Coaching Real Leaders

His leadership role requires him to co-lead a project with someone he finds challenging to work with. With clashing styles and unclear roles, their partnership feels anything but collaborative.  Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through the root of the power struggle, and guides him toward a more intentional co-leadership path.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2025

She’s stepped into a leadership position thanks, in part, to a former boss at her organization. But now, this former boss has become a peer, and perhaps competition for the next-level role. Plus, their leadership styles often clash. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to position herself for career advancement in the face of competition from a colleague.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2025

She’s been in leadership roles for over a decade, but is feeling challenged at her latest company. She wants to focus on developing a long-term strategy but finds herself getting bogged down by the constant crises and day-to-day operational issues. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through what’s keeping her from being more strategic.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

He’s a seasoned business professional who’s worked at a number of companies with the aspiration of becoming a senior executive. But while he knows he adds value, he feels stuck in individual contributor roles. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through understanding what stands in his way, articulating what he wants, and redefining his personal brand at work.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

She has been given more leadership responsibilities, but she worries that she’s not seen as a leader at her company. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through why she feels like an outsider, how she can navigate her organization’s dynamics, and how to move towards her end goal.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

A lot of things change throughout your career, but challenges will always be there. Executive coach Muriel Wilkins helps leaders at all levels deal with the leadership hurdles they face in today’s work world. She’s back with a new season of Coaching Real Leaders, taking us into of real life executive coaching conversations. Listen to the new season of Coaching Real Leaders starting April 7th.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

He’s a leader who took a role at an organization where he can expand his area of expertise and make more of a strategic impact. But he’s getting mixed signals from leadership on how to grow the company, and he’s wondering how to stay effective in influencing the senior team without burning out in the process. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him on how to clear the path ahead.

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2024

She’s an experienced leader who made a big international move to take on a new change management role. But the transformation project isn’t working out the way she had hoped. Now she’s looking for ways to increase buy-in from key stakeholders while also navigating cross-cultural challenges. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through her possible next steps to handle the resistance she’s facing as she tries to lead change.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2024

She’s put in the hard work and might be next in line for an important, C-suite level job. But she’s not sure if that role is something she really wants. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader to help her discover what she really wants to do next.

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2024

He leads a large team that has grown quickly. Now he’s struggling with senior members on the team whose work isn’t meeting his expectations. He’s not sure how to hold them more accountable and drive higher performance. Host Muriel Wilkins helps him evaluate his options and understand the different ways he can enforce boundaries to move his team forward.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2024

After finishing business school, he landed several leadership positions and was fast-tracked into the executive level of his organization. But he’s been struggling to find his footing in his new leadership role, especially when he doesn’t agree with his boss. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how to come to terms with leadership decisions he doesn’t agree with while staying true to himself.

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2024

She has ambitions to reach the C-suite, but her career has hit a plateau. Opportunities in her current role have stalled, and she feels her options are limited as she tries to balance her career with that of her partner’s. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through reframing her career stagnation and the steps she can take to continue her professional growth.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2024

Butting heads with your boss? Trying to decide whether to push for a promotion to the C suite? Struggling to figure out what really matters to you in your career? These are all real challenges that many of us face in our careers, but we don’t always have a place to turn for answers. Executive coach Muriel Wilkins is back for another season of Coaching Real Leaders to tackle these leadership hurdles and more on the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of real life executive coaching conversations. Muriel helps leaders discover unexpected insights about themselves and actionable steps they can take to move forward. Listen to the new season of Coaching Real Leaders starting October 7th.

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2024

This episode is a special introduction to Working It, an award-winning podcast from the Financial Times. Host Isabel Berwick explores why different people work better at different times of the day. Bestselling author Daniel Pink joins Berwick to discuss how we can harness these differences to do our best work.

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2024

She’s experienced burnout in more than one past role. Now, after taking some time away from work, she’s gearing up to start a new position and she wants to avoid making the same mistakes. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her toward uncovering the root of her burnout and realizing how she can change the work habits that have caused it in the past.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2024

He’s come up the ranks and built his career working in the field, and now wants to transition to the corporate side of his company. But he’s struggling to convince senior colleagues to permanently place him in such a role. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through defining his value proposition and influencing key decision-makers to achieve his career goals.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2024

She’s an experienced leader who has always been highly ambitious and motivated to achieve impressive results. But now as she enters mid-life, she’s thinking about the next phase of her career and how to find a balance between striving and fulfillment. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through her concerns about aging in the workforce, finding the right challenges, and planning for her future.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2024

She has moved up in her organization quickly and often feels like she’s playing catch up. But she also has gotten positive feedback from senior executives that she’s performing well. Now, as her company grows and the advancement opportunities narrow, she wants to be strategic about how to get to the next level of leadership. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader to think through how she needs to adapt to move forward.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2024

He’s a leader with a passion for going the extra mile and achieving results. But he’s struggling with how long he can sustain the level of effort and time required to meet the demands of his new role. Host Muriel Wilkins helps this leader unpack what drives his work habits, redefine how he demonstrates his value, and align his workload with his overall goals.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2024

She held many positions all over the world before landing her dream leadership role. But then she took on a different position at her company to be closer to where she wanted to live permanently. Now she’s missing her previous role and hopes to return to it, but is unsure how to make it happen since the company needs her where she is. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through understanding how to articulate her career goals and navigate what’s next.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2024

Executive coach Muriel Wilkins is back March 11 with a new season of the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of real life executive coaching conversations. On this season of Coaching Real Leaders, you’ll listen in on coaching sessions with leaders working through pressing career challenges like: How can I craft my next role to avoid burnout? Should I return to the C-suite? How can I find a new role that makes use of my strengths and brings me happiness? Can I adjust my workload while still making an impact? Listen in, learn with them, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2024

She’s grown her entire career at one company, but now she’s in a new leadership role and she recently felt blindsided by negative feedback from her team. She’s struggling to process the feedback and respond. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how she can move forward with her team.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2023

She’s a high-achiever who has defined herself through her achievements and promotions. But she’s hit some bumps in her career and she’s feeling less engaged in her work. Now she’s questioning the leadership track she’s on. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through defining what success looks like for her moving forward.

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2023

He took a less traditional career path to college and law school. Now he’s successful as a lawyer, despite several job pivots. But he is still missing meaning and connection in his work. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through defining his purpose and how that can translate to his work.

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2023

He’s a leader with a growing team, and he enjoys people management. But he’s struggling to  influence those outside of his team and build trust with stakeholders. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through developing some of the skills he needs to gain stakeholder alignment while driving for results.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2023

She’s taken a number of chances in her career and made some big pivots. Now, she’s been assigned to a senior role on an interim basis, but she’s not sure whether she should try to make the role permanent. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through the decision-making process to better understand what’s holding her back and the future she envisions for herself.

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2023

He’s always believed in hard work and is extremely ambitious. But he’s received feedback that sometimes the way he communicates is too direct, and he wants to work on his delivery. Host Muriel Wilkins helps him understand what might be holding him back and coaches him through how he can improve his approach.

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2023

Executive coach Muriel Wilkins is back September 18 with an all new season of the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of real life executive coaching conversations. This season, first-time managers, mid-level leaders, and executives work through some of their most pressing career challenges. You’ll hear conversations around questions like: How do I know if I should make my interim role permanent? Have I taken my career as far as it will go? How do I build more effective relationships with my peers and those above me? Muriel helps each leader discover unexpected insights about themselves and actionable steps they can take to move forward. Listen in and learn with them.

Transcribed - Published: 11 September 2023

On this special bonus episode, host Muriel Wilkins and Think Fast, Talk Smart host Matt Abrahams discuss strategies for creating a strong physical presence that can be felt by those around you . By understanding and controlling your presence, you can communicate more effectively, lead more authentically, and have a greater impact on your organization. Follow the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast on your favorite podcast app. Stay tuned for a new season of Coaching Real Leaders this fall!

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2023

Candor and compassion at work are more important (and more difficult to cultivate) than ever. On this episode, host Muriel Wilkins joins the Radical Candor podcast to take questions from listeners and discuss how to lead in a hybrid environment. Look for Radical Candor in your favorite podcast app. And keep an eye out for the new season of Coaching Real Leaders, coming this fall!

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2023

He experienced early success and a fast promotion at his organization, but then things started to shift. Now, there have been leadership changes, and his scope of responsibilities has changed, making him feel like his career is backsliding. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how he can reframe the situation and prioritize what he wants from his career going forward.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2023

She loves the work she does and has effectively managed her career to gain increased responsibility over time. She’s recently started managing managers for the first time and is struggling to find the right pace to help her organization reach long-term strategic goals, amid some short-term uncertainty. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through setting goals and timelines for the long term.

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2023

He’s a mission driven leader who has always found roles where he can help others. He was brought in at a high level at a new organization, but he’s feeling tension and conflict with the organization’s founder. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how to manage himself in this negative work dynamic.

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2023

She’s found a career path she truly enjoys, in part because of her ability to take risks and try new things. Now, as her team is reorganized, she has the opportunity to design her next leadership position, but she’s not sure what she needs and wants to be successful. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through reframing what may be holding her back and identifying the priorities she wants to focus on going forward.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2023

He leads a team at a large global organization and gets positive feedback on their work. But he’s having trouble leading his team with a clear vision amid conflicting priorities and without direction from his senior leaders. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how he can help his team have organizational impact, with or without more clarity from above.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2023

She’s finally found a leadership role that feels aligned with her personal mission. But in the wake of unexpected company-wide layoffs, she’s struggling with how to plan for her team’s future amid the organizational uncertainty. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how she can motivate and lead her team when so much feels out of their control.

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2023

Coaching Real Leaders returns April 10 for another season of real-life coaching sessions, with leadership challenges like staying motivated after layoffs, achieving team goals, and more. Listen in as host and longtime executive coach Muriel Wilkins takes you behind closed doors as she helps executives, managers, and entrepreneurs work through the challenges they face and discover unexpected insights about themselves.

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2023

She’s carved out a unique role for herself, which she loves, but worries that the pace of work is unsustainable. As she thinks about the next step in her career, she realizes that it will require her to lean on the help of others — something she’s not used to doing. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to get the support she needs to move forward in her career.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2022

He sees himself as a servant leader and enjoys building and supporting his teams. But over time, he’s seen behavior from more senior leaders that he doesn’t always agree with, and it’s making him feel disengaged at work. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how he can respond when executives don’t model the company’s values.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2022

He’s had fast success in a sales-driven industry and enjoys leading his expanding team. But as his responsibilities grow, he needs to learn how to delegate to his team more and empower his direct reports. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how to adapt his leadership style as his team grows.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2022

He’s had a long, successful career as an attorney, in spite of the challenges he’s faced as a neurodivergent leader. Now he wants to parlay his legal experience and interest in advocacy into a different career in diversity, equity, and inclusion, but he’s having a hard time landing the role he wants. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches this leader through how to move forward with his career plans even when it feels like the odds are stacked against him.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2022

She’s had a successful career leading in the corporate world and now she’s decided to venture out on her own to build a consulting business from scratch. But she’s struggling with her move into entrepreneurship and wonders if she made the right decision. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to make the most out of her entrepreneurial journey.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2022

He’s a self-professed “natural finance guy” and has shown himself to be invaluable to his company. His long-term goal is to become a CFO, but he’s gotten little feedback on what to do to get to the executive level. Now he’s starting to feel stuck in middle management. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through managing his career, even when the plan isn’t always clear.

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2022

Coaching Real Leaders returns October 3 for another season of real-life coaching sessions, with leadership challenges like making a career change later in life, transitioning from a corporate job to an entrepreneurial one, and more. Listen in as host and longtime executive coach Muriel Wilkins takes you behind closed doors as she helps executives, managers, and entrepreneurs work through the challenges they face.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2022

This episode is part of a new special series from HBR’s Women at Work, hosted by Amy Gallo – an expert in workplace dynamics. Each episode offers tactics for dealing with “difficult” people at work. Every workplace has them, but what if we had better tools and approaches to improve our interactions with those colleagues? In this episode, Amy helps a leader whose boss keeps rejecting any changes she recommends. By the end of the conversation, she has the advice she needs to communicate her proposals in a way that will get approval and feel less stress when interacting with her boss. Look for “Getting Along” in Women at Work’s feed.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2022

He’s had a successful career in the military and is deeply invested in his professional growth. As his transition out of the military approaches, he wants to figure out what’s next for him professionally. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches him through how to best prepare for the next phase of his career.

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2022

She took on a leadership role as a scrum master because she wanted a new challenge. But after a few months on the job, she worries that she lacks the technical knowledge and years of experience to truly lead her team. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to build credibility with her older, more experienced colleagues.

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2022

He’s developed a stellar reputation at his organization as the go-to person to solve some very specific, complicated problems. But he worries that the organization has pigeon-holed him as a subject matter expert, limiting his ability to lead more broadly. He speaks with host Muriel Wilkins about how he can break out of the specialist role to reach his goal of becoming a more general business leader.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2022

She has risen very quickly in her career, often being the youngest in the room. She’s ambitious and wants to make it to the C-suite eventually, but she doesn’t know the right moves to make in the short term to fast-track her way to the top. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to align her career path with her goals.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2022

She’s heading toward the apex of her career and wants to play a more strategic role in her company because she feels that’s where her strengths lie. While she’s great at creating the vision, she’s struggling to set direction and then follow through with her team. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through how to lead with more accountability.

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2022