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The CEO Sage — Business
The CEO Sage

You’re vitally important and completely invisible. You’re performing in what you once dreamed. The thing you built to free you has become the thing you’re trapped inside.

You’ve built something real. A business that works. A reputation that precedes you. By every measure, you’re succeeding.
And something is wrong that you can’t quite name.

You’ve tried the frameworks. You’ve bought the courses. You’ve followed the gurus. And on some level you know that none of it is going to give you what you’re actually looking for, because what you’re actually looking for is yourself.

This is The CEO Sage—a podcast for the woman who is ready to stop looking outside herself for the answer.

Kris Plachy doesn’t offer you recipes or tactics or the “real way” to scale your business. She offers you something more rare: permission to listen to what you already know. In intimate, unflinching conversations, she names the truths you’ve been waiting to hear aloud. That your wisdom matters more than the strategy. That your self-trust is the asset worth protecting. That what feels like failure might actually be an invitation to something better.

If you’ve achieved the success everyone told you to want and discovered it wasn’t what you were looking for, this is for you. If you know something needs to change but can’t see the path, this is for you. If you’re ready to stop performing and start revealing—to yourself first, then to the world—this is for you.

The CEO Sage. Where the work of becoming begins with the work of remembering who you already are.

Copyright: Copyright © 2019 - 2021 Kris Plachy

Latest Episodes:

Stop Looking Outside Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Here's the thing people get wrong. When you see someone doing well, the instinct is to copy what they do. That job they have, that approach they take, that course they're selling. If it works for them, it should work for you, right?

Wrong.

In this episode, Kris walks through why mimicking someone else's playbook will never be your answer, and why the real issue is that you're looking in the wrong place.

She shares her early sales career story, when she was surrounded by people killing it and she was, in her own words, "pretty bad at it." She tried doing what they did and still failed. It wasn't until she stopped copying and started trusting her own instincts that things shifted.

What she learned then became everything. The people who get results aren't successful because of what they do. They're successful because of who they are and what they believe. And that doesn't transfer.

What you'll learn:

— The difference between tactics and wisdom, and why wisdom wins every time

— Why copying someone's recipe will always feel off

— The ocean metaphor and the undercurrent beneath the noise

— How to actually tap into what you already know instead of buying someone else's answer

— What happens when you stop looking outside and start listening to yourself

— Why you need to invest in your own mind, not the next $37 course

The bottom line? You already know. Not in a vague, future-tense way. Right now. The answer lives in you. It might be uncomfortable. You might not like it. You might have already tried it. But you know.

The work isn't finding the answer. The work is figuring out why you haven't taken action on what you already know.

Connect with Kris- Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes.

- If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters

The Relaunch & What This Actually Is Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

If you followed Leadership is Feminine®️, this is going to feel different. Better, actually. Kris takes a beat to explain why she needed to hit pause on the podcast, why she's back, and why the conversation has changed altogether.

Turns out, after 15 years in this work and thousands of hours of content, she had some things to sort through. Specifically, what does she actually want her life to look like now? This isn't a philosophical question for her. It's a real one.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

-Why she restructured her entire life at 53, including moving houses and letting go of almost everything she owned

-How she's evolved her approach to coaching and why it requires being in the room with women

-What a "wisdom cocktail" is and why you've already got one brewing inside you

-Why the path forward for you isn't someone else's instructions, it's your own discover

The core of what Kris is building here is space for women who already know the answers to their biggest questions live inside them. Not in a book. Not in someone else's playbook. In them.

Because here's the thing. You didn't build a multi-million-dollar business by following instructions. You built it by trusting yourself. And if you're still second-guessing yourself in other areas of your life, she wants to talk about that

If you've been listening for years, you know. If you're brand new, settle in. This is the space where women who are done with someone else's version of how to live actually get to design their own.

Connect with Kris- Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes.

- If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters

The Courage to Stop A New Chapter in Leadership and Life Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

What if the bravest act of leadership is knowing when it's time to pause? In this deeply personal episode, Kris invites listeners into the raw, honest crossroads she's currently navigating—one marked by completion, uncertainty, and a longing for deeper, more human connection. After nearly 400 episodes, thousands of hours of recording, and decades spent teaching leaders how to lead, she shares the truth many high-achieving women rarely admit out loud: sometimes the thing we've mastered is the very thing we're meant to release.

Kris reflects on how leadership hasn't fundamentally changed—and on the bittersweet realization that she has said everything she came here to say. She talks openly about shifting away from the isolating online model that has defined the last several years and into work that brings her back into rooms, back into community, back into the presence she craves.

She also guides listeners through a powerful reframing of accountability—not as pressure, but as profound self-care. Because when we don't follow through on the promises we make to ourselves, the weight of that avoidance becomes its own burden.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

The emotional and practical reality of feeling "complete" in a long-standing body of work
Why accountability to yourself is one of the highest forms of self-care
The difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it
The discomfort, fear, and liberation of honoring the commitments you've ignored
What it means to pause with integrity, clarity, and agency

This episode is a pause, not a goodbye—a moment of truth-telling, gratitude, and trust in what comes next.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

If you'd like to stay in touch to receive updates about what we've got coming up, visit www.thevisionary.ceo

Before You Hold Anyone Accountable, Start Here Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

We love the idea of accountability—until it gets uncomfortable. Until it requires us to tell the truth and stop making excuses for what we've been tolerating. In this powerful episode, Kris Plachy explores the deep connection between accountability, self-trust, and personal agency—and why even the most successful women can find themselves over-tolerating, over-accommodating, and avoiding difficult conversations.

Kris challenges high-achieving women to stop externalizing the problem ("Why won't they just…") and instead reclaim responsibility for their own responses, expectations, and results. The truth? Accountability isn't about controlling others—it's about your willingness to show up, follow through, and address what needs to be addressed, even when it's uncomfortable.

She reminds listeners that every relationship, every result, and every outcome in your life begins with your own accountability—and that reclaiming this power is the most freeing leadership practice there is.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

The link between accountability, self-trust, and self-worth
Why high-performing women often struggle to hold others accountable
How to stop displacing responsibility and strengthen your personal agency
What to ask yourself when someone doesn't meet expectations
How radical accountability unlocks freedom, clarity, and growth

This conversation is an invitation to take your power back—not by controlling others, but by mastering the only person you can truly lead: yourself.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

Ready to tackle your biggest challenges and set yourself up for an incredible year ahead? Book a Visionary.CEO Starter Session with Kris Plachy to get personalized guidance and your own custom journal to keep you accountable—all designed to help you achieve what you really want. Reserve your spot today at www.theVisionary.CEO/starter!

Why Play Belongs in Leadership Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine®, Kris speaks straight to the hearts of high-achieving women who are carrying so much—the businesses they run, the households they manage, the people they care for, and the decisions they make every hour of the day. Kris argues that successful women don't just deserve joy. They require it.

After years of hosting immersive client retreats, she's seen firsthand what happens when accomplished women are offered a space designed entirely for them: where they don't have to drive, plan, decide, or take care of anyone. They get to receive. And something powerful happens.

They come back to themselves.

These experiences aren't frivolous. They are healing. They restore the spirit of a woman who spends her life pouring into everyone else. Kris makes the case that joy is a strategic investment. And it is necessary if we want to lead sustainably.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

The invisible weight successful women silently carry
What shifts when women are cared for instead of caretaking
How play creates emotional spaciousness and clarity
Why joyful rest is a strategic requirement—not a luxury
The cultural and personal permission women need to take real breaks

This is your invitation to recapture delight—to make room for play, presence, and wonder.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

Are you on our list to get first-to-know updates? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/notes.

The Real Cost of Avoiding Accountability Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Kris is back with another round of the pet sitting saga—but this time, it's about more than just unreliable pet sitters. It's a story about accountability, boundaries, and leadership. Through a string of mishaps (and three fired sitters), Kris explores how these small, personal frustrations mirror the much larger issue of how we manage people in our lives and businesses.

When expectations aren't met, many leaders justify, tolerate, or avoid confrontation. But as Kris shares, avoiding accountability—whether with a pet sitter or an employee—only recycles poor performance and creates a culture of tolerance instead of trust.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

Why unmet expectations persist, and what happens when you ignore them
The emotional traps of people-pleasing, guilt, and "just letting it slide"
How avoidance erodes both trust and leadership confidence
The power of holding others—and yourself—accountable with grace, not anger
Why mutual accountability is the missing ingredient in healthy workplaces

This conversation is an invitation to protect your standards, honor your agreements, and lead with both compassion and clarity—because accountability isn't cruelty; it's integrity in action.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

It's time to stop tolerating and start leading. Join me at www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm to learn more about the new Sage Mini-Mastermind that starts November 4th.

The Power of Discomfort in Developing Real Leaders Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy and her Director of Operations, Michelle Arant, sit down for an unscripted conversation that captures leadership in its most human form. What started as a casual team discussion turned into a powerful reflection on how we handle discomfort, accountability, and growth — both in business and in life.

Through the lens of a lighthearted story about a pet sitter, Kris and Michelle explore how everyday moments can reveal our relationship with responsibility and self-management. They discuss the tendency to over-accommodate others, the generational shifts in resilience and follow-through, and why true leadership demands that we get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Their conversation is an honest reminder that friction isn't failure — it's feedback. Whether you're mentoring a new hire, raising kids, or running a multimillion-dollar company, the path to better leadership begins with allowing discomfort to do its work.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

How discomfort helps us build capacity for growth and leadership
The difference between supporting someone and over-accommodating them
Why avoiding friction can unintentionally stunt development — for ourselves and others
How leaders can model resilience and self-accountability through their own behavior
What small, everyday moments can reveal about how we handle responsibility
Why embracing discomfort may be the most undervalued leadership skill of all

This conversation invites you to pause and ask: Where am I protecting others — or myself — from the very discomfort that could lead to growth?

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

Wanna join us for the Sage Mini Mastermind? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm to learn the details and register.

Brainkeeping: The Leadership Practice You Didn't Know You Needed Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

What if your mind needed the same care as your home? In this episode, Kris introduces the concept of brainkeeping—a leadership practice as vital as housekeeping. Just as we tidy our physical spaces, our mental and emotional spaces require regular clearing, reflection, and renewal.

Kris shares how her lifelong curiosity and deep conversations with friends and clients have shaped her unique approach to coaching high-achieving women. Through brainkeeping she helps leaders sort through the clutter of overthinking, self-doubt, and noise—so they can access their clarity, wisdom, and creativity.

She explores why so many women leaders stay in constant motion, what happens when you stop long enough to ask "why," and how stillness and inquiry can become your most powerful strategic tools.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

What "brainkeeping" really means—and why every visionary woman needs it
How curiosity can reconnect you with your own wisdom
The cost of constant noise and the value of intentional reflection
How mental clutter impacts leadership and decision-making
Finding your own form of replenishment, whether it's reflection, movement, or community

This conversation is an invitation to pause, recalibrate, and reconnect with your mind—the most valuable asset you have as a leader.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

Ready for your own Brainkeeping? Join the Sage Mini Mind Interest List Today! www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm

Stop Wing-ing It: Make Your Business an Asset (Not a Job) Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

As we head into the final quarter of the year, Kris invites you to shift your focus—from running the business to owning the business. She challenges high-achieving female founders to stop operating on autopilot and start thinking like the visionary asset holders they are.

Too many women spend years building companies without ever asking the most important question: What's the plan? Whether you eventually want to sell, scale back, or simply create more freedom, your business deserves a clear direction—and so do you.

Kris also introduces the Sage Mini Mastermind, a 12-week experience for women running multi-million-dollar businesses who are ready to step out of the weeds, lead from wisdom, and build a business that runs beautifully—with or without them.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

Why "normal" growth years don't mean failure—and how to talk to yourself about success differently
How to approach bonuses and performance evaluations with clarity and confidence
The difference between running a business and owning one—and why most founders avoid exit planning
How to assess your business's readiness to run without you
Transitioning from "decider-in-chief" to advisor and visionary
Turning your experience, intuition, and wisdom into tangible business assets through a personal "mind bank"

This episode is your reminder that your company isn't just a vehicle for achievement—it's an asset for freedom. The Sage Era begins when you stop measuring success by how busy you are and start designing your business to serve the woman you've become.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

Don't leave your biggest asset to chance—get on the Sage Mini Mastermind waitlist now at www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm.

Tactical Advice Won't Save You, But Self-Trust Will Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

What does it feel like to finally stop overworking, over-explaining, and over-proving—and instead lead from a place of grounded confidence? In this episode, Kris shows us what life and leadership look like when self-trust and self-worth are fully integrated.

She shares the story of a client who went from being minimized by her partners to running a thriving $10M company while taking a guilt-free month away from her business. This transformation illustrates the power of moving beyond surface-level fixes to address the root issue: believing yourself and believing in yourself.

Kris outlines the real markers of integration: working in resonance instead of overwork, resting as a source of strength, setting boundaries without apology, and claiming your right to joy and desire. This is the Sage Era—where your wisdom serves not just you, but those you lead and influence.

Here's what we explore in this episode:

Why releasing your business as your identity opens up freedom and clarity
How guilt, self-doubt, and over-functioning fade once trust and worth align
The role of inner authority in creating decisions rooted in self-belief
What it means to model Sage leadership for the women who come after you

This conversation is an invitation into the Sage Era—where your wisdom, value, and authority aren't up for debate.

Contact Information and Recommended Resources

Your journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight.

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