In this short segment of the Revenue Builders Podcast, Kara Gilbert, executive coach, startup advisor, and former Chief People Officer at Turbonomic, unpacks the transformative role of coaching—not as a remedial tool, but as an accelerator for growth, leadership, and personal clarity.
She explains how elite performers unlock their potential by pausing, reflecting, and holding themselves accountable. From processing feedback to balancing life trade-offs as a working executive, Kara reveals how leaders can connect deeply with their own story to become more effective in business and life.
Whether you’re a sales leader, startup founder, or executive navigating high-pressure environments, this episode will help you understand why self-awareness, accountability, and honesty are the real cornerstones of leadership success.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:01:00] Coaching is not remedial—it’s an accelerant to growth, leadership, and opportunity.
[00:01:47] The power of pausing: Why slowing down helps leaders gain clarity on goals, teams, and personal direction.
[00:02:15] Accountability in coaching: How check-ins create discipline and progress.
[00:02:46] Life trade-offs for executives: Outsourcing and prioritizing to focus on what truly matters.
[00:03:07] Processing feedback effectively: Choosing what to embrace and what to discard.
[00:03:28] Owning your story: The cornerstone of leadership, happiness, and strong relationships.
[00:04:55] Honesty in coaching: Why vulnerability and raw truth unlock real breakthroughs.
QUOTES
[00:01:00] “Coaching is not remedial. Coaching is actually an accelerant to growth and opportunity.”
[00:01:47] “When leaders pause, they can be thoughtful and break through things they just haven’t had time to think about.”
[00:03:28] “The most elite people—the happiest people—are the ones who know their story and have owned it.”
[00:04:55] “In coaching, you have nothing to lose. Just be honest.”
Listen to the full conversation through the link below.
https://revenue-builders.simplecast.com/episodes/achieving-excellence-in-leadership-with-kara-gilbert
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