In this episode, Elena Armijo sits down with executive coach and facilitator Natalie Rothfels for a rich exploration of what it truly means to meet people where they are. Drawing from Natalie's background as a startup operator, educator, and team coach, the conversation moves beneath surface-level performance and into the deeper dynamics shaping how leaders and teams relate, communicate, and grow together.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena opens with a coaching reflection on curiosity over assumption, honoring capacity alongside expectation, and anchoring leadership conversations in shared humanity and dignity. This creates a strong foundation for a thoughtful conversation on group energetics, trust, and the unseen forces shaping collaboration.

Natalie shares how her early experiences navigating family dynamics sharpened her sensitivity to group patterns, unspoken tension, and emotional undercurrents. She explains how this awareness now informs her work with co-founders and leadership teams, especially in high pressure and fast moving environments. Natalie emphasizes the importance of starting in the language people already speak, building safety first, and slowly expanding awareness through lived experience, instead of introducing unfamiliar language too quickly.

The episode also dives into groups and experiential learning, highlighting why real time feedback, relational practice, and developmental pacing matter more than quick fixes. Together, Elena and Natalie unpack trust as a behavioral experience rather than a vague concept, explore how teams move through cycles of formation and disruption, and reflect on the long term legacy leaders create through their inner work.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen more deeply, and recognize leadership as both a personal and collective responsibility. It offers grounded insight for anyone working with teams, partnerships, or communities who wants to lead with clarity, presence, and care.

If this conversation resonated with you, tune into Natalie's podcast Is It Just Me? where real coaching conversations transform work frustration and overwhelm into clarity, action, and growth.

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Natalie Rothfels:

LinkedIn | X (formerly Twitter) | Website | Podcast

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

As 2025 comes to a close, Elena Armijo offers a heartfelt solo episode filled with reflection, gratitude, and a few favorite moments from this year's podcast conversations. From exploring holistic health and empathy to the power of artistry and resilience, this episode is a warm invitation to pause, look back, and plant seeds for what's to come.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Elena revisits powerful conversations, including her episode with Dr. Sonal, whose journey from medicine to holistic healing reminds us to take ownership of our well-being before burnout takes hold. She also highlights her time with Mimi Nicklin, whose global mission around empathy brought fresh insight into human connection and leadership during complex times. And, in a personal highlight, Elena reflects on her first interview with her partner, J. Aaron Boykin, whose story weaves music, artistry, and depth with everyday leadership and grounded joy.

Elena also shares the practices anchoring her end-of-year transition: reviewing the calendar with curiosity, honoring the rhythm of goal setting, choosing a meaningful word for the year ahead, and celebrating personal growth. She opens up about the certifications and trainings she completed, especially her journey into team coaching and somatic breathwork. These new tools, grounded in nervous system regulation and community, are already reshaping how she serves leaders and teams.

This episode is a thoughtful send-off for the year, encouraging space to reflect, reconnect with purpose, and celebrate how far you've come. It's a gentle nudge to slow down and remember that wellness and leadership always begin within.

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Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Learn more about The C-Suite Collective

Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram

Connect with Elena on LinkedIn

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Ulrich Wolvaardt, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager

In this inspiring episode, Elena Armijo speaks with tenor, producer, and creative entrepreneur Nathan Granner. With a career spanning 30 years, Nathan shares his path through the world of classical music, opera, film, and now, innovation at the intersection of technology and art. From humble beginnings in a small Iowa church to starring roles in Pulitzer Prize-winning productions and a bold leap into startup culture, his story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep commitment to connection.

Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.

Nathan and Elena explore the role of values in artistic innovation, the changing landscape of the opera world, and the surprising skills that transfer from stage to boardroom. With clarity and heart, Nathan shares personal stories of triumph and struggle, from finding belonging in music to confronting burnout, navigating leadership, and launching a startup that brings physical touch and value back into the music industry.

Nathan introduces his latest venture, Curiyo Embedded, a company redefining what a "record" can be by turning everyday objects into collectible, musical experiences that are tangible, protected, and artist-first. At the heart of his message is a call to lead with love and create in alignment with purpose.

This episode is a celebration of artistry, leadership, and innovation grounded in human connection. Whether you're in the arts, in business, or in a season of personal transformation, there's something here for you.

Let's Get Social!

Want to hear more from Elena? Click here!

Learn more about The C-Suite Collective

Follow The C-Suite Collective on Instagram

Connect with Elena on LinkedIn

Nathan Granner:

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | IMDB | Bluesky | TikTok | Website

This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:

Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer

Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram)

Jo van Eeden, Project Manager