The Lida Citroën Podcast

Many leaders say they want a high-performance team, but few have a clear philosophy for how to build one. 
In this episode, Lida sits down with Paul Barwick-Copeland, Director of Business Consulting and Value Realization Services at NiCE, one of the world's leading AI and customer experience technology companies. Paul leads global high-performing teams across EMEA and APAC, spanning multiple cultures, time zones, and languages. What makes him stand out isn't his title or results, but the way he leads. 
Paul's leadership philosophy is rare. Built on authenticity, empowerment, and a willingness to grow people even when it means letting them go. 
In this episode, you'll learn:
The difference between managing and leading, and how knowing the distinction changes every decision you make about your team
How to lead with consistency across cultures. Why authentic leadership transcends time zones, languages, and cultural differences, and what that means for global leaders
How to hire for positive disruption. Why Paul actively recruits people who will challenge him, and what he looks for beyond credentials
How to build a brilliant team, not just a collection of strong individuals. The philosophy of collective over ego, and how to create psychological safety for people to thrive
How to see potential in people before they see it in themselves. The conversations Paul has with his team that go far beyond the standard performance review
Why letting people go is an act of leadership, not failure. How supporting someone's growth, even out of your team, is one of the most powerful things you can do as a leader
How to stay authentic as a leader in an AI-driven world. What it looks like to lead authentically inside one of the most AI-forward companies in the world
If you lead a team, or want to, this episode will give you the philosophy for authentic leadership that you can start applying immediately.Links from this episodeExecutive Coaching with Lida Stay ConnectedLinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook 

What if the behavior you think is making people like you is the exact thing preventing them from respecting you, considering you for new opportunities, and taking you seriously as a leader?
People-pleasing rarely feels like a problem when you're doing it. It feels like kindness, generosity, and being a good teammate. In this episode, Lida gets personal about a moment she said yes to something she never should have, spent three weekends resenting it, and realized she had been quietly teaching people that her “no" wasn't a real option. Sound familiar?
Using research from Brené Brown and Adam Grant, her own values framework, and the direct connection to self-talk and imposter syndrome she unpacked in Episodes 21 and 25, Lida breaks down what people-pleasing actually costs you, and the practical tools to stop it starting today.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why people-pleasing is a personal branding problem. How chronic accommodation creates a reputation that's likable but not influential, and what that costs your career
How to tell the difference between real generosity and people-pleasing. The three distinctions (generosity, collaboration, kindness) and how to identify which one is actually driving your behavior
The self-talk underneath the automatic yes. The internal tape that runs before every yes that should have been a no, and how to interrupt it
Why boundaries free you instead of limit you. The playground study that reframes everything you thought you knew about setting limits 
The values filter. Three questions to run every future yes or no through, starting with your next high-stakes decision
Liked vs. trusted. Why these aren't the same thing, and which one actually builds influence
If you've ever felt quiet resentment after saying yes, or wondered why people describe you as agreeable but never as decisive, this episode will name what's happening, and give you a way forward.Links from this episode
The Human Advantage: Elevating Executive Presence & Influence in the Age of AI 
Episode #21 and #25
 
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Now that you understand how self-talk shapes your narrative and reputation (listen to episode #25), it's time to take that internal foundation and translate it into the kind of executive communication that actually moves your stakeholders to act. Knowing what to say to yourself is step one, and communicating and influencing up is the next level. 
In this episode, Lida sits down with Naomi Price, SVP of Global Accounts at Vantage Partners and an internationally recognized expert in executive communication and strategic influence, to give you a practical, repeatable playbook for communicating at the highest levels.
In this episode, you'll learn:
 
• How to use self-talk in high-stakes conversations: The three specific phrases Naomi recommends saying to yourself before any important meeting, and why getting them right is visible to everyone in the room
• The micro-behaviors that build or destroy trust: Composure vs. energy, eye contact, gestures, and the small physical signals leaders read before you say a single word
• The Lean In, Link, Leverage framework: Naomi and Vantage's three-step method for speaking up and influencing the decision-makers
• How to sell up without being ignored: The problem-solving approach that turns resistance into buy-in, including the exact script for getting a yes from your boss's boss
• What to say so others will listen: How to filter everything you know down to the only thing your audience actually needs to make a decision
 
If you've ever had the right answer in a high-stakes room and still couldn't get traction, this is where you start.Links from this episodeExecutive Coaching with Lida The New Rules of InfluenceFollow Naomi Price on LinkedIn
Vantage 2026 Negotiation Study
 
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What if the biggest threat to your reputation isn't what you say out loud, but the story you're telling yourself before you even open your mouth?
In this episode, Lida Citroën shares a personal moment that spiraled into a fully imagined situation, and uses it to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of leadership presence: your self-talk!  Lida breaks down the three-step narrative formula that shapes how you're perceived, and why the conversation happening in your head matters just as much as the one happening in the room.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How self-talk shapes your reputation. The three-part chain from what you tell yourself, to what you tell others, to what others tell others about you
Why your mind treats your own words as fact, and how negative self-talk leaks out even when you think you're hiding it
The line between reframing and faking, and why "fake it till you make it" deserves a closer look
How to use physiological cues to your advantage. The exact reframe Lida uses before every stage appearance to turn nervous energy into confident presence
Why overconfidence backfires. The nuance between owning your value and tipping into arrogance
Whether you're prepping for a high-stakes conversation, walking into a networking event, or just trying to quiet a critical inner voice, this episode gives you a practical way to make sure your internal narrative is working for you, not against you.Links from this episodeExecutive Coaching with LidaControl The NarrativeStay ConnectedLinkedInYouTubeInstagramFacebook

What happens to your personal brand when you run multiple businesses, wear multiple hats, and show up in completely different spaces, all at the same time?In this episode, Lida Citroën sits down with Rani Alfers, entrepreneur, insurance agency owner, skincare brand owner, and host of the Working Women Mentor Podcast, to explore one of the most common challenges professionals with multiple businesses, or that manage several teams face: how to build a personal brand that’s clear, credible, and authentically yours, even when your ventures look nothing alike.Rani brings a refreshing and deeply human perspective on what it really means to show up as yourself across industries, roles, and responsibilities, without losing your voice, your values, or your sense of self in the process.In this episode, you will learn:    • How to find the single through line that connects all your ventures to one clear personal brand    • Why the "professional voice" trap is costing you connection and credibility    • How AI is reshaping personal branding and why your authentic voice matters more than everWhether you are juggling multiple businesses, navigating different professional roles, or simply trying to figure out how to show up consistently as yourself, this conversation is for you!Links from this episode
The New Rules of Influence
Executive CoachingStay ConnectedLinkedIn
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Every leader thinks it won't happen to them, until it does… What do you do when your reputation, the one you've spent years building, is suddenly on the line?
In this episode, Lida Citroën tackles one of the most emotionally charged and professionally complex challenges a leader can face: a reputation crisis. Whether you made a mistake, were in the wrong place at the wrong time, or became the target of a smear campaign, everything you stand for is now in question, and how you respond next matters greatly. 
Drawing from 20+ years of reputation repair work and her book, Control the Narrative, Lida walks you through the real emotional and professional impact of a reputation crisis, on you and on those around you, and shares the step-by-step framework she uses with her executive coaching clients to navigate it.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why isolating and removing your social media can make things worse
How to separate emotion from fact when everything feels catastrophic
What an "apology tour" looks like, and when you need one
When to consider legal action (and when not to)
How to rebuild your presence and protect your reputation going forward
Whether you're in crisis right now, know someone who is, or want to be prepared in case it ever happens, this episode is for you.Links from this episodeReputation Repair CoachingControl The NarrativeStay connectedLinkedInYouTubeInstagramFacebook

Your online presence can open doors for you before you even walk into the room.In this episode, Lida Citroën sits down with 3x LinkedIn Top Voice, retired U.S Army Sergeant Major, and founder of HireMilitary, Michael Quinn, to discuss what it really takes to build influence, trust, and meaningful professional relationships online that open doors in your career.Together, they unpack: • Why LinkedIn is more than a digital resume    • How to create trust and credibility online    • Mistakes leaders make when building an online presence    • How leaders can build authentic visibility without oversharing • Why consistency matters more than perfection • The role of engagement in building influence at scaleMichael shares the exact networking and engagement strategies that helped him grow one of the most respected professional communities on LinkedIn.If you’re a leader, executive, entrepreneur, or military veteran trying to strengthen your reputation and visibility in today’s digital world, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.Links from this episode:
The Human Advantage: Elevating Executive Presence & Influence in the Age of AI
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Imposter syndrome is one of the most talked-about challenges in leadership, and yet, it continues to hold even the most capable professionals back.
In this episode, Lida Citroën breaks down what imposter syndrome really is, why it shows up, especially in high-achieving leaders, and (most importantly) how it may be quietly costing you influence, visibility, and career growth.
Drawing from real client experiences and research, Lida explores:
 
• The hidden cost of staying silent in high-stakes moments
• Why waiting to feel “ready” is limiting your leadership influence
• How imposter syndrome can both hinder, and unexpectedly strengthen, your leadership style
• Practical strategies to separate feelings from facts and build evidence-based confidence
• How to stop shrinking your executive presence and start showing up with intention
 
You’ll also learn how social media and AI may be amplifying self-doubt, and how to use them as tools for growth instead of comparison.
If you’ve ever hesitated to use your voice, second-guessed your value, or felt like you don’t fully belong in the room, you’re not alone. But staying there comes at a cost.
This episode will help you reframe the narrative, reclaim your voice, and step into your next level of influence, before you feel fully ready.
Links from this episode:Executive Coaching
 
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Imagine performing at your highest level, with no script and no edits.That’s the reality of live broadcasting, but it’s also the reality of leadership today.In this episode, Lida sits down with Marc Vandermeer, Vice President of Broadcasting and the “Voice of the Houston Texans,” to explore what leaders can learn from a career built in the most high-pressure, public environment imaginable: live sports broadcasting.For over two decades, Marc has called every Houston Texans game—live, unscripted, and without a safety net. No edits. No second chances. Just presence, clarity, and trust in the moment.Together, we unpack what it really takes to:• Build influence when every word is public and every moment is live• Stay composed and credible when things go wrong (and they will)• Develop a voice that is recognizable, trusted, and unforgettable• Balance authenticity with professionalism in a highly visible role• Navigate feedback, criticism, and judgment without losing confidence• Bet on yourself: even when there are no guarantees• Find joy in the journey while building a meaningful, impactful careerMarc also shares powerful insights on why “real is a great currency,” how momentum matters more than certainty, and why leaders must learn to bring energy, presence, and intention into every room they enter.This conversation is a powerful lesson in communication, personal branding, leadership presence, and reputation management, for anyone navigating visibility in today’s world.Links from this episode:
The Human Advantage: Elevating Executive Presence & Influence in the Age of AI
 
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How can leaders communicate so their messages break through the noise?In a world flooded with information, notifications, emails, and meetings, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively has never been more important.But effective communication isn’t just about speaking well or writing a polished email (I see you AI). It’s about knowing how to share ideas in a way that builds trust, earns credibility, and inspires action.In this episode of The Lida Citroën Podcast, Lida sits down with Sarah Blansett, former Vice President at Military.com and  US Navy Public Affairs Officer, to explore what it really takes to communicate with clarity and influence in today’s fast-moving professional world.Drawing from her experience in journalism, military communications, and digital media, Sarah shares practical insights on how leaders can strengthen their voice, avoid common communication mistakes, and build stronger relationships through empathy and intentional messaging.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why empathy, not emotion, is the key to effective communication• How leaders can build credibility when they don’t have all the answers• The “Edit Three Times” rule for writing clearer, more effective messages• Why brevity and clarity matter when communicating with decision-makers• How to communicate effectively across cultures, generations, and remote teams• The role AI is playing in communication, and how human voice still matters mostIf you want your message to break through the noise and build trust with your audience, this episode will help you communicate with greater clarity and impact.Links from this episode
The Human Advantage: Elevating Executive Presence & Influence in the Age of AI
 
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