Signal & Leverage Sun, 10 May 2026 18:07:41 +0100 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2442591 en-gb © 2026 Signal & Leverage yes 876badda-66b0-5198-b47b-c0ec24dc0d0a ross@ross-johnston.com Ross Johnston episodic false Insider Insights for Ambitious Executives

Join Ross Johnston for candid conversations about VP & C-level career moves, with guests including industry leaders, seasoned investors, and leading headhunters.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Ross Johnston ross@ross-johnston.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/tiroqxkh3i9fr857tcmsqkyv1msx?.jpg Signal & Leverage Ross Johnston Find Your Angle Find Your Angle Most executives walk into interviews and sound exactly like every other candidate. They talk about their background, their achievements, and hope that's enough. It's not. In this episode, Ross breaks down how to find your unique angle — the thing your competition can't compete with — and how to use it to get your interviewer to reframe what they're really looking for.

]]> Most executives walk into interviews and sound exactly like every other candidate. They talk about their background, their achievements, and hope that's enough. It's not. In this episode, Ross breaks down how to find your unique angle — the thing your competition can't compete with — and how to use it to get your interviewer to reframe what they're really looking for.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-19152882 Sun, 10 May 2026 18:00:00 +0100 680 full false Negotiating Great Offers Is Not About Negotiating Great Offers Negotiating Great Offers Is Not About Negotiating Great Offers Most executives wait until the offer discussion before putting their negotiating hat on. It's too late. 

90% of your ability to influence the offer you receive comes before that conversation. Executives are always negotiating, and most don't realise it.

]]> Most executives wait until the offer discussion before putting their negotiating hat on. It's too late. 

90% of your ability to influence the offer you receive comes before that conversation. Executives are always negotiating, and most don't realise it.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-19059015 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0100 523 full false Why You're Not Getting Past First Round Interviews Why You're Not Getting Past First Round Interviews If you're having a lot of first-round interviews that aren't progressing and you can't figure out why, this one's for you. Ross breaks down 5 practical things executives can do right now to change the way they interview — from shifting the dynamic with your interviewer, to telling your story at the right level, to the common mistakes that keep coming up over and over again. Drawn from 15+ years on the hiring side of the table and thousands of executive interviews.

]]> If you're having a lot of first-round interviews that aren't progressing and you can't figure out why, this one's for you. Ross breaks down 5 practical things executives can do right now to change the way they interview — from shifting the dynamic with your interviewer, to telling your story at the right level, to the common mistakes that keep coming up over and over again. Drawn from 15+ years on the hiring side of the table and thousands of executive interviews.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-18924147 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0100 489 full false Are You Struggling to Attract Opportunities? Are You Struggling to Attract Opportunities? Most executive roles are never advertised. So if you're spending your time searching and applying, you're fishing in the wrong pond. In this episode, Ross breaks down why so many talented executives struggle to attract opportunities, the real cost of staying invisible in your market, and the three things you need to do to get the right roles coming to you instead of chasing them.

]]> Most executive roles are never advertised. So if you're spending your time searching and applying, you're fishing in the wrong pond. In this episode, Ross breaks down why so many talented executives struggle to attract opportunities, the real cost of staying invisible in your market, and the three things you need to do to get the right roles coming to you instead of chasing them.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-18886527 Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000 404 full false How to Get Clear on Where Your Career Should Go Next How to Get Clear on Where Your Career Should Go Next Most executives can tell you everywhere they've been but not where they're going. In this episode, Ross breaks down why a lack of career clarity quietly undermines your positioning, your visibility, and the quality of opportunities that come your way — and shares the three questions that help senior leaders find their sweet spot in the market.

]]> Most executives can tell you everywhere they've been but not where they're going. In this episode, Ross breaks down why a lack of career clarity quietly undermines your positioning, your visibility, and the quality of opportunities that come your way — and shares the three questions that help senior leaders find their sweet spot in the market.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-18853456 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 467 full false Benchmarking - Friend or Foe? Benchmarking - Friend or Foe? Benchmarking can be incredibly helpful to give executives' outside perspective and a steer on offer expectations. But it can also limit what they could earn. We discuss the pros and cons, and how to do it effectively.

]]> Benchmarking can be incredibly helpful to give executives' outside perspective and a steer on offer expectations. But it can also limit what they could earn. We discuss the pros and cons, and how to do it effectively.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-18817358 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0000 583 full false Most Execs Get Comp Wrong - Here's Why... Most Execs Get Comp Wrong - Here's Why... Most executives take the wrong approach to compensation and negotiating offers. 

The 20% bump most expect when making a move is actually costing you thousands, maybe millions. 

We share how you should really think about compensation and unlock a new level of earning power over your career.

]]> Most executives take the wrong approach to compensation and negotiating offers. 

The 20% bump most expect when making a move is actually costing you thousands, maybe millions. 

We share how you should really think about compensation and unlock a new level of earning power over your career.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17755131 Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0100 479 full false 'Crossing the Table' - the most powerful interview weapon there is 'Crossing the Table' - the most powerful interview weapon there is Ross talks about 'Crossing the Table' - an interview technique that almost guarantees you'll get the job. 

Put yourself in a market of one, turn your interviewer into an advocate, and create urgency to move forward with you.

]]> Ross talks about 'Crossing the Table' - an interview technique that almost guarantees you'll get the job. 

Put yourself in a market of one, turn your interviewer into an advocate, and create urgency to move forward with you.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17586991 Wed, 30 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0100 291 full false What are you looking for in your next role? What are you looking for in your next role? This question comes up in nearly every interview. It seems straightforward and yet a lot of executives trip themselves up. We discuss how we can get the interviewer to answer this for us and talk themselves into why we're right for the role.

]]> This question comes up in nearly every interview. It seems straightforward and yet a lot of executives trip themselves up. We discuss how we can get the interviewer to answer this for us and talk themselves into why we're right for the role.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17460997 Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0100 524 full false Positioning Yourself for Corporate Opportunities Positioning Yourself for Corporate Opportunities Contrasting with last week's episode, Ross discusses how executives should position themselves for later-stage, corporate opportunities.

]]> Contrasting with last week's episode, Ross discusses how executives should position themselves for later-stage, corporate opportunities.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17396237 Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0100 705 full false Positioning Yourself for Early-stage Opportunities Positioning Yourself for Early-stage Opportunities Ross shares how positioning yourself for early-stage opportunities is fundamentally different to later-stage or corporate opportunities. He shares how to position yourself in a way which resonates and provides immediate clarity to decision makers.

]]> Ross shares how positioning yourself for early-stage opportunities is fundamentally different to later-stage or corporate opportunities. He shares how to position yourself in a way which resonates and provides immediate clarity to decision makers.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17346784 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0100 753 full false A Quick Lesson in Confidence A Quick Lesson in Confidence Ross shares a lesson he learned himself recently in confidence - what it actually is, how you get it, and how you use it. 

This is particularly relevant to executives moving into a new company or making a step up in their career. 

]]> Ross shares a lesson he learned himself recently in confidence - what it actually is, how you get it, and how you use it. 

This is particularly relevant to executives moving into a new company or making a step up in their career. 

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17318037 Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0100 507 full false Tenure - how long should you stay in your role for? Tenure - how long should you stay in your role for? Staying in your role for too long or too short a time can really hurt your career. In this episode, we peel back the layers and talk about how headhunters and CEOs really look at this, the questions you should be prepared to answer, and how to know when the right time to make a move is.

]]> Staying in your role for too long or too short a time can really hurt your career. In this episode, we peel back the layers and talk about how headhunters and CEOs really look at this, the questions you should be prepared to answer, and how to know when the right time to make a move is.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17266195 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0100 661 full false LinkedIn - your secret weapon for more opportunities LinkedIn - your secret weapon for more opportunities LinkedIn is undervalued by the vast majority of executives when it comes to career moves. We reveal why it is so important, how to leverage it to get more opportunities, and avoid the mistakes nearly every executive is making.

]]> LinkedIn is undervalued by the vast majority of executives when it comes to career moves. We reveal why it is so important, how to leverage it to get more opportunities, and avoid the mistakes nearly every executive is making.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17201976 Wed, 28 May 2025 08:00:00 +0100 441 full false Negotiating Compensation Negotiating Compensation We discuss the mindset executives should have towards compensation, how to negotiate the right package, and where candidates usually let themselves down here.

]]> We discuss the mindset executives should have towards compensation, how to negotiate the right package, and where candidates usually let themselves down here.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17190073 Tue, 20 May 2025 08:00:00 +0100 628 full false Feedback: How to get it and what to do with it Feedback: How to get it and what to do with it Feedback is the map that gives you directions to the job you want but can't yet get. Most executives do not prioritise feedback as they should, they don't know how to get it nor what to do with it once they have it. 

Get Ross' insights on how to extract honest, direct feedback from interview processes and use it to zero-in on the development you need to make in order to land your dream job.

]]> Feedback is the map that gives you directions to the job you want but can't yet get. Most executives do not prioritise feedback as they should, they don't know how to get it nor what to do with it once they have it. 

Get Ross' insights on how to extract honest, direct feedback from interview processes and use it to zero-in on the development you need to make in order to land your dream job.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17166511 Thu, 15 May 2025 11:00:00 +0100 548 full false Real Story: Stepping up from VP Sales to CRO Real Story: Stepping up from VP Sales to CRO Daniel had been a VP Sales for 7 years, struggling to make the step up to C-level. He was looked over when his company needed a new CRO as they hired externally. He kept losing out on CRO opportunities to candidates already at that level. 

Deep-dive into how to position yourself to compete against candidates with more experience and to make that breakthrough step up in your career.

]]> Daniel had been a VP Sales for 7 years, struggling to make the step up to C-level. He was looked over when his company needed a new CRO as they hired externally. He kept losing out on CRO opportunities to candidates already at that level. 

Deep-dive into how to position yourself to compete against candidates with more experience and to make that breakthrough step up in your career.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17117874 Wed, 07 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 875 full false What's going on in the tech market right now and what does that mean for executive hiring? What's going on in the tech market right now and what does that mean for executive hiring? The tech industry is going through two fundamental shifts concurrently - mass adoption of AI and restriction of capital. This will have major implications for which tech companies are successful and how executives should think about building their own careers.

]]> The tech industry is going through two fundamental shifts concurrently - mass adoption of AI and restriction of capital. This will have major implications for which tech companies are successful and how executives should think about building their own careers.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-17065104 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0100 517 full false How Headhunters really work and how to leverage them to land your ideal role How Headhunters really work and how to leverage them to land your ideal role Ross explains the difference between a recruiter and a headhunter, and how to leverage them in the most effective way possible to land your dream role.

]]> Ross explains the difference between a recruiter and a headhunter, and how to leverage them in the most effective way possible to land your dream role.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-16692436 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:00:00 +0000 920 full false How start-ups and corporates differ in hiring executive roles How start-ups and corporates differ in hiring executive roles We talk about how start-ups and corporates differ in how they think about and approach hiring executive leadership roles. 

Understanding the differences is key to knowing how to position yourself.

]]> We talk about how start-ups and corporates differ in how they think about and approach hiring executive leadership roles. 

Understanding the differences is key to knowing how to position yourself.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-16579146 Fri, 07 Feb 2025 03:00:00 +0000 877 full false How to tell your story in an interview and avoid the common pitfalls How to tell your story in an interview and avoid the common pitfalls Learn how to tell your background story in an interview in a way which captures your audience's attention and keeps it. 
Avoid the common mistakes executives tend to make and learn what to do instead. 

]]> Learn how to tell your background story in an interview in a way which captures your audience's attention and keeps it. 
Avoid the common mistakes executives tend to make and learn what to do instead. 

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-16529595 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0000 654 full false Why LinkedIn is More Important than your CV Why LinkedIn is More Important than your CV Learn about why you are likely massively undervaluing LinkedIn in your career search.

]]> Learn about why you are likely massively undervaluing LinkedIn in your career search.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-16468562 Mon, 20 Jan 2025 13:00:00 +0000 325 full false Top 5 Mistakes Execs Make in Interviews Top 5 Mistakes Execs Make in Interviews We share the top 5 mistakes executives make in interviews and discuss how to avoid them.

]]> We share the top 5 mistakes executives make in interviews and discuss how to avoid them.

]]> Ross Johnston Buzzsprout-16444673 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 21:00:00 +0000 675 full false