Russell Johnson & Associates

At Russell Johnson & Associates, we support our clients in attaining their full potential for fulfillment and self-actualization. Our methodology, tools, one-to-one consulting, and coaching are designed to meet the complex needs of executives and entrepreneurs. 

Our clients develop the clarity, strategy, tactics, mindset, skills, and confidence necessary to achieve objectives ranging from accelerated advancement to major career change. And we provide ongoing long-term support for further career growth.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

We are dedicated to empowering the individual because our world needs the full contribution of us all, and we all benefit from maximizing the value we create. 

Because services such as recruitment and outplacement are funded by employers, they perpetuate a distortion of the balance of power between the employer and the individual. Superficial services focused on employers' objectives leave countless high-potential people disempowered, unfulfilled, and not knowing why. Yet with career paths becoming ever more complex, we all need to see our career as our business and operate with the attributes of a successful business. 

We aim to help make this the ‘new normal’ rather than the rare exception.

WHAT WE DO

We help our clients develop the empowered mindset, vision, clarity, strategy, tactics, self-marketing skills, and confidence to achieve their full potential for contribution and self-actualization.

Our clients become free from the artificial constraints of the advertised job market. Whether they continue on their current paths, change direction, leave their jobs for self-employment, or vice versa, there’s a lasting difference. Through deepened awareness, clarity, and the skills to capitalize on these, they are no longer trapped in unsuitable careers. 

They work for purposes they want to serve and in roles where they can make their full contribution and enjoy the lives they want.

Founder and CEO

Empowered Careers

Empowered Careers helps people in early professional careers who find themselves stuck in unsatisfying roles to create fulfilling futures. 

Our philosophy corresponds to that of Russell Johnson & Associates, the firm through which we provide the extensive one-to-one support that senior-level clients need.

EPR Careers

I founded EPR Careers after a long search for career fulfillment when the experiences of a takeover at Arby's led me to acknowledge that I needed a new and more fulfilling career path than the corporate one I had been on. 

I was attracted to the autonomy of self-employment; however, I committed to supporting the transition to new ownership at Arby's and stayed on for two more years. Then, I left to devote full time to the search for the transformation I wanted.

I sought high-quality career support but was unable to find it in either the US or my home country, Australia. Recognizing that many executives and professionals needed such support, I established EPR Careers, initially with a partner whose experience in owning a recruitment business added another perspective to mine.
  
Over the ensuing 22 years, I developed a team with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and we provided services throughout Australia and internationally. I led the development of EPR's services, continually refined our methodology, and built the firm into a global leader in its field. 

I focused on developing and refining our unique approach and we helped many thousands of self-funded clients to achieve their objectives. However, the business model needed more work. 

Others saw opportunities in this and the business was acquired in 2014 by a consortium of staff and former clients. They ultimately closed the firm in 2016. Meanwhile, I reflected on the lessons of my 22 years at the helm of EPR and subsequently launched a new firm incorporating those lessons.

Founder and Managing Director

Arby's

Founded in 1964, Arby’s was an established quick-service restaurant chain, part of the Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed Royal Crown group. I joined the company as Director of Franchising with a mandate to expand the franchise system after a decade of stagnation and failed attempts to restart it. 

Over the next six years, I built a high-performing team and transformed the attractiveness of the franchise system and the strength of the Arby's brand. 

Led all franchising activities including planning, marketing, sales, administration, site selection and acquisition, financing, construction, fit-out of restaurant premises, franchisee induction and training, ongoing operational support, and relationships between the company and its franchisees. 

The chain was transformed from a laggard in the restaurant industry into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing franchise systems and experienced its golden era. I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President, reporting to the CEO as equal number two executive of the company. 

Major Achievements:
•	Developed rigorous systems for franchisee support 
•	Quadrupled the number of franchisees
•	Achieved growth of well over 200 new restaurants annually, making the company one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant chains, employing over 50,000 people, with over 1,850 restaurants and more than 200 under development
•	Despite the turmoil of a takeover in 1984 and over a year without a CEO, the company was independently and repeatedly ranked in the top ten of the approximately 3,000 franchise systems in the U.S. at the time
•	With a new restaurant opening every 39 hours on average, Arby’s became recognized as the most significant turnaround of the period in the American restaurant industry, and one of the greatest franchising success stories of the era.

Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President

International Multifoods Corporation

Joined the Franchise Division of International Multifoods, a Minneapolis, MN-based Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed company in a head office role. After gaining initial franchising experience, relocated to Atlanta GA, managing franchise development in the Southern region of the US. Subsequently declined promotion to Director of Franchising at head office and instead accepted a role at the same level but with greater potential at Arby’s Inc.

Managed development of fast food franchises in several regions of the U.S. and in Canada.
	Selected franchisees and sites
	Assisted franchisees in real estate, financing and construction negotiations

Regional Franchise Manager

Unfulfilling executive career? Transform it before it traps you.

At 14, I was pulled out of school to get my first full-time job by a family crisis.

That disruption sparked a long journey through many industries and layers of the working world.

From office work to construction and self-employment in Australia, study in the UK and ministry in Africa, then from sales to senior executive roles in the US.

At Arby’s, I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and led its transformation to one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains globally. 

With a new location opening every 39 hours, we were rated in the Top 10 of over 3,000 franchise systems in the US. 

Then, a corporate takeover harmed the culture.

I resigned to find a meaningful new path, then stayed on for a nearly tripled income. 

Two years later, I resigned again, to buy or create a business aligned with my values.

A few months on, I realized I was lost. 

I sought high-level, values and vision-based career support, and couldn’t find that either.

But that experience led me to finally recognize my calling—to fill that market gap.

Since then, I have spent decades helping executives worldwide align their careers with their deeper values and awaken their dormant clarity, confidence, energy and impact.

My colleagues and I have guided thousands through critical transitions, enabling them to align their careers with who they truly are—and with what they most want to contribute. 

I do this work because I believe that society needs more leaders doing work they find personally meaningful. 

And that begins with taking charge of their careers, rather than surrendering them to systems that meet their lower needs but not their higher aspirations. 

If you’re ready to reimagine what your career can be, let’s explore what’s possible.

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://rjacareers.com/schedule-a-call-rj/

Russell Johnson

Kindness is never neutral.

Even the smallest gesture can shift a mood, open a door, or start a ripple you’ll never fully see. What feels ordinary to you might be unforgettable to someone else.

Every moment is a chance to leave someone better than you found them.

~~ 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Society promotes conventional paths to career success.   
 
But with accelerating change, conventional paths are becoming ever less reliable.   
 
Courage is key to unlocking your true potential. Consider the following effects:  
 
𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁  
 
We’re encouraged to pursue external validation in our careers – promotions, raises, accolades.   
 
But true fulfillment requires the courage to align our work with our own values, instead.   
 
𝟮. 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆  
 
Conformity is encouraged. It takes courage to embrace your uniqueness and let your true self shine through.   
 
Only through courage can you inspire others and attract opportunities aligned with your essence.  
 
𝟯. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 (𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀)  
 
Trust is the foundation of meaningful relationships and collaboration. It takes courage to trust yourself, to believe in your capabilities, and to follow your instincts.   
 
Equally important is the courage to trust others, delegate, and rely on them.   
 
𝟰. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱  
 
We tend to equate progress with action. However, true progress often requires us to step back, reflect, reassess, and prioritize long-term growth over short-term gains.   
 
This takes courage. But it allows us to gain clarity and move forward more effectively.  
 
𝟱. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲  
 
Success requires continual learning, personal growth, and building meaningful connections.  
 
Courage underpins all of these. And it’s strengthened by being used.   
 
Step into your courage and experience the exhilaration of soaring to new heights.   
 
What are some courageous steps you've taken in your career? Share your experiences in the comments below and let's inspire each other to be bold and fearless!  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

What happens if we dare to define success solely on our own terms? If we commit ourselves to systematically becoming the person we want to be, by aligning our life with what holds meaning for us? 
 
One likely outcome is that we become inspirational leaders. For we’re not totally alone on our journeys. We’re just at different stages of journeys with varying and overlapping degrees of similarity. And those at earlier stages of similar journeys are naturally attracted to those who are further along on them. 
 
Traditional measures of success are increasingly being acknowledged as invalid – misaligned with true success and harmful to the individual and to humanity’s future. So don’t let yourself get away with excuses to delay taking the time to define what true success looks like for you. 
 
The process begins with shifting our focus away from outwardly focused metrics and toward fulfillment through personally meaningful work instead. This single shift could well be the most rewarding change you could make in the remaining years of your career journey and of your life. 
 
Don’t let your potential decline through disuse; it can only be realised through action. 
 
~~ 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

For many high-potential people, analysis paralysis is the greatest enemy of progress. Here’s a simple 7-step process to escape the web of overthinking and indecision.  
  
1. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Define your major objective and focus on that. Leave the details for later.  
  
2. 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Take the leap when you’re stuck, learning from outcomes and embracing the power of iteration. Do it many times daily.  
  
3. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Engage with mentors, colleagues, or industry experts to gain perspective and challenge your own assumptions.  
  
4. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Create a sense of urgency by setting and meeting deadlines. Make the best choices you can within the given timeframe.  
  
5. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟬/𝟮𝟬 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲: Focus on what will yield the greatest results. Prioritize tasks based on their impact and the effort required. Shun trivial details.  
  
6. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. Scorch the ego. Accept that you’ll do better in future by making mistakes now.  
  
7. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Stay present and cultivate mindfulness through techniques like meditation or journaling. This will help you make decisions with greater clarity.  
  
Overcoming analysis paralysis is a journey, but with the above sequence, you can make confident, decisive choices. Start implementing the above actions today and unlock your true potential.  
  
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

A breakthrough, of any kind, commonly begins with a ‘BFO’ – a Blinding Flash of the Obvious.   
 
For most of us, at certain points in our lives, our greatest need for a BFO lies in redefining what career success means for us. Because we’re built for growth, and few of us can live fully, or fully harness our potential, on a totally linear career path over decades.  
 
Such a BFO is likely to occur only when:  
 
⦿ Our current situation is deeply unsatisfying, and we face and acknowledge this fact 
⦿ We decide that authenticity – being true to ourselves and our values – matters more to us than any advantages we are gaining or stand to gain from sacrificing it 
⦿ We bring a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude to the changes that are necessary.   
 
It takes courage to follow this path, for the world of jobs offers rewards for being a part of the crowd.   
 
But those rewards are shallow. And they grow ever shallower, and finally dry up entirely, as we avoid developing our potential.   
 
In today's world of ever-increasing complexity and need for vision and creativity, our vision of success should be as unique to us as our fingerprint.   
 
The rewards of such a career can include true leadership, deep fulfillment, and the vibrant good health, abundant energy, great relationships, and the joy of living that authenticity generates. They grow ever greater over the years, and soon come to dwarf those of any other version of success. 
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

𝗨𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 – 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀  
 
Collaboration is becoming ever more important to having a job. Yet standing out is essential to advancement. It can be hard to balance these two aspects of success. How can you achieve both?   
 
There’s an unglamorous but essential key. It’s 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 in the things that matter most. The following five applications of it will benefit your career while enriching your life’s journey:  
 
𝟭. 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲: A powerful daily routine is the first step towards consistency. Add small actions that simplify your life while allowing you to achieve more. Make them habits. Then add more of them.  
 
𝟮. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: You’ll occasionally get knocked off course. Accept it as part of the journey and commit to bouncing back, promptly. That mindset supports a self-image of being unstoppable. In turn, that self-image underpins consistency.  
  
𝟯. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Belief in integrity is nice, but only living it counts. Make your integrity unshakeable. And if you ever find it’s not practiced at the top of your organization, find a better place to work.  
 
𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Set time aside regularly to reflect on your progress, celebrate your victories, and especially, learn from your mistakes.  
 
𝟱. 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Success is a journey, so strengthen your self-image as you build on your skills and knowledge, by setting motivating goals and patiently tracking your progress.  
 
Consistency isn't glamorous. It's about showing up, day in and day out. And when practiced in these ways, it will help you attain your true potential.   
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Sometimes the plan is the very thing holding you back.

Growth asks us to release control. The life that fits you now might not be the one you imagined. Letting go creates space for alignment.

When you surrender the script, you discover the story you were meant to live.

~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Retirement is a compelling goal for many. But what if you’re a highly motivated achiever who finds deep fulfillment in achieving worthy goals?   
 
For such a person, disengagement from a part in meeting the needs of society may threaten rather than beckon. For it can diminish aspects of life ranging from relationships to health and wellbeing.   
 
It’s actually a serious social problem and a tragic waste of human potential. But our part in society does not need to end so suddenly.   
 
For highly motivated achievers, the emerging new world of work holds the potential for even more positive impact after retirement from a full-time job. Such paths can provide increased freedom while fully engaging one’s mind and capacity for contribution.   
 
However, they’re rarely available in the world of traditional jobs. To gain them, we must clarify what we want, and seize and maintain control of our identity.   
 
𝗔 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱  
 
In a society struggling to cope with ever-accelerating change, the need for wise leadership has never been greater. And it’s the natural culmination of what’s known as the ‘hero’s journey’ to contribute to building a better future for society, through hard-earned wisdom and capacity for influence.  
 
Think of the influence that leaders such as Nelson Mandela have had. And remember that we don’t have to be political leaders to inspire and to lead. For leadership is most effective on a one-to-one or small-group basis.   
 
And the need for it exists in all areas of society.    
 
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲  
 
If you are a highly motivated achiever, it’s likely you’ll enjoy your best life by following a non-traditional path. One that allows, and even demands, the best you have to give. For this has always been the natural culmination of a life of commitment to the getting of wisdom, growth, and to contribution.  
 
If you are seeking such a future rather than retirement, feel free to reach out for a discussion.   
 
A life well lived should have a meaningful capstone.  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Unlock the door to new levels of success in your career with the trifecta of Clarity, Courage, and Consistency.   
 
𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 is your compass in the ever-expanding labyrinth of career paths. It illuminates your direction, defining what you truly want and the steps you need to get there.   
 
Without it, you're adrift.  
 
𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 is your fuel. It's the audacity to challenge the status quo, to step out of your comfort zone, explore new paths, and confront failures head-on.   
 
Courage isn't about being fearless, it's about moving forward despite the fear.  
 
Lastly, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 is the ‘secret sauce’ that makes you memorable. It's the result of unrelenting commitment to your goals, day in and day out.   
 
It's the fusion of these three elements that births genuine career success. Clarity gives you a compelling vision. Courage helps you to act on it despite its challenges. Consistency brings it to life.  
 
And these three interact with each other. Every advance in one strengthens the potential for advances in the other two.  
 
Remember, success isn't a destination, it's a journey. And on this journey, your Clarity, Courage, and Consistency will be your most trusty companions.  
 
Reflect on these three keys today. Are they driving your career choices? Consider how you can incorporate them more into your professional life.   
 
I'll aim to help over the coming weeks through a series of posts with more detail on each of the three.  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Most of us recognize that our species is on a slippery slope. Our fascination with the potential for disaster seems to be drawing us toward it.   
 
Is there anything we can each do to help turn the tide?  
 
There is, for necessity is the mother of invention. Evolution is using this principle, pushing and pulling us to replace conflict with cooperation, within our societies and between them.   
 
And we have reached a point where even our talent for denial is faltering. We all know that We can’t go on kicking own goals. Self-extinction would be an ironic fate for a species that has come so far.   
 
Co-operation works; conflict doesn’t. One hand washes the other. None of our problems, except perhaps that of death itself, will appear insoluble once we begin as a species to practice this principle wholeheartedly.   
 
Have you made it your career purpose yet to be an agent of this transformation? If not, why delay? It’s a path that’s available to us all, and no other path can match its rewards.   
 
Because it’s ultimately the foundation of all the best ones.  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Many of us focus in our careers on meeting what Abraham Maslow termed 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 – those basic requirements like safety, belonging, and esteem. The pursuit of these needs can lead us to miss out on ever seeing the bigger picture.  
  
The real prize is the pursuit of Growth and Being needs. These encompass creativity and fulfilling one's potential, or self-actualization. This is where our true capacity for contribution and the impact that we are capable of achieving lie.  
  
We all experience the first set of needs but far too few ever embark on the journey towards the second set. Many achieve financial security, recognition, and status, but then miss out on the richer life that comes from self-actualization and making a meaningful difference in the world, because our roles never highlight its availability.  
  
So, as we navigate our careers and lives, let's remember that while the first prize may seem enticing, the real treasure lies in pursuing our growth and being needed. Let’s not accept sacrificing our true potential to short-term pressures.  
  
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Your potential won’t come alive without your belief.

Before anyone else sees it, you have to expect more from yourself. Expectation creates direction. Belief fuels bold action.

You rise when you stop waiting for proof and start living with purpose.

~~ 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Tatiana Rueff Coaching and Consulting

Partnering with senior leaders and teams to navigate high-stakes transitions and drive sustainable performance.
My approach bridges business strategy and human leadership — enabling clients to navigate complexity, build resilient teams, and deliver results without burnout.

I support leaders and organisations to:
➤ Navigate critical transitions — from career crossroads and reorganisations to stepping into executive roles with clarity, confidence, and impact.
➤ Transform team dynamics — reducing friction and burnout, and fostering cultures of performance, trust, and psychological safety.
➤ Align business and leadership strategy — ensuring leadership capabilities turn strategic vision into measurable results.

Corporate Partnership & Advisory Areas:
• Organisational Culture & Change Management
• Leadership & Learning Programme Design (L&D)
• Employer Branding & Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
• People & Culture Strategy for the AI Era
• Executive Team & Board Advisory

Key Achievements & Impact:
• Delivered 500+ hours of coaching, guiding senior leaders through career and organisational transformations.
• Designed and led tailored leadership programmes, improving team cohesion and performance.
• Recognised as a Top Leadership Voice on LinkedIn (10K+ followers, Top 100 Creators in Switzerland).

If you’re leading through transition or transformation, I help you turn pressure into clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth.

Executive Coach and Strategy Consultant

Syngenta Group

• Led, coached, and mentored the Global Branding Team (8 direct reports), defining the strategic vision for product and service brands across a complex $17.6B business portfolio.
• Championed a global culture of innovation and continuous learning, embedding new processes and best-in-class practices for brand creation across the organisation.
• Spearheaded the digital transformation of the brand's content strategy, orchestrating customer-centric B2B and B2C content development to unify the brand experience.

Global Branding Team Lead 

General Mills

• Managed a key portfolio of 6 Yoplait consumer brands while simultaneously leading the Private Label business for the entire Europe region.
• Held strategic responsibility for the holistic margin management (HMM) of the overall Yoplait portfolio, covering 15+ brands and 3 European manufacturing plants.

Senior Regional Brand Manager Yoplait

• Upon promotion, led and mentored a team of Associate Brand Managers, earning the Gold Award from the VP of Marketing for a leadership style rooted in creativity and collaboration.
• Drove brand innovation by leading the redesign of Betty Crocker across Europe & Australia, launching a premium product range, and delivering a successful new communication campaign.
• Advanced corporate culture and DEI by co-leading women's leadership initiatives, serving as team coach for the organisation's longest-lasting "Lean In Circle", and heading the Nyon Philanthropy Network.

Senior Regional Brand Manager Baking Platform Europe&Australia

• Led a cross-functional team to deliver 9% top-line and double-digit bottom-line growth, earning the prestigious General Mills Regional Champions Award for over-delivering on all KPIs.
• Managed a complex, high-stakes supply chain transformation, relocating production of 35 product lines and delivering over $10MM in savings.

Regional Brand Manager Betty Crocker - Europe & Australasia

• Revitalised the brand to deliver continuous double-digit growth through a comprehensive strategy of new product innovation, core range renovation, and a full packaging redesign.

Regional Brand Manager Nature Valley - Europe & Australasia

Procter & Gamble

• Drove three consecutive years of double-digit growth, elevating GUCCI Parfums to a $500MM+ global brand.
• Increased global market share and ROI by 7% through optimised marketing investment.
• Led global brand strategy, innovation campaigns, and market-specific growth plans across Travel Retail, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.
• Delivered iconic brand activations, including award-winning Chinese New Year campaigns and Mega-podium experiences.
• Spearheaded global organisational initiatives for P&G Prestige, including business planning, training, and budget innovation.

Global Marketing Manager GUCCI Parfums

• Translated global strategy into impactful local activations, delivering +3pts market share growth with “Gift the Magic” holiday campaign.
• Managed $7MM+ marketing budget across four prestige brands, partnering with fashion houses and leading multifunctional teams.
• Awarded “Best Customer Christmas Team” for record-breaking sales results with L’Etoile.

Senior Marketing Manager Russia Lacoste, Escada, Baldessarini, Dunhill Parfums

• Owned strategy and execution for Pantene across Eastern Europe, leading cross-functional teams and agency collaboration.
• Managed end-to-end brand plans, media, and performance tracking to strengthen local brand equity.

Junior Marketing Manager Eastern Europe Pantene

GlaxoSmithKline

• Coordinated key promotional materials, sample logistics, and Sales Force Excellence projects across commercial teams.
• Delivered data-driven sales and marketing reports, supporting strategic decisions through dashboards, analysis, and stakeholder presentations.

Commercial Development Department Coordinator

Social Researches and Innovations Center

• Oversaw HR administration, contract management, and compliance for public tenders.
• Managed full-cycle project coordination and internal communication across education and research initiatives.

HR Manager and Project Coordinator

Publishing House “The Whole World”

• Translated economic literature from English into Russian with a focus on clarity and accuracy for national publication.

Translator

Getting Senior Leaders to Optimal Performance and Sustainable Growth Without Burnout

You’re a driven leader — ambitious, high-performing, and committed to growth. You’ve earned your place. But with every new role, bigger scope, or transformation project, the pressure to deliver multiplies. ⤵️

Here’s what that can look like:
▶ You’ve stepped into a new or expanded role and want to make an impact fast
▶ You’re leading a major transformation and need your team aligned and performing
▶ You’re navigating complex dynamics — new stakeholders, shifting priorities, and constant pressure to deliver

These are the moments that make or break leaders. This is when:
– Clarity keeps you focused
– Confidence keeps you grounded
– Resilience keeps you growing

👉 That’s where I come in.

I help senior leaders and teams accelerate success in new roles or high-stakes transitions — transforming pressure into clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth.

Through a blend of executive coaching, team coaching, and leadership workshops, I help you:

✔️ Deliver results faster — without losing focus or wellbeing
✔️ Lead effectively through complexity, transition, and change
✔️ Strengthen leadership presence and strategic communication
✔️ Build trust, resilience, and alignment across teams

With 17+ years in Fortune 500 organisations (P&G, General Mills, GSK, Syngenta), I understand the realities of high-stakes leadership — demanding roles, constant change, and the pressure to perform.

Today, as an Executive Coach (ICF PCC, EMCC Senior Practitioner), I combine that experience with evidence-based coaching to help leaders and teams thrive — achieving sustainable growth under pressure.

🌍 Who I work with:

▶ Senior leaders stepping into new or bigger roles
▶ Executives leading transformation, restructuring, or cultural change
▶ Teams that need focus, clarity, and collaboration under pressure

🌟 My clients often tell me they gain not just clarity and stronger performance — but renewed energy, confidence, and impact in both work and life.

I’ve seen newly promoted executives inspire their teams through rapid change, senior leaders reignite their growth into higher-impact roles, and leadership teams build resilience and results — sustaining focus and wellbeing.

➡️ If you’re stepping into a bigger role or leading through change, let’s talk.
Message me here on LinkedIn to explore how I can support you or your team.

——
🌐 tatianarueff.com
📩 tatiana@tatianarueff.com

——
Need a speaker or workshop for your team?
I deliver keynotes and workshops on leading through high-stakes transitions — helping leaders sustain performance, clarity, and growth under pressure.

Tatiana Rueff

What if the real future of work isn’t about technology, 
but about capacity - 

our capacity to stay present, connected, and human in constant change?

That’s what I found myself reflecting on during the IMD & ICF Future of Work Summit last week.

Across sessions and conversations, one theme stood out clearly:

the skills that once defined great leadership - 
expertise, decisiveness, control - 
are no longer enough on their own.

Today, what sets the most effective leaders apart is something quieter:

the ability to navigate ambiguity with awareness,
to slow down when everything accelerates,
and to create clarity not by knowing more - 
but by being more grounded.

That’s why coaching matters more than ever.
It doesn’t add noise or complexity.

It creates the inner space leaders need to turn pressure into perspective and resilience into action.

Deep appreciation to everyone who helped shape this Summit - 

Séverine Jourdain, Albina Koch, 
and the entire IMD and ICF Switzerland teams - 

for curating such a powerful conversation about what truly drives sustainable transformation,

and to the inspiring speakers and panelists who brought such depth to the dialogue - 

each session offered a new lens on what human leadership can become.

It was a privilege to be part of a community 
exploring not only the future of work,
but the future of being human at work.

P.S.: I’d love to hear from others who were there - what moment stayed with you?

#IMD #ICF #ExecutiveCoaching #ConsciousLeadership #FutureOfWork

Guiding Senior Leaders in New or Bigger Roles | From Pressure to Clarity, Confidence & Sustainable Growth | Executive & Leadership Coach (ICF PCC) | Ex-Fortune 500

Group of executive coaches and leadership experts at the IMD and ICF Switzerland Future of Work Summit 2025 in Lausanne, focused on coaching, leadership, and transformation in a changing world. Participants standing on stage after an amazing day full of sessions on conscious leadership, sustainable transformation, and the future of work.

You’ve learned to lead through effort -
it’s what got you here.

But what if what once worked is now quietly working against you?

Every leader operates through an internal system —
a set of beliefs, reflexes, and routines that once made perfect sense.

They helped you perform, prove yourself, deliver results.
Until they didn’t.

When your context changes -
a new role, a different culture, higher visibility -
those old patterns start to show their limits.

You notice it through overthinking, overworking,
or the quiet sense that you’re driving fast without clear direction.

It’s not lack of skill or discipline.
It’s an internal system overdue for an update.

Upgrading it doesn’t mean reinventing yourself.
It means pausing long enough to see
which habits, stories, and expectations
still serve your growth -
and which ones silently drain it.

That’s the deeper work of leadership:
not doing more,
but evolving the system that drives what you do.

It’s the kind of reflection I create with senior leaders in coaching -
where clarity sharpens, energy realigns,
and the next chapter takes shape from the inside out.

🪶 What part of your own system might be ready for an update?

♻️ Share if this resonates - clarity before commitment saves months of correction.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

Tatiana Rueff, Sustainable Leadership Coach, sits calmly against a neutral grey background, wearing a light blue blazer, white blouse, and jeans. Her hands rest gently on her knee as she looks directly at the camera with a composed expression. On the left side of the image, a blue panel features the quote: “When the direction is clear, you no longer need to chase momentum — it follows.” Below the quote, a small text box displays her name and title.

Clarity is the first thing leaders lose in transition -
and the last thing they notice.

You enter a new role with energy and intent.
You want to prove to your manager that they made the right choice.

You move fast, adapt quickly, and deliver early.
Then something subtle starts to shift.

Your week fills before you’ve decided what matters most.
Your diary reflects everyone’s priorities but your own.
And you find yourself reacting - efficiently, but not strategically.

That’s how clarity fades.
Quietly. Slowly.
Until one day you realise you’re performing, not leading.

In my work with senior leaders, I see this moment often.
It doesn’t come from weakness - it comes from excellence.

High performers keep driving even when the direction is blurred.
But sustainable success requires a different discipline:
not doing more, but deciding better.

If you’re in a new or expanded role, take ten minutes today to ask:

“𝑊𝘩𝑖𝑐𝘩 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝘩𝑖𝑐𝘩 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒?”

Because leadership clarity isn’t found in quiet moments.
It’s created through deliberate reflection.

P.S. When was the last time you paused to redefine what clarity means for you?

Helping Senior Leaders Accelerate Success in New or Bigger Roles | Executive Coach | Ex-Fortune 500 | ICF PCC | From Pressure to Clarity, Confidence & Sustainable Growth

Tatiana Rueff working at her desk on a laptop in a calm, focused setting — symbolizing clarity, reflection, and intentional leadership.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬: 
"I don’t have time."

But when we pause long enough to look closer, 
it’s rarely a time problem.
It’s a clarity problem.

Because when the mind is cluttered, everything feels urgent.
When priorities blur, every meeting feels necessary.
When pressure rises, control replaces perspective.

During coaching, we often discover that what’s missing isn’t another hour  -
it’s the ability to step back and see what truly matters.

That moment of clarity changes everything.
Decisions sharpen. 
Delegation becomes easier.
Energy returns - 
because you stop managing time, and start leading it.

If your days feel full but your progress feels slow,
it might be time to create more clarity, not more hours.

If this sounds like your current reality, 
we can talk it through in a short clarity call.

P.S.: When everything feels urgent and important, what helps you slow down and see clearly again?

Guiding Senior Leaders in New or Bigger Roles | From Pressure to Clarity, Confidence & Sustainable Growth | Executive & Leadership Coach | Ex-Fortune 500 | ICF PCC

Tatiana Rueff, Executive Coach, in a light blue blazer, with a quote overlay that reads: ‘It’s rarely a time problem. It’s a clarity problem.’ The image reflects her work guiding leaders and teams through high-stakes transitions.

I’ve coached enough senior leaders to know this:
Pressure doesn’t just test performance -
it distorts perspective.

Even the strongest leaders can lose sight of what’s really slowing them down.

Because when you’re the one people rely on,
you don’t always have someone helping you see clearly.

Here are a few moments I often witness in coaching conversations:

📍A leader moves faster to solve problems - but unknowingly fixes symptoms instead of causes

📍Another keeps every meeting, every detail in motion -
yet wonders why progress still feels heavy

📍A third works harder to stay in control -
when what’s really needed is clarity, alignment, and trust

These aren’t weaknesses.

They’re natural blind spots that appear when the pressure to deliver is high and the space to reflect is gone.

I’ve seen this in leaders across industries - from those taking on expanded executive roles to those driving major transformations. 

The context changes, but the pattern rarely does.

That’s where real change begins.
Not in adding more effort, but in seeing differently.

When clarity returns, decisions sharpen.
Focus strengthens.

And leadership becomes lighter - not because the work changed,
but because you did.

I’ve watched leaders go from reactive to strategic - from constantly “doing” to actually leading with focus, confidence, and calm.

If your days feel full but progress feels slower than it should,
maybe it’s not a time problem - it’s a clarity problem.

👉 That’s the moment when coaching stops being a luxury and becomes a strategic advantage.

P.S. What do you do when everything feels important but not everything can be?

Tatiana Rueff, executive and leadership coach, standing on a lakeside pier in Geneva, smiling and wearing a blue jacket and gray scarf, with the Jet d’Eau fountain rising in the background on a clear, sunny day. 

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲.
And yet, many women in senior roles keep going - 
even when their bodies are asking them to stop.

Lately, I’ve had many conversations with women living with endometriosis -
carrying intense responsibility alongside pain and fatigue few people see.

I understand it deeply - I’ve been there too.

What I’ve learned, both personally and through coaching, is simple:
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠.

When drive turns into depletion, three things quietly slip:

📍𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 - small issues start to feel bigger
📍𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 - you stop truly listening
📍𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 - decisions get reactive

Many who reach out arrive right at that edge -
still performing, but feeling the cost.

Together, we rebuild their energy and clarity using a whole-person approach -
blending neuroscience, body awareness, 
and everyday habits that restore balance and focus.

Because sustainable leadership isn’t about doing less.
It’s about knowing when to slow down and when to rise.

P.S.: This week, what is your body trying to tell you that your calendar keeps ignoring?

♻️ Share if this resonates - sustainable success starts with sustainable energy.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

Portrait of Tatiana Rueff, Sustainable Leadership Coach, surrounded by plants, with the quote ‘You can’t lead on empty.’ A message inspired by her work with women leaders navigating endometriosis and leadership burnout — highlighting the link between wellbeing and sustainable performance.

You keep waiting for things to calm down -
but this is what calm looks like at your level.

You tell yourself you’ll make space for yourself after things settle.

After the project ends.
Next fiscal year.
After a few more months in a new role.
When it finally feels like the right time.

But in leadership, there’s rarely a calm season -
or a perfect time.
There are just new forms of complexity.

The “right time” never announces itself.
It’s something you create by choosing to pause inside the motion.

Most leaders wait for clarity before they act.
But clarity rarely comes first.

It arrives once you’re in movement -
once you start noticing what’s driving you, 
what’s draining you,
and what’s quietly asking to change.

Coaching isn’t about finding time when everything is calm.
It’s about creating clarity when everything is not.

The leaders who make the biggest shifts don’t wait until it’s convenient.
They begin when they sense it’s necessary.

Because every month you delay reflection in the name of being ready -
you’re reinforcing the very pattern that’s keeping you stuck.

🪶 What if your next level of clarity depends on starting before you feel ready?

♻️ Share if this resonates - the leaders who pause with purpose rarely need to correct with urgency.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

A cinematic city scene at dusk showing blurred car lights in motion and a billboard with the quote “Clarity isn’t calm. It’s control in motion.” by executive coach Tatiana Rueff. The image represents sustainable leadership and clarity in motion — composure and focus in complex environments.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 -
the one everyone sees, and the one that’s already ticking inside you.

A few months in, many leaders start to feel it:
the pressure to prove, to perform, to justify the choice.

The irony? That’s often when clarity disappears -
replaced by overthinking, overdelivering, and exhaustion.

The leaders who succeed in new or bigger roles do one thing differently:

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫.

They don’t chase visibility.
They build alignment.

They use their first 90 days to shape direction,
not just survive expectations.

Because transitions rarely fail from lack of effort.
They fail from lack of focus.

P.S.: If you’re in a new role:
What would change if you treated this phase as strategy time, not proving time?

♻️ Share if this resonates - sustainable success starts with sustainable focus.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

Professional leader standing calmly by a window with quote reading: ‘The best leaders slow down early — so they can move fast later.’ Image reflects confidence, clarity, and focus — values of sustainable leadership.

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭.
A client preparing for an interview for a senior role said to me,
 “I just need to sound confident.”

But confidence isn’t projection.
It’s precision.

Leaders who succeed quickly in new environments share one trait ⤵️

They don’t perform confidence.
They embody it.

Because trust doesn’t come from how you sound -
it comes from how you show up.

When you stop trying to impress and start to connect, 
everything shifts.

You listen differently.
You answer with more clarity.
You hold the room naturally.

The best leaders don’t sell themselves.
They anchor themselves - 
in experience, awareness, and calm conviction.

Confidence isn’t something you show.
It’s something others feel.

P.S.: Before your next high-stakes conversation - 
will you focus on control, or connection?

♻️ Share if this resonates - calm confidence builds faster trust.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

Tatiana Rueff, Sustainable Leadership Coach, leadership quote graphic reading ‘Confidence isn’t projection. It’s precision.’ Modern teal street sign in an urban city background symbolising focus, clarity, and direction for senior leaders seeking calm confidence and sustainable growth.

You’ve stepped into a new or bigger role.
You know what you’re doing - 
that’s not the problem.

But now the stakes are higher.
Every word carries more weight.
Every decision feels heavier.

And the confidence that once came naturally starts to feel… calculated.

You speak, but also second-guess how it lands.
You delegate, but still double-check.
You’re steady on the outside but not always on the inside.

For many senior leaders, that’s the hidden paradox -
the higher you rise, the stronger the pressure to look confident, even when you don’t feel it.

You polish results, highlight wins, play the part.
But deep down, the gap between how you appear and how you feel keeps widening.

And that gap quietly erodes the very confidence you’re trying to project.

Yet it’s not a sign you’re losing your edge -
it’s a sign your leadership is evolving.

This is what growth often looks like for high performers:
confidence evolving from certainty to leadership presence.

Because confidence in senior roles looks different -
it’s less about having all the answers,
and more about staying grounded when there aren’t any yet.

In my work with senior leaders, we often focus on that shift -
from doing with certainty to leading with presence.

👉 If you’re in a new or expanded role, ask yourself:
“𝑊𝘩𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠, 𝑑𝑜 𝐼 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝘧𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑜𝑟 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙?”

The difference defines how others experience your leadership -
and how you experience yourself.

𝑃.𝑆.: 𝐼𝘧 𝑡𝘩𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠, 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝘩𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝘩𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝘧𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝘧𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝐼 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡𝘩 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝘧𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 - 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑚𝑒 "𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒," 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟.

Tatiana Rueff, leadership and executive coach, sitting by a window, focused on her laptop with a coffee cup beside her - reflecting a calm, thoughtful moment while working with senior leaders.

The higher the role, the quieter the doubts - 
and the more expensive the hesitation.

It’s rarely discussed openly, 
but it happens to nearly every senior leader.

That moment when you step into a new role - 
and what once felt natural suddenly feels heavier.

You start double-checking decisions you’d have made in seconds.
You prepare more, speak less, and replay meetings in your head.
 
Not because you don’t know what you’re doing -
but because visibility just multiplied, 
and expectations did too.

It’s not insecurity.
It’s transition.

Your role expanded faster than your confidence could catch up.
And at this level, hesitation costs more than mistakes.

It slows alignment, weakens influence, 
and quietly erodes trust - 
including your own.

What makes it harder is that you can’t always say it out loud.
The more senior the role, the smaller the circle of people you can truly speak with.

That’s why the best leaders choose a trusted partner to think with, not just talk to.

Someone who helps them pause, see clearly, and lead with perspective when it matters most.

Because smart leadership isn’t about reacting faster.
It’s about reflecting first.

They rebuild their presence from the inside out:
 ✅ Clarity under pressure
 ✅ Confidence without control
 ✅ Focus that inspires trust, not tension

That’s the work I do with senior leaders stepping into bigger roles - 
helping them find the calm and confidence their teams can feel.

Because leadership presence isn’t about saying more -
it’s about being heard differently.

👉 If you’ve recently stepped into a new role and feel that quiet tension between confidence and control,
a short pause now can change how you lead for the years to come.

P.S. What’s been your biggest mindset shift after stepping into a bigger role?

Tatiana Rueff, executive coach for senior leaders, stands outdoors wearing a grey hat and scarf, surrounded by autumn greenery and red berries. Her calm, reflective expression conveys leadership presence, focus, and composure — themes central to her coaching for executives navigating transitions and high-pressure roles.

You haven’t even started yet, 
and the pressure is already here.

That quiet space between roles? 
It’s where excitement meets doubt.

For many senior leaders, the last week of October feels like standing at the edge of something big.

A new role begins November 1 -
a new chapter, new expectations, new visibility.

And the thought that comes up most often?
"Everyone’s watching - I need to prove myself fast."

But here’s what I’ve seen again and again:

The leaders who truly accelerate in their first months don’t just run faster - they start clearer.

Because the first 90 days aren’t just about proving yourself.
They’re about defining how you want to lead, influence, and make impact in a new system.

📍 The first impressions you make
📍 The priorities you choose to act on
📍 The relationships you invest in early

- all of these decisions compound fast.

Coaching in this window isn’t a "nice-to-have."
It’s how you set direction before the pace takes over.

A short, intentional pause now can save months of course correction later.

👉 If you’re about to start something new, give yourself permission to step back -
not to slow down, but to start strategically aligned.

P.S. What do you wish you’d known before starting a new role?

A senior business leader stands by a window overlooking a global city skyline at sunrise, dressed in a professional suit, symbolizing leadership confidence, clarity, and strategic focus. The image conveys executive presence, reflection, and calm under pressure. Text on the image reads “Before you run faster, get clear.” — representing mindful leadership, executive coaching, and performance clarity during transitions.

Most leaders negotiate too late - 
after the offer, not before the opportunity.
A client once told me, 
“I’ll prove myself first… then ask for what I need.”

But the best time to negotiate isn’t after you’ve earned trust.
It’s while they’re still defining what trust looks like.

The most effective leaders don’t negotiate for titles or perks.
They negotiate for 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.

Because when you shape the conversation early, you shape the role.
You set expectations before they set you.

Real negotiation isn’t about asking for more -
it’s about defining the game you’ll play.

P.S.: What part of your current role still needs a re-negotiation - scope, support, or success metrics?

♻️ Share if this resonates - clarity before commitment saves months of correction.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

Tatiana Rueff, Sustainable Leadership Coach, smiling in a light-blue blazer beside quote reading: ‘Real negotiation isn’t about asking for more — it’s about defining the game you’ll play.’ The design conveys clarity, calm confidence, and executive-level authority.

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 -
and now you secretly want to walk away from it.

Not because you’re ungrateful.
Not because you’ve failed.

But because somewhere along the way,
it stopped feeling like you.

The meetings got bigger.
The meaning got smaller.

And despite the success, something inside you whispers:

“𝑇𝘩𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝘩𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑖𝑠.”

That whisper can be confusing.
It might sound like burnout or boredom.

But often, it’s something deeper -
a quiet misalignment between who you’ve become and the life you’re still living.

During those moments, it’s tempting to drop it all and start something completely different.

But is that really what you want or what you think will finally make it feel right again?

That’s what we’ll explore with Fady today at 4 PM CET -
what really happens when leaders reach this point and start wondering:

“𝐷𝑜 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝘧𝑒…
 𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑜 𝐼 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑒𝘧𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠?”

If you’ve ever felt the pull to change it all,
this conversation might help you pause, breathe, and find clarity before you make that leap.

🎥 Link to join the event (or watch the recording later) - in the comments.

P.S.: Ever had that thought - “There must be more than this”?

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Brand Builder | Empowering personal brands of CEOs & founders on LinkedIn to scale their business 💰 | Online Marketing Consultant 👨🏻‍💻 | Storytelling Instructor 😎 | Top LinkedIn Creator 🇪🇬 | Adjunct Faculty 👨‍🏫

Every year around this time, 
I notice a quiet shift in my clients.

The drive is still there - but so is reflection.

It’s the season of questions like:
 👉 “What worked this year?”
 👉 “What needs to change?”
 👉 “Where do I want to feel different next year?”

And while many leaders wait until January to reflect,
the most effective ones start now - 
when there’s still space to breathe.

Last year, I hosted Reflection Circles in December.
It reminded me how powerful it is when leaders take time to pause before the year ends.

This year, I wanted to go deeper - 
not just to reflect, but to transform reflection into direction.

So I’m opening a limited number of 1-Month 1:1 Clarity Intensives 
for senior leaders who want to reset their clarity and energy before the year ends.

If you’d like to step into 2026 with calm direction - not rushed resolutions -
DM me “RESET.” 

I’ll share details of a short, focused process designed exactly for this moment.

Because clarity next year begins with reflection now.

♻️ Share if this resonates - clarity is the foundation of sustainable growth.
➕ Follow Tatiana Rueff for weekly reflections on sustainable growth and leadership in motion.

A woman on a boat, facing calm water and a red Swiss flag, symbolising reflection and focus — captured by leadership and executive coach Tatiana Rueff to illustrate clarity before the new year.

At P&G, we learned how to perform under pressure.

But what often mattered more was how we handled the moments 𝑎𝘧𝑡𝑒𝑟 the pressure -
how we paused, reconnected, and stayed human through all kinds of change.

And that spirit didn’t end when we left the company.

It’s something we continue to nurture through the P&G Alumni Geneva Chapter - 
where shared values, curiosity, and genuine care for one another still define how we grow.

That spirit truly came alive last year at our 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 -
an evening filled with purpose, connection, and real conversations.

This year, we’re continuing that same energy through the power of stories - 
at the 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 (𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐅) 𝐨𝐧 4 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.

🎬 A private apéro, 
the 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘 screening, 
and the chance to reconnect with familiar faces - 
and yes, partners and friends are welcome too.

Because leadership isn’t just about what we achieve -
it’s about the stories that shape us,
and the human connections we build along the way.

🎟️  Alumni can book their tickets with our special discount - 
link in the comments below.

P.S.: Are you still in touch with your ex-colleagues?

P&G Alumni Geneva Chapter event at the Red Cross headquarters, featuring a presentation on humanitarian leadership, resilience, and purpose. Audience watching a Red Cross speaker in a modern auditorium with ambient lighting.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬?

A senior leader I coached recently felt blocked by a manager who seemed to dismiss their ideas and slow down every decision.

At first, it felt unfair - like a personal barrier to progress.

But during our work, something shifted. 
They began to ask different questions:

• Is this pattern just with me or with others too?
• What can I learn from those who get along with them?
• What pressures might they be facing?

👉 Then came a powerful reframe:

𝑊𝘩𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝘧 𝑡𝘩𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑚, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 - 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐𝘩 “𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡” 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘?

That shift turned tension into curiosity.
They planned a coffee chat - not to fix the situation, 
but to understand it better.

That’s the real work of leadership: 
expanding perspective before taking action.

P.S.: If navigating complex dynamics at work is draining your energy, let’s talk.

A professional leader looking thoughtfully out of a window, with a reflection of another person symbolising perspective and empathy. Quote: ‘What if they’re not against you — just under pressure?’ by Executive Coach Tatiana Rueff.

It’s easy to associate yourself with a big Fortune 500 name.

It’s different when there’s no brand behind you - only your own.

That’s when an identity void often appears - when the title disappears.

Freedom and fear arrive together.
I’ve been there too.

That’s why I’m really looking forward to our upcoming LinkedIn Live with Fady.

We’ll unpack what really happens after leaving the corporate world and how to rebuild clarity and confidence in your next chapter.

💡 Save the date - details in the post below.

P.S.: Which questions would you like us to focus on?
Drop them in the comments and join us live.

No one talks about the identity crisis that comes after the title disappears.

(I have been there myself. Freedom & fear come together!)


When I left the corporate world after more than two decades,
I thought I was ready.
I had the network.
The experience.
The reputation.

But nothing prepared me for the silence that came after.
No title attached to my name.
No team waiting for direction.
No more Monday meetings.

It felt like I had stepped out of a speeding train,
and the world kept moving without me.


But, here is the Mindset Shift 🧠
For years, success meant motion.

when I unplugged, I realized I had been chasing activity, not clarity.
↳ I had to redefine success, not as growth in corporate terms
↳ but as growth within myself.
↳ Not about managing others, but about focus, purpose, & freedom.
↳ That’s when the real journey began.

I realized I didn’t need to promote myself anymore.
↳ I needed to serve through my stories.
↳ That’s how my personal brand on LinkedIn was born!
↳ Not as a marketing tactic, but as act of visibility with purpose.
↳ I started sharing lessons from my corporate life, from my failures, and from helping others reinvent themselves.

Slowly, opportunities started finding me, not because I was loud, but because I was clear.


Today, I build, teach, and consult on my own terms.
↳ I help leaders find the same clarity I once searched for.
↳ I design my life around energy, not exhaustion.


My lesson to you today 
If you’ve spent years leading others, 
maybe it’s time to start leading yourself.
Your next chapter isn’t about leaving corporate.
It’s about rediscovering your purpose and turning your experience into impact.


Want to learn more, join Tatiana Rueff and me, and lets us help you find clarity, rebuild confidence, and create a business that reflects who you truly are.


PS: How would you introduce yourself with your "title" today?


♻️ Repost if this sparked some thoughts!

Dr. Hemida Abdelati, Kareem Muhammad كريم محمد and 81 other attendees

Leadership doesn’t always flow top-down.
In reality, some of the hardest leadership happens upward:

- influencing without authority, 
- aligning priorities that keep shifting, 
- managing expectations that don’t stop growing.

Especially during times of transformation,
when goals change faster than communication.

“I know how to lead my team,” one senior leader said recently.
“But managing the people above me - that’s a different kind of leadership.”

What helped her wasn’t more effort - 
it was strategic alignment.

Instead of reacting to shifting priorities, 
she began shaping the narrative:

✅ Translating her impact into the language that mattered to senior stakeholders
✅ Framing challenges as business opportunities
✅ Creating clarity where others only saw pressure

Leadership upward isn’t about pleasing everyone.
It’s about influencing with clarity and confidence - 
even when you don’t control the agenda.

P.S.: What's harder for you - to manage top-down or bottom-up?

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