Becoming the CEO You’re Meant to Be: Insights from Ann Houser
“IT'S EASY TO JUST KEEP DOING THE SAME OLD THING EVERY DAY - BUT THEN NOTHING CHANGS.”
Episode Description
In this episode of Leadership Matters, host Kaylee Thomsen sits down with Ann Houser, CEO of The Bailey Group, to explore what it means to lead leaders. With decades of experience as an executive coach and now as CEO, Ann shares how she blends strategy and self-awareness to guide both her organization and her clients through complexity. She opens up about her own leadership journey – the lessons, challenges, and mindset shifts that have shaped her – and offers insights for anyone striving to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to lead at the highest level – and how to stay grounded while doing it – this conversation is for you.
Chapters
- 00:00 From Sociology to the C-Suite: Ann's Path to Leadership Development
- 02:43 Why Leadership Development Speaks to Her Personally
- 06:15 What Gets in Leaders' Way: The Ego Trap
- 08:01 Attributes of the Strongest Leaders
- 09:11 Early Career Lessons: IBM, Layoffs, and Plan B
- 12:25 Rebuilding Culture from the Ground Up
- 15:03 The Power of Including Every Voice
- 16:39 Rising as a Female Leader in Male-Dominated Spaces
- 18:40 What Ann Has Learned as CEO of the Bailey Group
- 20:28 What People Don't Know About Coaching CEOs
- 22:00 What to Look for in an Executive Coach
- 27:11 What Executive Coaching Actually Is
- 29:24 Real Coaching in Action: From CFO to CEO
- 33:29 When Coaching Goals Have to Evolve
- 39:22 Who Should (and Shouldn't) Get a Coach
- 41:13 What Would Surprise People About Executive Coaching
- 43:58 Succession Planning Done Right
- 46:01 Becoming Partners: The Inside Story
- 53:03 What It's Like Being a Working Mom at the Top
- 57:30 How the World of Work Has Changed for Parents
- 1:02:07 Lessons Learned From the Ownership Transition
More In The Series
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