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

Last Thursday I went for a carefree evening walk with my wife.
After a truly horrendous day.

Notification of a tax inspection, a leaking shower (with furious neighbours downstairs) and a curt response from the boss on a tricky subject.

Financial loss, a long drawn out dispute and a mail that makes you question your self-worth.

A triple whammy of despair.

But I realised during the walk that none were spinning round in my head!

Something that 10 years ago would have had me ruminating for a week.

I had taken it in my stride.

I wasn’t going to let it ruin my night.

After years of dealing with massive crisis in my head that never happened, I have learned how to be resilient.

The number one trait that leaders need to get through hard times: 

Because the shorter the length of time it takes you to return to your baseline state after a setback, the better your final response will be.

And the quicker you can shrug things off and get back to work, the better a leader you are.

People may spend billions trying to stay young.
But resilience and wisdom only come with age.

And the realisation that imagined disaster outcomes are worse than the actual problems you face.

You'll never recover the wasted time catastrophising.

But you can learn that lesson before you get too old.

-------------------------------
PS How long does it take you to bounce back from a setback? 
Do you put things in perspective or blow them out of proportion?
--------------------------------
I’m Peter McKenzie 🕺

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.

When IKIGAI goes badly wrong.
You finally discovered your deep purpose in life... 

But keep doing something else anyway.

Funny!

Or not?

So, how do you score?

I've made money - but not always at the things I'm best at.
 
And I spent plenty of time outside of the important blobs.

So what do I do now?  

And you?

Happy Friday, all!

(The answer can wait until Monday).

NB Kudos to the great Colby Kultgen for this sketch, which made me laugh out loud.  
.---------------------------------- 
I’m Peter McKenzie 🕺
🐟 Dead fish go with the flow.
🎸Rockstars challenge the status quo.

Sorry to tell you this: 
Your tough boss isn’t the root cause of your problems. 

Your response to them is. 

People complain when they work for a hard boss. 
And that applies to senior execs as well. 

Because the majority of CEOs aren’t easy people. 
(It’s often why they got the job!). 

The first time I had a tough CEO, I completely flunked the exam. 

I complained to anyone that would listen. 
Thought things were unfair. 

And the worst of all:

Passed the pressure onto my team. 

It changed the day my number 2 broke into tears in a team meeting.
I realised it wasn’t my boss, job or life that was unfair. 

It was me. 

Instead of absorbing the pressure, I was passing it down. 
A bad moment for her became a valuable one for me. 

I realised it was all a test. 

It was my job to shield my team – and prove my worth. 
Not whinge, whine and push my people to their limits. 

Years later, as a coach, I hear clients complain of the same. 

And things only shift when the story shifts. 
When they stop feeling sorry for themselves. 

And start doing their job. 

It’s exactly what happened to me. 

A tough CEO forces you to choose.
Either learn how to handle pressure. 

Or to turn into the very person you’re complaining about.

<<<>>>

PS Have you ever had a tough boss?
How did you react?

The long silence at the meeting table was unbearable.
I felt the need to step in. 

To say anything to break it.

I squirmed in my chair.
It felt like the deal was slipping from our grasp.
But my boss’s stern glance told me to keep my mouth shut.

He was one of the best bosses I had at Citi. 
He was never shy to speak up.
As regional Ops head, he had to drive results.
Which meant driving his team.

So why didn't he speak?

Because he was teaching us a lesson.
To me and those on the other side of the negotiating table.

It was so tense because there was a lot of money at stake. 
This particular relationship wasn't easy.

The silence became too much to bear.
So much that they caved in - and filled it. 
And their words revealed the details of what they were willing to offer.

That was exactly what we needed.

Priceless.

We had spoken the least - but gained the most.

I realised that my strategy of always talking and expressing my thoughts was just performance for my ego.

Instead of giving me power - my talking drained it.

Impact is knowing when to speak up,

And when to say nothing.

----------------------
PS When was one time you wish you had kept silent in a meeting?
Drop the details in the comments.
----------------------

I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

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

As uncomfortable as it is being a spectator, it feels safer than risking looking stupid.

Or worse - proving that you’re not good enough.

But there are only two ways you’re perceived at work:

You’re either visible or invisible.
Important or irrelevant.
Powerful or powerless.

Your career’s going nowhere if you’re on the wrong side of that list.
Even if you work hard and do a great job.

Unfair?
 
It doesn’t matter.

That was what I said to an ex-colleague last Tuesday.
In a busy Barcelona cafe she stared back at me, letting that sink in.

She’s been HR head for 5 years at the Spanish branch of a multinational.

She's in the management team.
But never in the centre of the conversations that count.

She feels second class and overlooked.

Her boss constantly urges her to say what she thinks, even if it's not about HR.

But she admits it feels safer to watch and listen. 

Like an extra in a film, or a background figure in a videogame.

Unnoticed.

To earn points and win, you need to be the player.

Even losing is better than being irrelevant.

Her next game is her next meeting.
Her challenge is to grab the controls and play.

If you’re in the same game, it's your challenge too.

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

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

You have to burn down your past to create the future.

That’s what the Valencians do every year when they celebrate the Fallas.
 
They spend months creating elaborate effigies, like this magnificent Charlie Chaplin, all around the city.
 
Then on the 18th March - on the Nit de foc (night of fire) - they burn them to ashes.
 
Madness? 
Pyromania?
Or celebration?
 
I came to live in Valencia 38 years ago. 
I had burned my bridges to my corporate career with PWC in London to set up as a poor English teacher here. 

It was the best move of my life.
 
Eventually though I went back into corporate ( a man has to eat!) and in the 30 years since haven’t done enough burning.
 
It’s easy to think you’re building something that lasts.
 
But nothing can.
Or should.
 
The Valencians have got it right. 

You must burn the baggage from your past to create space.
 
38 years ago I was excited but unsure what I was doing.
 
This time , with the match in my hand, I know its the right move.
 
Which of your effigies do you need to torch?

The price of never risking offending anyone is never risking saying anything important.
Hedging your opinions with caveats is masking your fear.

“Maybe, perhaps, I think…”

Tics I’ve used because I was allergic to conflict.

I figured the best way to keep people onside is never to state a strong opinion.

And I was right.

But my impact was negligible.
One of my bosses, who used to work for Swiss Air, gave me some advice.

“Be like a pilot taxiing down the runway to take off. 
You can’t “sort of fly”. You either go full thrust or abort.  
That’s how it should be with your statements.”

In other words:

If you’re going to say something, go all in.

No caveats, no tics, no hedging.

It may not always be “nice” to have an opinion.
But who wants (or needs) nice...

State your opinion without fear.

Go full throttle. 

Just say it.
-----------------
When was the last time you spoke your mind? 
And when did you last decide to play it safe?
-----------------

I’m Peter McKenzie - The C-Suite Coach

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

Clarity and direction doesn’t come from overthinking. It comes from alignment. And learning that changed everything for me.

I wasn’t happy in my career as HR Consultant but didn’t know what I actually wanted. Ironically, interviewing 100s of people in my job made me realise I wasn’t the only one. Many had stumbled into careers without finding real joy.

That planted a seed: I wanted to help people make conscious choices and feel energised by their work. In 2013, I started doing exactly that.
But I soon realised that knowing your talents, what energises you, wasn’t enough. It’s about self-awareness: knowing what drives you and knowing how to build a thriving mindset. That combination drives aligned action and eventually, sustainable success. All the small courageous steps help you give clear direction to your career and grow into the leader you want to be.

Here’s what that looks like for my clients:
→ Gain clarity on the role they want and the kind of leader they want to be.→ Say no without guilt and lead in ways that honor everyone involved.
→ Communicate calmly, clearly, and powerfully so they’re respected as leaders.
→ Protect their energy, focus on what matters, and rediscover joy in work.
→ Cut self-doubt in half and rebuild self-trust, even under pressure.

Since then, I’ve:
⦿ Guided 250+ clients through career and leadership transformations.
⦿ Worked with leaders and teams to create lasting mindset shifts.
⦿ Supported executives and managers from organisations like Carrefour, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Sanofi, The Nature Conservancy, and the UN.
⦿ Helped founders build leadership styles that support their company’s growth.

What clients say: “My experience working with Ilse has been transformative and immensely beneficial for both my personal and professional growth.”(Find more testimonials in the recommendations on my profile.)
If you’re ready to stop firefighting and start leading with clarity, confidence, and sustainable success, let’s talk. 📩 Book a call: https://CoachingIlseNoppen.as.me/StrategyCall

If you're not ready to work one-on-one, you can join my group programme 'Time to Thrive'.
If you want to boost your self-confidence, navigate challenges with calm and focus and tackle issues with greater self-assurance, Time to Thrive is for you. It's an 8 week programme for professionals and business owners who want keep performing at a high level without sacrificing their health or relationships. 
For more info go to: https://truenorthconsulting.eu/time-to-thrive/

Ilse Noppen

Are you unhappy in your job? The last thing to do is to look for a new job!
 
 If you...
 
drag your feet to work,
wonder why the heck you're there,
feel drained at the end of the day,
 
this video is for you!
 
Here is one solid advice: The last thing to do is to quit your job. 
Because the danger of you making the wrong choice is real.
 
Instead, try the 3 suggestions I share in this video. 

And if you would like more ideas, contact me here on LinkedIn and let's see what you could do specifically. 

🗓️ 24 Feb 2026

*****
If we haven’t met, Hi my name’s Ilse! I help mid-career leaders stop overthinking so they can make clear decisions and lead with confidence.

👉 Follow for insights on leadership, mindset & self-awareness
 💬 Comment or DM me; always happy to exchange thoughts
 ♻️ Share if this resonated with you

Empowering professionals and founders to find joy and meaning in work | Move towards your career goals with efficiency, ease and joy. 🔹 Leadership and Positive Intelligence Coach

She dreaded Sunday at 3pm.

Not because she hated her job.
She was good at it.
Senior role. Strong results. Trusted by her team.

But every Sunday, around mid-afternoon, something shifted.
A heaviness. A quiet resistance.

By Monday morning she was already tired.
Still professional.
Still delivering.
Still the reliable one.

And she told herself:
❌  “At least I have a good job.”
❌  “It’s just a busy phase.”
❌ “I don’t have time to rethink everything now.”

So she pushed through.
Nothing collapsed. That’s what made it easy to ignore.

But slowly, the cost showed up.
Her energy flattened.
She became more transactional, less visionary.
She stopped putting herself forward.

The stretch project she wanted - went to someone else.
The promotion she felt ready for - also someone else.
Not because she wasn’t capable. But because someone else showed up with hunger.

That’s the thing about inaction.
It doesn’t explode your career.  It erodes it.

When we started working together, we didn’t begin with “Should I quit?”

We began with:
💫  What sparks you up?
 💫 What are you tolerating?
 💫 Where are you leading from depletion instead of conviction?

Within months, nothing dramatic had changed externally. But internally? Completely different.
Energy back.
Boundaries clearer.
Voice stronger.
And interestingly, opportunities followed.

The Sunday Scaries disappeared. Not because her job changed overnight, but because she made small significant changes. 


You might recognise yourself in her story.
And if you do, that’s not a problem. It’s a starting point.
If Sunday 3pm feels familiar, let’s talk.
I’m opening 2 private coaching spots for a March start.

🗓️ 2 Mar 2026

*****
If we haven’t met, Hi my name’s Ilse! I help mid-career women leaders stop overthinking so they can make clear decisions and lead with confidence.
Curious what working with me could bring you? Feel free to reach out if you'd like an intro call.

What is abundance for you?


For some it’s
Time
Sitting on a cozy sofa
Love

When I heard the question, I visualised a river in which everything that is possible is flowing.
All I have to do is reach out and take what I want.
(I’m still learning exactly how to do that 🤪 but that’s what abundance feels like to me.)

I enjoyed listening to Katrin Van de Water share her views on abundance and her journey towards it, with calm, poise, and groundedness.

Here are my main takeaways:

💫 Abundance is an inner state of being that allows you to go for what you truly want.

💫 To experience abundance, you first need to know what you want and connect with that deeper part of yourself to gain clarity. 
And we’re not just talking about work. While work can be the motor, everything matters: environment, relationships, fun and recreation, personal growth, contribution, health, and yes, also money. Because all these parts influence each other.

💫 For most of us, there is also some unlearning to do. How often are we told:
❌ That’s not possible!
❌ You need to be realistic.
❌ The market won’t pay for that.

As a result, many of us grow up with a scarcity mindset - focusing on why something cannot work instead of getting curious about how it might.

💫 We think too small. Sometimes you simply need to open the window to see what’s possible.

💫 Nothing lasts forever. Nothing is static.
If you’re unhappy in your job, that’s simply data. By going on that internal journey - reconnecting with what matters to you and what you love doing - you can start making changes and increase your energy.

💫 You decide who you want to be.

In essence, be in the driver’s seat of your career and life. That’s a core belief of mine, and I love helping my clients do exactly that.

Thank you #Artemis for organising this lovely event and #BankVanDelen for hosting it.
Goedele - lovely to catch up with you again.
Katrien - it was great exchanging our first thoughts on abundance.

And above all, thank you, Katrin, for sharing your story. I’m looking forward to reading your book.


Food for thought for the weekend: What would more time/energy make possible?

📆 6 Mar 2026

Most high-performing leaders don’t struggle with competence.
They struggle with what’s under the surface.
It’s an iceberg problem.

At the surface, you see:

Overwork.
Tension in meetings.
Over-delivering.
Holding everything together.

We try to fix what’s visible.

Better planning.
Stricter KPIs.
Another training.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Below the waterline?

The need to prove.
The fear of disappointing.
The quiet voice whispering: Don’t mess this up.

(Yes - imposter syndrome often lives there.)

Under pressure, your brain doesn’t suddenly become irrational. It predicts.
It activates the pattern that once earned you praise, safety, success.

For me, that pattern is over-functioning.
If something stalls, I step in.
If someone struggles, I fix it.
It makes me look capable.
It also drains my energy - and leaves little room for growth, myself or others.

What once helped you rise can quietly start shrinking you.
What got you here, won’t get you there.

Real leadership growth doesn’t start with doing more.
It starts below the surface.
Noticing your default under pressure.
Pausing long enough to choose - instead of react.

That pause is small. But it's often the turning point. 

So I’m curious:

When pressure rises, do you tend to
 A) Take control
 B) Over-prepare
 C) Avoid the conversation
 D) Push harder
 E) Something else?

I’ll go first: A.

🗓️ 26 Feb 2026

My client had a problem most leaders don't talk about: she cared too much.

She's the kind of leader people naturally turn to. Empathetic, present, always ready to help. But somewhere along the way, helping turned into rescuing.

A team member was going through something personal that affected her work. My client didn't just listen - she jumped in to fix it. She took over tasks, adjusted deadlines, shielded her from consequences. 

After days of this, she was exhausted. The team member? Still struggling, now more dependent than ever.

This is what happens when we prioritize everyone else's needs over our own boundaries.

My client knew something had to change. Through our work together, she started to pause before jumping in. She got curious about her patterns. Why did she always need to rescue? What was she afraid would happen if she didn't?

The shift wasn't overnight, but here's what changed:

💫 She learned to separate empathy from responsibility. She could care about someone's struggle without owning it.

💫 She got comfortable with discomfort - letting people sit with their challenges instead of swooping in to solve them.

💫 She started saying things like "I hear you, and I trust you can figure this out" instead of "Let me handle that for you."

💫 She realized boundaries aren't walls - they're clarity about where her role ends and someone else's begins.

Today she's still the empathetic leader people turn to. But she's also sleeping better, feeling less resentful, and watching her team members actually grow stronger.

Setting boundaries isn't about caring less. It's about leading better.

What's your relationship with boundaries?

*****
If we haven’t met, Hi my name’s Ilse! I help mid-career leaders stop overthinking so they can make clear decisions and lead with confidence.

👉 Follow for insights on leadership, mindset & self-awareness
 💬 Comment or DM me; always happy to exchange thoughts
 ♻️ Share if this resonated with you

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Ilse Noppen

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taplio

The Battle

Peter McKenzie

Ilse Noppen

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Peter McKenzie's LinkedIn Performance

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