337. Unlocking Influence in 2025: Personal Branding, PR Strategies, and Impact with Brielle Cotterman

In the first guest interview of the year, host Suneera Madhani sits down with Brielle Cotterman, CEO of the Influential Leader Agency and President of CEO School. Brielle shares her expertise on personal branding, leveraging PR, and creating impactful thought leadership in 2025. Discover actionable strategies to build your influence, align your personal mission with your professional goals, and elevate your brand to attract soulmate clients and opportunities. In this episode, you'll learn: The foundational steps to crafting an authentic personal brand. How to identify and leverage your unique stories to connect and inspire. The power of local and niche media for building PR credibility. Why aligning your mission, vision, and values is crucial for sustainable success. Tangible tips for earning media and avoiding common mistakes CEOs make in building influence. Brielle also shares her journey as a publicist, equestrian world champion, and advocate for women alongside her role at CEO School. Tune in to start 2025 with a roadmap to meaningful impact and influence. DM Brielle on Instagram with the message “CEO School” for an exclusive takeaway: https://www.instagram.com/briellecotterman Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025 and the first episode of the year on the CEO School Podcast with your host, Suneera Madhani! In this inspiring episode, Suneera shares her 5 New Year’s Rituals Every CEO Should Start to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet. These aren’t resolutions—they’re sustainable, simple, and sacred habits designed to fuel your success in both business and life. Here’s what we dive into: ✨ Prioritizing rest and recovery for peak performance ✨ The power of daily movement for mental and physical health ✨ Hydration and nourishment as the ultimate energy boosters ✨ Bringing fun and connection into your calendar intentionally ✨ Aligning with your purpose through mindset work and reflection Whether you're out for a walk, commuting, or relaxing at home, this episode will inspire you to embrace these rituals and create a more intentional, balanced, and impactful year.  This year marks five incredible years of the CEO School Podcast, and we’re thrilled to have you join us on this journey. Share this episode with a fellow CEO, leave a review, and let us know which ritual resonates most with you! Together, let’s make 2025 unforgettable.  Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join host Suneera Madhani as she reflects on the lessons learned from an incredible, challenging, and transformational year. From building a startup from the ground up to balancing the demands of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and life, Suneera shares the key takeaways that helped her align with her values and embrace the freedom formula she’s developed to achieve a fulfilling life and career. In this heartfelt and motivational episode, Suneera dives into: ✨ Why alignment with your values is the secret to success and happiness. ✨ How she overcame overcommitment and created space for what truly matters. ✨ The power of prioritizing health, wellness, and mental clarity in a busy season. ✨ Lessons on friendships, family dynamics, and why it’s okay to say no. ✨ The importance of building a business that allows for freedom—time, finances, and impact. As 2024 wraps up, Suneera challenges listeners to reflect on their own lessons from the year and prepare to step into 2025 with clarity and intention. Whether you’re a seasoned CEO or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, this episode is packed with actionable insights and the inspiration to embrace both business growth and personal joy. Don’t forget to share your favorite takeaways with Suneera on social media and leave a review to help us grow this incredible community of women CEOs. Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we wrap up 2024, CEO School host Suneera Madhani kicks off a two-part series reflecting on the highs, lows, and lessons of the year. In this episode, Suneera gets vulnerable and real, sharing the three key things she’s quitting in 2025 to create space for growth, alignment, and intentional living. Tune in as Suneera dives into: ✨ The dangers of over-commitment and how she plans to simplify her life and work. ✨ Letting go of the fear of disappointing others and reclaiming her boundaries. ✨ Tackling doubt and fear—whether you’re starting a new venture or scaling a business. With actionable advice, heartfelt truths, and practical strategies, this episode will inspire you to reflect on your own habits and set yourself up for success in the year ahead. 💡 Ready to quit what’s holding you back and step into your best CEO self? Let’s do it together! 👉 Don’t forget to share this episode with a friend who’s ready to crush 2025! Don’t forget to share your favorite takeaways with Suneera on social media and leave a review to help us grow this incredible community of women CEOs. Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful episode of CEO School, Suneera sits down with Julie Rotuno, CEO of Mid Atlantic Packaging and second-generation leader of a thriving 40+ year family business. Julie shares her inspiring story of stepping into her authentic self, transforming her mindset, and growing her family business into a multi-million dollar enterprise. Together, Suneera and Julie dive deep into: The challenges of leading a legacy family business and carving out her own identity. The journey from self-doubt to unshakable confidence as a CEO. The importance of creating alignment, tracking KPIs, and embracing imperfection in execution. Why stepping out of your comfort zone is the key to personal and professional growth. Julie’s story is a testament to the power of self-belief, community, and consistent action. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to lead or felt like you were doing it all alone, this episode will inspire and equip you to take your next bold step. 🎙️ Tune in now to learn from Julie’s transformational journey and discover practical lessons to help you thrive as a CEO. Connect with Julie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-rotuno-61253493/ Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this solo episode of CEO School, host Suneera Madhani shares powerful lessons and reflections from her whirlwind travel schedule, including highlights from the Millionaire Founders Club Fall Retreat in Tucson, where 75+ highly successful women CEOs gathered for inspiration, collaboration, and million-dollar deal-making. Tune in as Suneera dives into her Top 10 Lessons from Highly Successful CEOs—from the importance of alignment and setting boundaries to the game-changing power of your network. She also shares personal updates, including her journey toward greater balance, lessons learned from her intense travel schedule, and excitement for closing out the year strong. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to align your life and business with your core values. Why "your network is your net worth" and how to build authentic relationships. The do, delegate, delete strategy for maximizing focus and productivity. Practical insights on financial clarity and knowing your numbers. How to give yourself grace while enjoying the entrepreneurial journey. Whether scaling your business, building your dream life, or looking for inspiration to finish the year strong, this episode is packed with actionable insights and heartfelt motivation. Don’t forget to share your favorite takeaways with Suneera on social media and leave a review to help us grow this incredible community of women CEOs. Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to CEO School! In this episode, host Suneera Madhani is joined by the incredible Lori Harder—host of the Earn Your Happy podcast, best-selling author, investor, and founder of Lite Pink. Lori opens up about her remarkable journey from a small, isolated town to becoming a powerhouse entrepreneur and advocate for women in business. Together, Suneera and Lori dive into the challenges of finding one’s path, from learning resilience after countless rejections to building a thriving community and creating success on your own terms. Lori shares how pivotal moments, early hardships, and even past struggles with self-doubt have shaped her mission of empowering ambitious women. Join us for a candid conversation that will inspire you to believe in yourself and take bold steps toward your dreams. Connect with Lori: https://www.instagram.com/loriharder/ Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to CEO School! In this powerful solo episode, host Suneera Madhani pulls back the curtain on the realities of entrepreneurship, revealing 5 Hard Truths About Being an Entrepreneur. With honesty and insight, Suneera dives into the unspoken challenges that every founder faces, from navigating the unknown and enduring sleepless nights to carrying the weight of responsibility, dealing with constant setbacks, and managing the loneliness of the journey. If you're an entrepreneur or considering the path, this episode is for you. Suneera shares practical advice on building resilience, finding community support, and courageously overcoming the most challenging moments. Tune in to feel inspired, validated, and equipped to face the hard truths of entrepreneurship with strength. Join us for an episode that brings clarity, motivation, and the reminder that you're never alone in this journey. Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The Millionaire Founder's Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this heartfelt solo episode of CEO School, host Suneera Madhani invites you into her world as she navigates the chaotic yet exhilarating journey of building her second billion-dollar business. With honesty and humor, Suneera reflects on what it takes to stay focused during Q4, how to align personal and business goals, and the importance of accountability—whether through a coach, investors, or your network. From facing tight budgets and market challenges to recalibrating priorities and managing a jam-packed schedule (hello, UN awards, and Princeton speaking gigs!), Suneera gives listeners an unfiltered look into her life. She shares how she's managing family, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship while preparing for new milestones, including a launch at Money 2020 with Daymond John. This episode offers practical advice on setting yourself up for 2025 success, handling rejections with curiosity, and learning how to “land and expand” when working with clients. It's a must-listen for any entrepreneur feeling the pressure of the grind, reminding you to enjoy the journey while building your business one season at a time. Tune in and get ready to be inspired, motivated, and equipped to finish the year strong and plan for the year ahead! Connect with Suneera: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani Connect with CEO School: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool Join The MillMillionaire'snder Club: https://theceoschool.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of CEO School, host Suneera Madhani is joined by her brother and cofounder, Sal Rehmetullah, for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the importance of year-end resolutions. Together, they reflect on their personal and professional journeys, offering tactical advice on setting goals, embracing strategic planning, and celebrating achievements. Sal shares valuable insights from their recent leadership offsite, emphasizing the importance of communication, adaptability, and extreme ownership within teams—comparing the growth of a business to the process of raising a child. Suneera also opens up about overcoming fear and doubt. In this episode, they introduce their latest venture, Worth Score, a platform designed to empower small business owners and share their mission to drive meaningful industry change through collaboration with top institutions. Tune in to be inspired by stories of resilience, learn how to align your vision with action, and get a sneak peek at their exciting plans for an upcoming collaborative show—and how you can get involved! Get ready to level up your mindset, leadership skills, and business strategies. Let’s finish the year strong! 🎧 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices