As part of our new leadership spotlight series, we’re sitting down with leaders across Council Advisors—including our colleagues at SSA & Company, The Miles Group, and High Lantern Group—to share insights on leadership, execution, and what it takes to drive results in today’s business environment.
At TMG, you work with senior leaders across industries. How has that shaped your view of effective leadership?
Working with senior leaders has taught me that effective leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s shaped by the complexity of the environment, the maturity of the organization, and the demands of the role. The strongest leaders resist the urge to fall back on familiar playbooks. Instead, they assess the situation, adjust their approach, and stay grounded in what their team and the business need in the moment. They know when to lean in, when to step back, and how to create alignment across strategy, operations, and culture. That adaptability is what sets them apart.
What is the most rewarding part of working with senior leaders?
The leaders we work with operate in high-stakes environments. Their decisions carry real weight, and that level of pressure doesn’t leave them with much time to step back and reflect on how they’re leading. CEOs are in the people business. How they communicate, build trust, and shape culture has a direct impact on performance. One of the most rewarding parts of this work is helping leaders create space for reflection and build the skills they need to perform under pressure. When that happens, we can see our work come to life with better decisions, stronger teams, and more resilient organizations.
What do the most effective leaders do to keep growing?
They stay open—to challenges, to feedback, and to the idea that what got them here may not carry them forward. At this level, growth is less about knowledge and more about range: learning to lead differently, think differently, and adapt in ways that aren’t always comfortable. The strongest leaders take ownership of that process. They surround themselves with people who push them, they look for new ways to sharpen their edge and remain deeply engaged with their development. That commitment, day in and day out, is what separates those who keep growing from those who stall.
In high-stakes moments, what do you look for that reveals how a leader really operates?
When the stakes are high, you see how a leader actually operates. The habits, instincts, and default patterns of behavior that go unnoticed day-to-day become fully visible under pressure. We watch how leaders make decisions, what they prioritize, and how they engage their teams during moments of pressure. Some leaders respond by narrowing their circle, controlling every detail, or chasing speed at the expense of sound decision-making. Others pause long enough to set direction, communicate clearly, and bring the right people into the process. The strongest leaders know when to narrow the aperture and when to open it, and they give their teams the focus and confidence to keep moving forward.