The Hidden Rules of Executive Power: How Leaders Break Into the C-Suite and Stay There

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What separates high performers from those who actually ascend to power? In this high-stakes conversation, Dr. Sharalyn Payne sits down with Courtney Intersimone to expose the unwritten rules of executive advancement - rules that determine who rises, who stalls, and who is quietly overlooked.

With over 25 years inside the rooms where succession decisions are made, Courtney reveals what leaders get wrong about influence, power, and presence and how mastering these invisible dynamics is the difference between career momentum and career stagnation.

Key Takeaway:

  • Executive advancement is not merit-based alone it is perception, positioning, and power.

  • Most leaders misunderstand connection and it’s costing them influence.

  • The C-suite requires a different leadership identity.

  • Imposter syndrome is not a weakness; it’s often a signal of expansion.

  • Mastering organizational politics is not optional; it is leadership.

Resources & Mentions

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Follow Courtney Intersimone

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