What No One Tells You About Becoming CEO - Monique McDonough - Shift & Thrive - Episode # 079
What changes when a COO becomes CEO? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, Natalie Nathanson sits down with Monique McDonough, CEO of WorkTango, to explore the unexpected lessons of stepping into the top seat, the emotional realities of leadership, and what it really takes to guide organizations through change. With more than two decades of experience across consulting, technology, and employee engagement, Monique shares candid reflections on how the weight of leadership evolves, why curiosity is a CEO’s most underrated skill, and how leaders can stay grounded while navigating AI disruption, M&A transitions, and shifting workforce expectations.
Takeaways:
- Leadership carries weight beyond meetings and tasks. CEOs shoulder responsibility even when they’re not actively working, making balance and pressure management essential.
- Curiosity is a leadership superpower. Asking better questions builds confidence in unfamiliar areas and leads to stronger decision-making.
- The CEO role changes how words land. Even familiar leaders must become more deliberate as people assign greater meaning to every message.
- Effective change management is emotional, not just logical. People need empathy, context, and a clear vision of what success looks like.
- Feedback only works when it’s closed-loop. Listening, acting, and communicating progress builds trust and sustained engagement.
- Staying close to customers fuels a smarter strategy. Direct conversations uncover insights that no filtered report can replace.
- AI works best as a thought partner. Used intentionally, it accelerates preparation, insight, and higher-order thinking without replacing human judgment.
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquemmcdonough/
- Website: https://www.worktango.com/
Ways to Tune In:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813
- Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change
- iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501
- Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797
This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency.
Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com
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