In this insightful episode of the Arete Coach Podcast, host Severin Sorensen interviews Stephen Bruyant-Langer, a distinguished executive coach, keynote speaker, bestselling author, associate professor, and founder of The Personal Business Plan (PBP). Recorded on February 28, 2025, via Zoom, this episode explores transformative coaching methodologies, future-oriented life planning, and the structure behind personal reinvention .

With an episode titled, "Design Your Future: Blueprint for Life and Career Success", Stephen Bruyant-Langer brings a wealth of corporate and entrepreneurial experience:

• Corporate and executive search experience: Stephen’s early career spanned 15 years in global marketing roles at L’Oréal and Coca-Cola. He then spent two decades in executive search, including a tenure as Managing Partner of Korn Ferry Denmark .
• Transformational pivot: A personal life crisis became the catalyst for his transition to coaching. He developed The Personal Business Plan, a proprietary methodology for life and career planning now used in over 90 countries .
• Thought leadership: Stephen is the author of three influential books: Career, The Personal Business Plan, and The Existential Playbook, addressing themes of success, personal strategy, and meaning .

Key Insights for Executive-Level Coaches

1. Start with the future in mind: Stephen advocates for "future-back" planning—coaching clients to envision life 10–30 years ahead, then reverse-engineer the pathway with clarity and intention .
2. Structure breeds freedom: His 10-session coaching process provides the structure needed for clients to explore deeply while ensuring measurable outcomes—a concept he dubs "freedom systematized" .
3. Pedagogical integration: Stephen combines coaching, curated readings, and a robust online toolkit to help clients create a comprehensive, 100-page life strategy document .
4. Master the Choice-Action-Responsibility model: This mental model targets client blind spots, helping coaches diagnose and address areas where clients may procrastinate, blame, or ruminate .
5. Be available, be present: For high-performing leaders, availability builds trust. Stephen underscores the importance of concierge-level, just-in-time coaching to accelerate impact .

The Arete Coach Podcast explores the art and science of executive coaching. You can find more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded on February 28, 2025.

Copyright © 2025 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast hosted by Severin Sorensen with an episode titled "Leading with Kindness: On Executive Coaching and Cultural Intelligence." In this episode, Severin engages with Dr. Krista Crawford, a distinguished Vistage Chair, speaker, consultant, professor, and leadership strategist. Krista holds a PhD in Organizational Management and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). With over 30 years of experience spanning human resources, organizational development, and executive leadership, she has significantly impacted leaders across corporate and nonprofit sectors. This episode was recorded on March 26th, 2025, via Zoom.

Krista's journey into executive coaching and Vistage Chairing is as unique as it is inspiring. After decades in HR, where she led organizations with up to 8,000 employees, Krista transitioned into leadership coaching serendipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic. A neighbor introduced her to Vistage, leading to her eventual certification and the establishment of multiple peer advisory groups.

Her career is deeply rooted in observing and addressing the human dynamics within organizations. Krista identified early the gaps in leadership development, particularly how some employees flourish while others feel disconnected. Her doctoral research focused on "social monitoring" and "cultural intelligence," exploring how individuals adapt and integrate into diverse cultural settings. Conducted in Belize with service-learning students, her research revealed that active engagement with local cultures significantly enhances cultural intelligence.

Beyond her coaching, Krista serves as an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech and Champlain College, teaching leadership, ethics, and organizational development. She brings a rich blend of academic rigor and practical experience, leveraging her HR expertise, research acumen, and passion for continuous learning to guide executives and emerging leaders.

Key Insights

1. The Art of Listening and Pausing

Krista emphasizes the importance of listening to hear rather than listening to respond. In coaching, silence is a powerful tool, allowing clients to reflect deeply. She practices intentional breathing to create space for reflection and meaningful dialogue.

2. The Power of Vulnerability and Group Dynamics

She highlights how vulnerability within peer groups fosters deeper trust and growth. Krista shared a pivotal moment when a group conflict tested cohesion; addressing it transparently strengthened the group's unity and resilience.

3. Job Crafting for Engagement

Krista advocates for job crafting, encouraging leaders to engage employees in designing roles that align with their strengths and passions, thus enhancing satisfaction and retention.

4. Measuring Success Through Joy

Joy serves as Krista's personal metric for professional fulfillment. She believes that work should bring joy and that leaders should reassess their roles when joy diminishes.

5. Use of Psychometrics and AI in Coaching

Krista integrates tools like Wiley DiSC and various psychometric assessments to deepen understanding of team dynamics. She also creatively employs AI for ideation, content creation, and meeting preparation, demonstrating adaptability to emerging technologies.

6. Kindness and Continuous Learning as Guiding Values

Krista's mantras of "kindness is underrated" and lifelong learning reflect her approach to leadership and coaching. She stresses the importance of being both kind and courageous in providing candid, constructive feedback.

The Arete Coach Podcast explores the art and science of executive coaching. You can find more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded on March 26, 2025

Copyright © 2025 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

That We Might Live Free

A Memorial Day Tribute | Arete Coach™ Podcast with Severin Sorensen. A Special tribute featuring Jay Stringham (posthumously), Irving Ray Stringham Jr., and the Stringham family legacy.

In this special Memorial Day edition of the Arete Coach™ Podcast, host Severin Sorensen departs from his usual exploration of executive coaching to deliver a solemn tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Titled “That We Might Live Free,” this episode reflects on the true meaning of Memorial Day, honors the story of WWII aviator Irving Ray Stringham Jr., and shares a sacred poem—A Soldier’s Last Prayer—written by his younger brother Jay Thorral Stringham.

Rather than featuring a conventional guest, this episode centers on a heartfelt tribute to Irving Ray Stringham Jr., a WWII aviator who gave his life over the skies of Germany, and Jay Thorral Stringham, his younger brother and the only survivor among five friends from their neighborhood who went to war together.

Haunted by loss and moved by a deep sense of reverence, Jay channeled his grief and gratitude into a poem titled “A Soldier’s Last Prayer.” The poem, delivered in this episode, is a poignant reflection of a soldier’s internal dialogue on the eve of battle—capturing a blend of fear, faith, sacrifice, and hope. The host received this poem from Jay’s daughter, Dolly Hicks, who entrusted its legacy to be shared and remembered.

With permission from the family, Severin transforms this heartfelt poem into three powerful musical renditions, each offering a different lens on sacrifice, remembrance, and devotion.

This is not a performance—this is an offering.

A moment of remembrance.

A promise to never forget.

Featuring:

• Historical reflections and family stories
• Three musical interpretations of A Soldier’s Last Prayer
• Quotes from JFK, Reagan, Lincoln, Patton, and more
• A call to live with gratitude, purpose, and honor

🕯️ May we remember. May we honor. And may we live free.

The Arete Coach Podcast explores the art and science of executive coaching. You can find more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.

This episode was recorded on Memorial Day, May 26, 2024.

Copyright © 2025 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.