (By Application)
VIP Immersion Experiences 

✔️ Why work with me?

I’ve lived through the challenges of growing sales teams and businesses, from plateauing sales to scaling with integrity. My unique experience in sales leadership and business mentoring helps you build trust with clients, increase conversions, and achieve your sales goals — all while staying authentic.

Ready to scale your sales?

Drop me a DM and let's talk. Spaces are limited.

www.sumanrandhawa.com
📧 info@sumanrandhawa.com
📱 Instagram: instagram.com/iamsumanrandhawa


Suman Randhawa

How much value would you get if you could listen to people who have been there done it, and worn the t-shirt and can tell you how to do it too?

A lot.

And that’s exactly why I keep coming back to ATOMICON. As a speaker, and now as part of the team.

ATOMICON is for you if you're a freelancer, founder, or small business owner who wants to build a small but mighty business.

This will be my third time at ATOMICON. I’ve spoken there twice, and this year I’m bringing something different to the stage - a live interview with Jamie Laing, founder of a successful multimedia company and co-founder of Candy Kittens.

What I love about this event is how it’s been designed with you in mind.

You’re not expected to sit through everything.

-Multiple tracks, so you choose what you need
-Full replay access for 12 months
-Space to step out, think, and reset

So you actually absorb it, instead of feeling overloaded.

Every speaker is handpicked. And you can feel that.

And I defy you not to take pictures of the screen during talks or take notes that you actually action.

Because the atmosphere is different:

-Friendly, not intimidating
-Big, but still feels personal
-Breakout and quiet spaces when you need them

And if you can’t be there in person, you can buy a virtual ticket. The online experience is properly thought through. You’re guided through the day, with backstage interviews and conversations that bring everything together.

Yes, it might mean a train journey. Maybe an overnight stay.

But if you’re building something meaningful, you need to put yourself in the rooms that support that.

And this is one of those rooms.

We also run Big Networking Week leading up to it:

-Online events before you arrive
-Designed to meet people before the event in June
-Table discussions and extra keynotes

You don’t walk in cold. You walk in connected.

Swipe through to see who is joining us (and a few of my favourite shots from last year):

Daniel Priestley
Amelia Sordell
Shawn Kanungo
Ann Handley
Natasha Hamilton-Gay
Timothy Armoo
Alice Benham
Richard Moore
Safwaan Mohammed
Laura Brunton
Rupinder Kaur
Kevin Lyons
Martin Huntbach and Lyndsay Cambridge
Tamu T.
👑🐝 Dani Wallace 👑🐝

amongst others! 

With 90% of tickets already sold, here’s why you should get yours this week:

-53% off tickets (until Friday)
-A free resource bundle (usually paid) worth £5k
-Access to Big Networking Week next week

And something to look forward to in your business.

If you’ve been thinking about it, take this as your nudge.

And if you’re coming, let me know - I’d love to see you there.

https://lnkd.in/esCHcJdE

Suman Randhawa 

A date for your diary 

The digital age - and the speed of access AI gives us - means information is more accessible and faster than ever. 

As an online coach or service provider, your “edge” is no longer holding back what people can’t get elsewhere. Because the truth is… they can access it.

And here’s the flex: giving it all away can still make you millions.

This week on Don’t Work Harder, I spoke with Jason Graystone a wealth enthusiast, trader, angel investor, and content creator with 500,000+ YouTube subscribers.

Jason doesn’t sell from his content. Yet one YouTube video made him £12 million.

He spent two weeks mapping out a video so comprehensive that no one would need him after watching it. He gave everything away for free. And that’s exactly why people paid.

Now he’s financially free, runs a business he doesn’t need, and calls himself “always free.”

In our conversation, he shares:

🎙️The YouTube strategy that generated £12M for his business

🎙️How he grew from 50,000 → 390,000 subscribers in a single year after 8 years of slow growth

🎙️The 18 months he spent “donating money to the markets” before the week that changed everything

🎙️How he built an oversubscribed program with 10,000 people on the waiting list, without a single ad

🎙️The mentor exercise that changed everything: calculating the true cost of what you want, not just the price tag

🎙️Why he has no goals or aspirations, because he knew contentment before he even achieved it

Most entrepreneurs assume financial freedom comes from hustle, scale, and complexity. Jason proves it comes from diversification and giving massive value for free.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dgR9gZE6

How do you expect someone who’s just hit £2M in revenue to look or behave?

Let me introduce you to Lewis Crompton founder of STARTrading.

Lewis is a financial freedom expert who’s grown to £2M by doing the opposite of the loud “scale at all costs” advice.

No big ego.
No cramming rooms.
No chasing numbers for the sake of it.

He’s turned down extra revenue to protect the experience inside his programmes.

Not because he has to.
Because he chooses to.

His refund rate is under 5%.

This week on Don’t Work Harder, we get into the real mechanics behind that growth:

🎙️How he moved from £10K months to £2M without diluting quality.

🎙️Why he taught for free for years before launching a paid company.

🎙️The hiring mistake that drained his time and energy.

🎙️The one role he wishes he’d hired sooner.

🎙️How he hires before he feels fully ready.

🎙️The two engines behind his growth: marketing and sales.

🎙️Why he still refuses to expand group sizes.

🎙️Why every coach he brings in was once a successful student.

🎙️What stood out to me wasn’t just the revenue.

It was restraint.

Most people expand when they can.

He protects what works.

If you’re building a business and you feel that tension between purpose and profit…

If you want growth without losing the standards that built your reputation…

This episode is for you https://lnkd.in/eJtXvfuE

Listen in and tell me what lands.

Stepping into my filming in the car era…

Want to increase that close rate (and feel good about it)?

That’s what I break down inside “10 key phrases to listen out for in your next sales call” along with how to respond. 

I help you reframe your sales calls with an understanding of human behaviour to build better connection and make you more money, helping more of the right people.

It’s the first time I’ve shared this guide - so you won’t have seen it before. 

Comment or DM me: PHRASES  for access.

Most sales problems don’t start on the call.

They start before that, with how warm (or cold) the audience is before the conversation even happens.

When the audience is connected and familiar with your thinking, decisions are quicker and cleaner.

When they’re not, everything sales can feel harder.

An email list helps build that familiarity over time, remembering people always have a choice whether they sign up, and even stay.

I’m rebuilding my lead magnets and practical sales resources at the moment.

If you were joining a list for sales and messaging support, what would you actually want help with right now?

Building sales platforms

We have anywhere between 6,000 and 60,000 thoughts a day*

How many of these thoughts of things you have to do?

And how many of those end up in action?

For a founder, any given time you could be thinking about the content you could create, naming a new lead magnet, the need to update an email sequence, an invoice to chase, catching up on emails from a creator that you love, oh and how are you going to make money next.

Interrupted by is it green bin day, did I cancel Amazon Prime, have I taken my tablet, do I have a card for my friend, where’s my watch, what shall I eat, where’s the kids, is it world book day,  what day is it… etc.

The issue is rarely the ideas but almost always the execution.

Here’s how I try to organise my 60,000 (definitely on the higher end!) thoughts so they actually turn into action:

1. Content capture – Whenever I see inspiration, I capture it immediately. Once a week, I go back through them and see which ones jump out to create.

2. ‘Scream’ WhatsApp group – This is my personal favourite. I set up a WhatsApp group with anyone, then remove everyone except me. I rant into it via voice notes. To myself. It is very cathartic and actually stops me feeling like my brain is going to explode.

3. Big ideas board – I use Trello for this, but Slack works too if you have a team. I add the big ideas and put a date beside them to review. If nothing else, it gives them a home instead of disappearing into the ether.

4. Blocked thinking time – I schedule time in my diary just to think. Admittedly, it often falls by the wayside, but when I do it, it is incredibly valuable.

5. Separate work and personal to-dos – I keep them apart. Each gets its own time and attention, so nothing gets lost.

6. Recurring calendar blocks – Knowing exactly what I’m working on and when means I just follow my diary and my to-do lists. For personal tasks, I separate these out and put them in my bullet journal.

The truth is, ideas are endless, but making them real takes a system, a little discipline, and a lot of letting yourself rant in private sometimes.

What do you do that works best for you? And what would happen if you did it more often?

*according to studies.

taplio

The Battle

Peter McKenzie

Suman Randhawa

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScorePeter McKenzie's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreSuman Randhawa's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Peter McKenzie

Suman Randhawa

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Peter McKenzie's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreSuman Randhawa's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScorePeter McKenzie's LinkedIn Performance