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Listen to Episode 23 below:

Episode Notes:

Today, we are joined by Charles Pfeffer.

Charles is an organizational consultant and executive coach with over 30 years of experience helping leaders harness their own and their organization’s inherent ability to create change through learning and adaptation. He guides partly through his listening skills, honed through a life-long engagement with self-awareness approaches and group dynamics training, guiding his clients to clarify what they want – for their enterprise, their teams, themselves, and the world. Has assisted executives across many varied industries and organizations, including FedEx, Xerox, DuPont, and Medifast, to align teams, develop leaders, communicate rigorously, and produce results, and has coached teams with assignments ranging from bringing the world’s first production digital color printer to market to safely closing the NASA Space Shuttle program. Collaborating with Nvolv Partners, Charles worked with Starbucks and Save the Children to align leadership, strategy, and talent, and has teamed with Brimstone Consulting on strategic change initiatives at the New York Times, ExpressScripts, and the State of Maine. Working with the pioneering DEI firm, The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Charles helped to bring the power of inclusion to accelerate strategy deployment at Merck, United Airlines, and EcoLab.

In the conversation, Charles shares insights from his “accidental” journey into personal growth work and executive coaching, highlighting how he helps leaders navigate complexity and change while maintaining authentic purpose.

We also cover:

  • The fundamental question he poses to clients: “What do you want?” and how this simple inquiry can unlock deeper purpose
  • How organizations navigate change through disruption and the role of leaders in transforming systems
  • The parallels between executive leadership challenges and healthcare professionals’ experiences
  • The connection between oath, authenticity, and purpose in professional identity
  • His vision for healthcare environments that provide calm, competent care through better alignment of capacity and demand

Charles concludes by sharing his personal approach to flourishing, which includes time in nature – walking in the woods, kayaking, and skiing – as restorative practices that help him maintain balance while supporting leaders through complex challenges.

Website: https://www.charlespfeffer.com/

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlespfeffer/

 

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:15) Charles Pfeffer’s Background

(04:15) Charles’ Journey into Personal Growth and Coaching

(08:00) Early Influences and Moving Beyond Blame

(10:30) The Concept of Polarities: Freedom and Responsibility

(13:00) How Executive Coaching Works

(17:00) Understanding Leadership and Organizational Complexity

(22:45) The Challenge of Integration in Healthcare Systems

(26:45) Complexity, Disruption, and Organizational Change

(33:45) Flourishing Through Authentic Purpose

(37:30) What Allows Charles to Flourish in His Work

(41:00) Imagining a Better Healthcare Future

(45:15) Personal Wellness Practices

(46:15) Conclusion