The C-Suite Coach | I help senior leaders thrive in their roles by optimising their performance, energy and time to enjoy their careers once more (you deserve it). Book your discovery call today.

Most senior executives are technically brilliant but invisible.

I help C-suite executives build the executive presence and influence to get recognised as visionary leaders.

Why does this matter?

Despite your contributions, you're not getting the recognition you deserve. 
You're stuck managing tasks instead of leading strategically. 
Your boss wants you to be "more strategic," but you can't see the path.

Worst of all?

You're overlooked while others with less competence move ahead.
The problem isn't your intelligence or work ethic. 

It's your executive presence.

My Background: I've Walked This Path

I've spent 20+ years at the C-suite level at Citi and currently as GM at a Blackstone portfolio company. 
I know what it takes to command respect and lead with influence because I'm living it right now.
I coach from the arena, not the sidelines- which means I understand your current pressures and can help you carry the load. I'm also a Communications Professor at IESE Business School and have spoken at 50+ conferences globally.

The Transformation

I help senior executives who feel invisible become recognised leaders who:

→ Communicate with influence, not just authority 
→ Get recognised and advance their careers 
→ Command respect without demanding it 
→ Inspire teams instead of micromanaging 
→ Focus on strategy, not stuck in tasks

My Approach

Unlike coaches who only ask questions, I provide practical solutions based on C-suite experience.
I combine emotional intelligence with accountability to turn problems into action.
No corporate BS or cookie-cutter frameworks.

My methodology builds:

• Masterful Communication & Executive Presence 
• Authentic Leadership Identity 
• Resilient Inner Core 
• Strategic Influence

I integrate insights from marathon running, meditation, and Stoic philosophy for sustainable performance.

Who I Work With

C-suite executives across all industries who are ready to build executive presence that advances their careers.

What Clients Say

"Peter is a brilliant coach. He is a great listener, truly cares and freely shares his wisdom." 
Nora Tandberg, CFO, Papirfly

"Peter's unique perspective is very effective in a business setting and brings a fresh perspective to solving contemporary challenges." 
Guy Nicholas Mansfield, CFO, C-Quest Capital

Ready to Elevate Your Leadership Impact?

Book your strategy call today.

Peter McKenzie

The biggest mistake executives make when they prepare for presentations? 
They try to sound like someone else.

I've coached over 100 senior professionals improve their presentation style.

Most say they want to become a version of a leader they admire.

Think Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Barack Obama, Donald Trump.
Or their most impressive boss.

And that's exactly what holds them back. 

Executive presence isn't about copying someone else. 

It's about connecting by being you. 

Watch the video - I break down what that means and how to apply it.

What's your biggest challenge when you have to present when the stakes are high?

----------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Try my FREE Executive Presence quiz here:
https://lnkd.in/dQEr7KYG

The C-Suite Coach | Elevating Executive Presence for Greater Leadership Impact | C-suite at Citi, currently GM at Anticipa - a Blackstone portfolio company | I coach from the arena, not the sidelines.

"Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions" is a horrible way to lead your team.

It's one classic phrase that leads to another:

"Why didn't anyone raise this before?"

The reason: 
You trained them not to.

Your team may have seen a complex situation unfold.
But if speaking up means they must have the answer, most will stay quiet.

Because they know the situation isn't easy to solve.

And you've made it clear: 

“Bring me a problem without a solution, and you’ll get a rollicking.”

So they wait. 
They pray it resolves itself.
Then it blows up.

And you're frustrated that no one informed you.

And worse still, the buck stops with you.

My old Ops head did it differently.

He'd genuinely thank people for raising issues, even when there was no clear fix.
He'd reward honesty - as long as we'd work with him to figure it out.

And we built a reputation as a group: no nasty surprises. 

And crises caught early.

So if your team isn't vocal enough, redefine what your leadership looks like.

You can’t demand your team have all the answers.

Instead, make it safe for them to speak up when they have none.

-------------------------
Is your team 100% transparent with you? 
If not, how will you fix that?
-------------------------

I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Dead fish go with the flow.
Rockstars challenge the status quo.

You don't have a leadership impact problem. 
You have a distraction problem.
 
Your phone is in your hand. 
Your mind is rehearsing. 
You're performing instead of delivering. 

You're focusing inwards.
 
Want presence? 
Be present.
 
Close the laptop. 
Drop the phone. 
Watch their faces. 

Listen to their point, not prepare yours. 

And when you speak? 

Observe how your message lands and connects.
 
It's called Executive PRESENCE for a reason.
 
Which habit trips you up - phone in hand or mind rehearsing?

---------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie 🕺

Try my FREE Executive Presence quiz here:
https://lnkd.in/dQEr7KYG

Michael's boss gave him candid feedback:
 "Your presentations lack energy. Your delivery is monotone."

Poor Michael had been delivering PowerPoints like that for years.

But three weeks later, the boss had changed his tune: 
"Whatever course you’ve been on, it’s working."

But he hadn’t been on any course.

We’d introduced one simple daily habit into his routine.

In this video: The 7-day smartphone challenge I use with C-suite clients.

No fancy equipment needed. 

Are you up for the challenge?

-----------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Dead fish go with the flow.
Rockstars challenge the status quo.

What if your Impostor Syndrome is not a problem? 
Instead it's confirmation you're exactly where you need to be?

Most leaders see it as a weakness. 
It sends shivers down their spines. 

They try to push through it, 
To suppress it
Or pretend they have it all worked out. 

Its a mistake.

That's the path to cracking under pressure. 

In this video I describe the reframe: 

Imposter syndrome is a sign you're stretching yourself.

-------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie 🕺

Try my FREE Executive Presence quiz here:
https://lnkd.in/dQEr7KYG

A new year is like a new relationship based solely on physical attraction.  
Once that spark fades, the mundane takes over.  

You slip back into old habits. 

Your New Year's resolutions won't make 2026 different from last year. 

Defining a fresh identity will. 

The first CFO I worked for at Citi in London was Bob.

He was criticised for being too distant. 
People said he spent too much time in his office.  
He lacked presence and charisma. 

In fact, some of us had never spoken with him. 

At the start of the new year, he took the feedback on board and publicly committed to becoming more engaged. 

But he didn't go mad. 

He started monthly breakfast meetings with people he didn't know.

He led a cross-department project instead of staying in his silo. 

And something really simple:  

He walked the floor daily and kept his office door open. 

There was no massive overnight transformation. 
Just small things that became significant over time. 

By the end of the year, his team, peers, and boss saw him in a different light. 
He'd built a new leadership identity - not from a list of goals, but from changing how he showed up every day. 

So if you want more impact as a leader in 2026, forget that resolution list (the same one from last year, right?). 

Instead, decide who you want to be this year. 

Then take the small, daily actions that person would take. 

--------------------
PS The most powerful way to make lasting change is to be held accountable by a coach for what you commit to. 
If you want to explore how that works, DM me and let’s talk.

Most executives avoid the spotlight.
They're brilliant technically, but invisible when it matters:
 
Board presentations  
Investor pitches  
Townhalls  
Keynotes
 
These are your opportunities to step up.
 
But do you seek them, or shun them?
 
And what does that cost you? 
(It's more than you think.)
 
I've spoken at 50+ conferences across Europe. 
It took me years to figure out what works on stage.
 
Here are 5 mistakes I see leaders make when presenting (I've made them all).
 
Which one are you making?

<<<>>>

It's 8am on Day 1 as CEO of Github.
Nat Friedman gets everyone on a call.

People are expecting the usual new CEO stuff. 
The big vision speech. 
The strategic priorities.

Instead, Nat screen-shares a giant list of 100+ customer complaints.

Every bug. 
Every frustration. 

The stuff the team had been ignoring for months.

He says: 
"Today, we're going to pick one of these and fix it. 
Tomorrow, another one. Until we've knocked out 20+ of them."

The team were shocked. 

They were used to thinking in months. 
Now things were measured in hours.

It transformed Github within weeks. 

And showed everyone exactly who Nat was: 

Someone who acts, not plans.

Most new executives do the opposite.

They show up with process reviews and strategy sessions. 
Lots of meetings behind closed doors "getting the full picture."

Meanwhile, their number 2 is out on the floor fixing actual problems.

By day 30, it's clear to everyone who the real leader is.
(and who should have been promoted into the job)

Executive presence isn't built through careful planning.
It's built in the first 30 days when people watch what you DO, not what you SAY.

When you're the new leader, your team isn't waiting for your vision.
They're watching to see if you'll make their life better. 

Or just add more meetings.

You’ve got 30 days ahead. 
What are you going to fix?

And when?

PS What's the best (or worst) executive transition you've witnessed?
------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Dead fish go with the flow.
Rockstars challenge the status quo.

Blindly following productivity advice keeps you exactly where you are.
Busy - but ineffective.
 
And no threat to anyone above you.

You know the feeling. 

• Your calendar is packed. 
• Your Inbox is close to zero. 
• Your to-do list is under control.

But then you have that Wile E. Coyote moment. 

You glance down...
Your legs are spinning...
But there’s no ground beneath your feet!

Splat!

And all that optimization stuff?

It made you excellent at tasks that don't matter.

• The Pomodoro technique powered you through mails.
• Time blocking stuffed meetings into your calendar. 
• Tasks got ticked off.
  
But none of it achieved anything.

Because the work that actually matters - the 20% that creates 80% of impact - doesn't fit into 25-minute sprints.

• Having that difficult conversation with your underperforming direct report. 
• Taking three days to think through a tough strategic decision. 

These things don't feel productive. 

Its the opposite - they feel so slow & inefficient that you procrastinate.

It’s easier to optimize the easier 80%. 

I know all of that because I was Wile E. Coyote.

It was only when I realised that the best leaders I worked with often didn't look productive that the penny finally dropped.

Productivity isn't the goal.

Productivity tips may make you faster.
But they won’t make you an effective leader.

So:

What's that uncomfortable important task you’re avoiding by staying so busy?

<<<>>>

➕ Follow me for more on leadership & executive presence 
♻️ Reshare if you found this helpful.

To become the best, you have to learn from the best.

The Australian Tennis Open champion, Carlos Allcaraz, is just that.

At the age of 22, he has made history by becoming the youngest player to lift the 4 major Grand Slams.

How does he do it?

Mindset.

And three words of advice from his grandfather.

If you want to know what they are, watch this short video.

You can learn from a 22-year-old, too!

-------------------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

Dead fish go with the flow.
Rockstars challenge the status quo.

nybl

Webinar Host (nybl Dialogs)

• Managing the entire lifecycle of AI-driven products in the energy sector portfolio, from initial concept through development to successful market delivery.
• Guiding the development of a market-leading, tech-agnostic Computer Vision platform that seamlessly
integrates with any camera system, driven by customer requirements and market analysis.

Product Champion

Thrive Everywhere

Chief Well-being Officer

Esade

Provide timely and frequent feedback to students to reduce doubts and foster their curiosity and interest in programming.
Reinforce student learning of programming principles through weekly check-ins and tutoring sessions.

Teaching Assistant - Applied Algorithmic Thinking

YEGO

Analyzed historic post-ride feedback from 2017 in English, Spanish, and French using an NLP topic model. This model categorizes messages into 7 key topics, automatically routing them to the appropriate department, eliminating the need for manual sorting by customer service.

Data Science Consultant

Baker Hughes

• Led a team of engineers in the adoption of next generation software systems for Drilling Services, exceeding quarterly targets by achieving a 10% increase in adoption rates.
• Oversaw the development and deployment of a software application that boosted operational efficiency by 70% and reduced manpower requirements by 30%.

NextGen Product Engineer

• Conducted comprehensive field tests of new Drilling Services technology across different locations in then United States, driving technological advancement.
• Served as the primary liaison between Global Operations and Regional Engineering teams, ensuring the
successful deployment of new technologies.

Product Test Engineer

• Managed the product backlog of a $10M surface acquisition software solution, prioritizing requirements from extensive stakeholder inputs, leading the development of next-generation software solutions.
• Utilized deep field experience to ensure the creation of user-centric software tools that met the specific needs of Field Engineers.

Product Owner

Played an integral part in flawless execution performed by the Offshore team, where a 99.5% quality performance was achieved, breaking a record for Saudi Aramco and as a result getting awarded a new tender to drill more wells offshore.

MWD Field Engineer I / LWD Field Engineer II

Al-Babtain Group

Research and Development Engineer

General Motors Components Holdings

General Support

Shaw Nass Middle East WLL

Intern - Operations Management

Bahrain Petroleum Company

Industrial Trainee

I share health-promoting protocols to help you thrive everywhere | Product Champion @ nybl | Certified Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator

✅ Follow me for daily insights to improve your health.

🚀 Join my weekly newsletter - Thrive Everywhere - for your weekly dose of health-promoting actions to boost your well-being and performance.

I wear two hats in my professional journey...

In one role, I'm deeply passionate about technology and digital products, especially those that enhance the quality of our lives. As a Product Champion, I take ideas from conception to launch, empowering teams to craft products that leave a positive impact.

Yet, in another equally compelling role, I'm dedicated to helping others cultivate a healthier and happier life.

If you're seeking more energy, heightened productivity, better performance, and enhanced well-being, you've reached the right guy!

I empower entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers to thrive through my holistic approach:

- As a Mindful Productivity Guide, I enable you to work on high-impact tasks that are aligned with your goals, free from distractions and with full focus.
- As a Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator, I guide you to find focus, calm and intention amidst chaos.
- As a Health and Wellbeing Coach (in-training), I help you create customized plans for living a healthier, more balanced life.

I'm here to champion your life journey. Let's connect and tailor an actionable plan suited to your unique needs!

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