Excellent Executive Coaching: Growing Your Business and Enhancing Your Craft.

Host Katrina Burrus PhD, MCC interviews leaders from the ICF International

  • 19 minutes 33 seconds
    EEC 417: From Failure to Leadership Success: Swiss International Airlines featuring Lorenzo Stoll

    If Swissair went bankrupt in the past, Swiss International Airlines in Swiss Romand is beginning to thrive with Lorenzo Stoll, and stay tuned, it is just the beginning. Dr. Katrina Burrus asked what he attributes to some of his leadership successes at Swiss International Airlines with the following questions:

    What is one trait he possesses that makes him an effective leader at Swiss? How does he overcome challenges?

    What routine does he attribute to his success at Swiss International Airlines? How does he relieve his stress? What is one piece of advice he would give to a younger version of himself? For you, Lorenzo Stoll shares his biggest failure and his biggest passion.

    Who is Lorenzo Stoll?

    Lorenzo Stoll, born in 1971, joined SWISS in October 2013. Holding a diploma from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, he started his career working in the tourism and leisure industry at the Montreux-Vevey Tourism Office.

    Lorenzo Stoll comes to SWISS from the Nestlé organization, where he has held various executive functions with a strong focus on customer and marketing affairs over the past 12 years. In 2007, he assumed responsibility for the global sales of Nestlé Waters, and two years later, he was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of Nestlé Waters Switzerland.

    As SWISS's Head of Western Switzerland, he is in charge of all aspects of SWISS's business unit in Geneva, and stay tuned for the changes that will be happening at SWISS. Lorenzo Stoll was asked:

    • What trait of his does he attribute to making him an effective leader?
    • How does he challenge himself to overcome resistance?
    • What routine does he attribute to his success?
    • How does he relieve stress?
    • What advice would he give to a younger version of himself?
    • What was his biggest failure?
    • How can we get the cheapest flights at Swiss?
    27 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 15 seconds
    EEC 416: Combating a Public Health Crisis with Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of GAVI

    Dr. Seth Berkley walks us through his successful leadership journey as CEO of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. Tune in to learn more through Dr. Katrina Burrus's questions.

    • What is your leadership strategy?
    • What is one leadership trait you possess that makes you an effective leader? How did you use that trait to build organizational success?
    • What were some of the biggest challenges in your career and how did you overcome them? Take us to your biggest failure?
    • Who in your life had a lasting impact on your leadership journey?
    • How do you motivate your employees and provide inspiring leadership?
    Who is Seth Berkley?

    Dr. Seth Berkley joined the GAVI Alliance as its CEO in August 2011. The GAVI Alliance is a public-private partnership whose mission is to save children's lives and protect public health by increasing access to immunization in developing countries.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    20 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 41 seconds
    EEC 415: How to Build a Successful International Law Practice with Xavier Obseron

    Swiss law professor Xavier Oberson discusses with host Dr. Katrina Burrus the experiences and challenges to which he now attributes his successful international law practice.

    Who is Xavier Oberson?

    Xavier Oberson is a Professor in Swiss and International Tax Law at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After his studies at the University of Geneva, he obtained his law degree and his Doctorate in 1990. He then pursued graduate studies and research at Harvard Law School, where he also completed the International Tax Program (ITP) in 1992.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    6 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 50 seconds
    EEC 414: Leading Swiss Private Banks, Featuring Charles de Boissezon

    Charles de Boissezon is past CEO of Geneva headquartered Hinduja Bank, a Private Bank, and brings with him more than 40 years of International banking experience in London, Hong Kong, New York, Geneva, Chile, and Jersey. Charles is both French and British. He grew up in Vietnam and Hong Kong and spent his formative years in Geneva attending the College de Leman School. He then left for the USA to earn his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Boston University, in Boston, Massachusetts.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    30 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 19 minutes
    EEC 413: Leadership Advice from Dr. Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Past Director General at CERN

    Have you ever questioned the very nature of existence? Have you wondered how it all started and what secrets the universe holds? For most of us, these matters are beyond our comprehension. And yet, these are questions scientists at CERN - the world's leading research body for particle physics - are currently exploring.

    Dr. Heuer discusses with host Dr. Katrina Burrus the experiences and challenges to which he now attributes his successful leadership and achievements within the scientific community.

    Who is Rolf-Dieter Heuer?

    Dr. Heuer studied physics at the University of Stuttgart. He then obtained his PhD in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg under Joachim Heintze.

    His post-doc studies include the JADE experiment at the electron-positron storage ring PETRA at DESY, and from 1984, at the OPAL experiment at CERN, where he also became a spokesperson of the OPAL collaboration for many years. Having been offered a full professorship for experimental physics at the University of Hamburg, Heuer returned to DESY in 1998. In 2004, he was appointed DESY's Research Director. In December 2007, the CERN research council announced that Heuer will take office as CERN's Director General starting 1 January 2009.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    23 December 2025, 5:59 pm
  • 18 minutes 45 seconds
    EEC 412: Unlocking Empathy - What the Deaf Community Taught Me About Inclusion, with Maria Gallucci

    Maria Gallucci is a multi-award-winning real estate agent and proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned ASL before English and helped her parents buy a home at just 12 years old.

    • How did "Raised in Silence" teach you profound lessons on listening and love?
    • Why do people struggle to connect in a hearing-centered world?
    • What from your childhood inspired you to help others feel understood?
    • What is "Deaf Gain" and how can it help build stronger relationships in leadership?
    • What mindset shift turns awkwardness into a genuine connection?
    Maria Gallucci

    Maria Gallucci is a multi-award-winning real estate agent and proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned ASL before English and helped her parents buy a home at just 12 years old. This experience shaped her passion for inclusive communication and helping those who are often overlooked.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    16 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 53 seconds
    EEC 411: How to Persuade and Succeed at Your Negotiations, with Andres Lares

    Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute and co-author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions.

    • What is your four-step process to persuade others?
    • Why do people focus on logic rather than emotion?
    • How can you build credibility quickly?
    • When is the right time to go first in negotiations?
    • What are the five main aspects of emotional intelligence?
    Andres Lares

    Andres Lares is the Managing Partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute and co-author of Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions. His expertise ranges from coaching live negotiations for sports clients, including the Cleveland Browns and Brooklyn Nets, to developing online content for facilitating programs in real estate, advisory, media, banking, and pharmaceutical sectors. He is a guest lecturer on negotiation at universities like Johns Hopkins University, has been a contributor to numerous national media outlets, including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Selling Power, and many more.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    9 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 55 seconds
    EEC 410: The Living Organization - Coaching Leaders to Unlock Human Potential, with Norman Wolfe

    Norman Wolfe is the Founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders, Inc., a strategy execution consulting firm focused on transforming businesses to unlock the power of the human spirit.

    • The Living Organization® System emphasizes treating organizations as dynamic, living entities. How does this approach differ from traditional business paradigms, and how does it impact strategy execution?
    • How can leaders create a culture where employees feel both valued and aligned with the company's mission?
    • Leadership can often feel lonely at the top. Why?
    • What strategies do you recommend for organizations trying to embrace change and innovate while maintaining alignment with their core values?
    • What is your next book?
    Norman Wolfe

    Norman Wolfe is the Founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders, Inc., a strategy execution consulting firm focused on transforming businesses to unlock the power of the human spirit. With over 30 years of experience, Norman is a pioneer in leadership and organizational performance, known for guiding companies through significant transitions to achieve extraordinary results. A former executive at Hewlett-Packard and board member of multiple organizations, Norman is also the author of The Living Organization, a groundbreaking book on creating high-performing companies. He is passionate about shifting business paradigms and helping leaders foster dynamic, living organizations.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    2 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 14 seconds
    EEC 409: How Senior Leaders Can Reignite Their Value , with Loren Greiff

    Loren Greiff is an executive career coach and strategist. She is the founder and president of PortfolioRocket, a career coaching business she started in 2020 to help executives over 40 advance their careers, overcome ageism, and land jobs faster while earning more.

    • Many executives over 40 hear the word "overqualified" in job searches. What does that term really mean?
    • You've said that experience is no longer currency - relevance is! What strategies can senior executives use to package 20+ years of experience so it resonates in today's market?
    • Traditional networking only has a 2% success rate, and you have developed methods that are much more successful. What are your methods?
    • What role does age bias play in leadership opportunities, and how can executive coaches help their clients navigate that bias?
    • For leaders who feel invisible despite their accomplishments, what practical steps do you recommend to reignite confidence?
    Loren Greiff

    Loren Greiff is an executive career coach and strategist. She is the founder and president of PortfolioRocket, a career coaching business she started in 2020 to help executives over 40 advance their careers, overcome ageism, and land jobs faster while earning more. Loren has extensive experience working in executive search and corporate roles, and she focuses on helping clients develop actionable strategies for job search, interviewing, salary negotiation, and personal brand articulation.

    She also hosts a podcast called Career Blast In A Half and is active as an executive board member for Fast Company. Her coaching emphasizes turning clients into opportunity magnets by mastering the hidden job market and overcoming limiting beliefs related to ageism and hiring biases.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    25 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 33 minutes 16 seconds
    EEC 408: How to Thrive (Not Just Survive) in the Age of AI, with Steff VanHaverbeke

    Steff Vanhaverbeke is a Lecturer and AI Adoption Coach at Syntra, where she empowers professionals and entrepreneurs to navigate the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence.

    • How can professionals develop "cognitive agility" to thrive alongside AI rather than fear being replaced?
    • What are the five human skills that AI can't automate, and why are they crucial for career security?
    • What is an AI Agent?
    • What is the "Superworker" methodology and how does it deliver 3x productivity gains?
    Steff VanHaverbeke

    Steff Vanhaverbeke is a Lecturer and AI Adoption Coach at Syntra, where she empowers professionals and entrepreneurs to navigate the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence. With a sharp eye for both human potential and technological innovation, she guides learners in understanding, integrating, and confidently using AI tools to enhance their work without losing their human edge.

    Steff brings over 28 years of experience in coaching, facilitation, and training to the classroom, blending cognitive agility, systems thinking, and practical tech know-how into every session. Her teaching goes beyond tooltips and trends, she creates safe, interactive learning environments where participants develop critical thinking, creative resilience, and a clear vision of their role in an AI-augmented world.

    Her mission: help people become not just users of technology, but adaptive thinkers and ethical decision-makers in a world shaped by it.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    18 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 56 seconds
    EEC 407: Reaching the Red Dot, with Timothy Totten

    A parallel entrepreneur, Timothy Totten, runs his legacy family business in the funeral product manufacturing industry, and creates escape games and other team-building activities with his FunVenture partner.

    • Why did you get involved with TEDx?
    • What are the biggest mistakes you've seen hopeful TEDx speakers make?
    • How has landing a TEDx talk changed over the years, and how should people approach the stage today?
    • Besides memorizing a talk, what are the most important steps to having a successful TEDx experience?
    • How do you help those aspiring to the world's most influential stage, and can you guarantee they will get onto that red dot?
    Timothy Totten

    A parallel entrepreneur, Timothy Totten runs his legacy family business in the funeral product manufacturing industry, creates escape games and other team-building activities with his FunVenture partner, shares his expert knowledge of famed American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in storytelling sessions across the country, and volunteers as a curator and coach for TEDxEustis, the event which he created and led from 2018-2025.

    Today, Totten shares his storytelling expertise and behind-the-scenes TEDx knowledge with hopeful speakers through social media videos and his newsletter, along with both group and one-on-one coaching.

    Excellent Executive Coaching Podcast

    If you have enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We would love for you to leave a review.

    The EEC podcasts are sponsored by MKB Excellent Executive Coaching, which helps you get from where you are to where you want to be with customized leadership and coaching development programs. MKB Excellent Executive Coaching offers leadership development programs to generate action, learning, and change that is aligned with your authentic self and values. Transform your dreams into reality and invest in yourself by scheduling a discovery session with Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, to reach your goals.

    Your host is Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC, founder and general manager of Excellent Executive Coaching, a company that specializes in leadership development.

    11 November 2025, 2:00 pm
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