by Uplift People Consulting
Uplift is a global executive search and talent advisory firm. Redefining Executive Career is a leadership series hosted by Serap Zel, Founder of Uplift, drawing on 20+ years of executive search experience across five continents and 50+ countries. In conversation with founders, board members, and senior executives, the series explores leadership transitions, strategic decisions, and what truly defines executive impact today.
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Publishing Since
8/18/2023
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June 16, 2026
<p>The higher you climb, the less anyone talks about what it actually takes.</p><p>Not the strategy. Not the vision. The real part — leading through uncertainty, holding conviction under pressure, and knowing when everything around you is shifting faster than any plan can absorb.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we explore what leadership at the highest levels truly demands — and what the new realities every senior leader must face right now actually look like.</p><p>Alain Bejjani — Business Leader, Investor, and Author — is the voice behind NEXT: Leading Through the New Realities. As the former CEO of Majid Al Futtaim, he led the organization for 16 years across 16 markets, serving 560 million customers through some of the most volatile years the region has seen. Gulf Business CEO of the Year. Forbes Middle East Top 100. Today he is an active investor, advisor, and Shark Tank mentor — backing entrepreneurs navigating high-stakes markets.</p><p>This conversation goes deep on what most leadership discussions skip entirely.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>What leadership at scale truly demands that most people never talk about.</li><li>How to lead with conviction and navigate uncertainty when the pressure never really lets up.</li><li>The mindset shift Alain believes every leader must make right now — and why so many are still resisting it.</li><li>What AI and the future of work really mean for senior leaders and their relevance.</li><li>How leadership must evolve across startups, mature organizations, and turnaround environments.</li><li>What is truly waiting for the next generation of executives — and how to prepare.</li><p><br></p></ul><p><strong>Why Listen</strong></p><ul><li>Understand what separates leaders who thrive under pressure from those who plateau.</li><li>Gain honest perspective on navigating uncertainty at the highest levels of leadership.</li><li>Discover how the most experienced leaders are thinking about AI, talent, and what comes next.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Guest:</strong> Alain BejjaniLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alainbejjani/ </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Hosted by:</strong> Serap ZelLinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/serapzel/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/serapzel/</a></p>
May 13, 2026
<p>Many senior leaders reach a point where the career they built no longer feels like theirs.</p><p>The title. The company. The identity. All carefully constructed — and then suddenly, quietly, wrong.</p><p>In this episode, we explore what happens when high-achieving leaders realize the ladder they have been climbing is not the one they actually want.</p><p>Katelyn Bourgoin has rebuilt herself multiple times. VC-backed founder. Forbes coverage. Everything looking great from the outside. Then it all fell apart — bankruptcy, lost identity, starting over.</p><p>What came next? A seven-figure solo business and a much clearer sense of what she actually wants.</p><p>This conversation is honest, unexpected, and deeply relevant for any leader quietly asking — what is next for me now?</p><p><strong>Key Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>Why accomplished leaders confuse mimicking what others want with knowing what they truly want.</li><li>How going bankrupt became the moment she stopped fearing the worst.</li><li>Why battling the transition period alone makes everything harder.</li><li>How to find your ownable idea and communicate your value in a way that actually lands.</li></ul><p><strong>Why Listen</strong></p><ul><li>Understand why identity and title become dangerously fused at senior levels.</li><li>Learn how to separate who you are from what you do during transitions.</li><li>Discover how to position yourself powerfully when everything feels uncertain.</li></ul><p><strong>Guest:</strong> Katelyn Bourgoin </p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebour/</p><p><strong>Hosted by:</strong> Serap Zel </p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/serapzel/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/serapzel/</a></p>
March 11, 2026
<p>Many highly accomplished leaders believe their work should speak for itself.</p><p>But at senior levels, <strong>performance alone is rarely enough.</strong></p><p>In this episode, we explore why exceptional leaders are sometimes overlooked — not because they lack capability, but because <strong>their value is not always visible, articulated, or experienced in the moments that matter most.</strong></p><p>Through real executive-level challenges, we examine how <strong>communication, presence, and strategic visibility</strong> shape leadership opportunities, board selection, and career progression.</p><p>This conversation reveals why some leaders continue to advance — while others remain highly capable but unexpectedly overlooked.</p><p><strong>Key Highlights</strong></p><p>• Why the mindset of “I did the work, people should know my value” can become a hidden risk at senior levels.• The subtle communication habits that weaken executive presence — including over-explaining, softening language, or hiding behind complexity.• What truly differentiates leaders in <strong>high-stakes moments</strong> such as board interviews, investor discussions, and C-level hiring processes.• The role of <strong>online visibility and thought leadership</strong> in today’s leadership landscape.• Why founders and senior leaders often feel uncomfortable with personal visibility — and how to approach it authentically.</p><p><strong>Why Listen</strong></p><p>• Understand why strong performance alone does not guarantee recognition at senior levels.• Learn how executive presence and language shape how leaders are perceived.• Gain practical insight into how visibility influences leadership opportunities.• Discover how leaders can build credibility without becoming performative or inauthentic.</p><p><strong>Why This Works</strong></p><p>This episode goes beyond generic advice about personal branding.</p><p><br></p><p>Nausheen I. Chen shares practical insights on how <strong>leaders can communicate their value clearly, show up with confidence in critical moments, and navigate visibility without losing authenticity.</strong></p><p><br></p><p>The result is a powerful conversation about <strong>how leadership impact is not only built — but also perceived.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Guest:</strong> Nausheen I. Chen<br>Connect with Nausheen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/ </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Hosted by:</strong> Serap Zel </p><p>Connect with Serap:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serapzel/</p><p><br></p><p>Nausheen has also shared a <strong>complimentary course on speaking fearlessly</strong> for listeners of this episode.</p><p>Free course:<br><a href="https://www.speaking.coach/free-course/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.speaking.coach/free-course/</a></p>
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Uplift is a global executive search and talent advisory firm.
Redefining Executive Career is a leadership series hosted by Serap Zel, Founder of Uplift, drawing on 20+ years of executive search experience across five continents and 50+ countries.
In conversation with founders, board members, and senior executives, the series explores leadership transitions, strategic decisions, and what truly defines executive impact today.
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
This podcast is available on 6 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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