39:34

In this episode of the Shedding the Corporate Bitch podcast, host Bernadette Boas interviews Susan Drum, founder of Meritage Leadership and author of The Leader’s Playlist. Drum introduces the concept of a personal “playlist” – a set of subconscious “I am” beliefs formed early in life that act as a ceiling on leadership effectiveness. She explains how leaders can identify the limiting (old) playlist by noticing emotional triggers, tracing recurring feelings (e.g., exclusion, unfairness) back to core beliefs, and then use music’s vibrational and neuro‑biological impact to interrupt those entrenched neural pathways. By selecting songs that embody a desired new state, leaders create a new “I am” narrative (the new playlist) and repeatedly cue it to build stronger, more empowering neural pathways. Drum outlines a 7‑step process for uncovering the old playlist, choosing resonant music, and reinforcing the new playlist through daily rituals, meetings, and crisis moments. The conversation also covers how the method scales to teams: sharing individual playlists builds trust, empathy, and cognitive diversity, especially when combined with the Enneagram, which maps leadership motivations, blind spots, and optimal support networks. A detailed case study of a biotech CMO illustrates the full workflow—from recognizing feelings of exclusion, naming the old playlist, selecting Adele’s “Hello” as a trigger cue, to adopting a new playlist of “peace and appreciation” supported by a curated song list. Drum emphasizes practical steps for listeners: notice triggers, journal emotions and the underlying “I am” statement, pick a song that reflects the desired new identity, and use it as a mantra‑like cue. The episode concludes with actionable advice for leaders to start this self‑discovery process immediately, and promotional details for Drum’s book, website, and social channels.

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