Susan J. Bethanis, Ed.D., is the CEO/Founder of Mariposa Leadership, Inc, a 12-person San Francisco based firm, which provides executive coaching and design thinking to high-tech leaders. Sue is the author of the well-received business book Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage (Kaplan Publishing, 2004) and hosts the popular show WiseTalk — a monthly leadership forum, and WiseSpace— a Zoom coaching community.
FWM: How does Mariposa Leadership stand out above other executive coaching companies?
Mariposa has both survived and thrived through the last 24 years of tech ups and downs. The dot-bombs, recession, and now COVID. Through it all, we have remained consistent in creatively serving the tech leaders we work with. We are both high-touch and extremely results-driven. We help our clients measure their success in, for example, influencing skills, coaching skills, strategic thinking. Yet, we also know the hallmarks of the most successful leaders – discernment, gravitas, calmness, inspiration, and innovation – are hard to measure.
FWM: You work with C-Level Executives and VP’s, how has COVID-19, changed business?
Our work has changed a lot because our clients’ work has changed a lot. Connection and isolation are paramount, so much of our work is about these things. For example, how do leaders best connect in the “virtual watercooler”?
FWM: How are you using real-time, relevant business issues to help clients?
All of the discussions we have in our 1-1 executive coaching are real issues that the leaders are facing. In our group workshops, we also ask participants to bring in real issues to solve with each other.
Some examples are:
– How do I best stay connected with my directs? We are all so isolated now, working from home.
– How do we collaborate on projects better without being in the office together?
– How do I best communicate with my boss’s boss – because he wants me to – without frustrating my boss?
– I have written my strategy for my international group. How should I best go about getting feedback and buy-in from all of the constituents…and fast?
FWM: Tell us about your book, Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage.
Coaching is the secret behind so many corporate leaders’ successes. In dialogue format, Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage gives you both building blocks and practical tips to raise your game as a leader.
Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage is the story of how a hard-driving executive, Max Sinclair, transforms his perspectives and practices and becomes a more powerful and compassionate leader.
Sue wrote Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage for an unusual behind-the-scenes look into how executives become better leaders in the corporate world. The reader will be able to listen in on confidential conversations between Max and his executive coach as he learns the lessons necessary to become more wise and effective. Informed by actual coaching conversations with executives, Sue offers timely questions and insights to Max in a simple, yet ingenious way.
FWM: You have a popular show, WiseTalk — a monthly leadership forum, and WiseSpace — a Zoom coaching community. What are the key topics? What do people enjoy most?
For more than sixteen years, I have hosted WiseTalk, a leadership forum and podcast featuring interviews with authors and thought leaders in leadership, tech, design thinking, and human resources. Every year we choose a new theme; our theme for 2020 is De-stressing in a Complex World. Other topics have included:
- AI, Ethics, and Society
- Influence
- Managing for Disruption
- Talent
- Design Thinking
Her audience appreciates her humor, authenticity, and provocative questions, as well as the opportunity to engage directly with each guest in the Q&A segments.
WiseSpace: A Coaching Community is a virtual supportive and courageous space for coaches to talk through their own personal stories, and how best to serve clients right now. Coaches appreciate the open conversations and space to stay engaged and connected with each other. Some topics include:
- How to pivot to address virtual work, emerging client needs, uncertainty, and social unrest
- How to help leaders look at systemic racism in their organization and work with it structurally in ways that help shift dynamics
FWM: You are a keynote speaker covering, influence, coaching, and innovation. What speaking engagements/virtual conferences are you participating in this year?
In August, the Professional Businesswomen of California invited me to present a talk: Influence & Impact in the New Normal. My presentation focused on how influencing is a critical skill that leaders need for success, and now in the New Normal, engaging people (through empathy) is key to cutting through the complexity to both rethink priorities and to successfully go from idea-to-innovation.
Sue was recently interviewed by Bob Baxley, Head of Design at ThoughtSpot, on the major issues leaders are facing during the pandemic. Sue spoke about logistics, well-being, culture, and strategic pivoting. https://mariposamedia.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ThoughtSpot_BaxleyBethanis_Final_Full.mp4
Twitter/Instagram:
@suebethanis
@mariposaleader
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/suebethanis/
www.linkedin.com/company/mariposa-leadership/
