Episode 181

EP 181: Belonging, Leadership, and the Courage to Listen with Rizwan Jan

Are You Feeling Behind—Even When You’re in the Right Room?

You did everything right.

You surrounded yourself with sharp, inspiring people. You showed up ready to grow.

👉 But suddenly, you’re questioning if you even belong there.

In this episode of The Executive Appeal, I (Alex D. Tremble, CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions) sit down with Rizwan Jan, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at The CNA Corporation, for a raw conversation about imposter syndrome, pressure, and learning to lead even when you don’t feel “ready.”


Because here’s the truth:


You don’t have to know everything to be a great leader.

You just have to be present, patient, and willing to listen.


🎯 Here’s what you’ll take away:


✅ Why imposter syndrome shows up even when you’re qualified

✅ How slowing down can actually build more credibility

✅ When to speak—and when to just be a sponge

✅ Why it’s okay to say, “Let me get back to you”

✅ How growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone


This episode isn’t about having all the answers—

It’s about being honest enough to admit when you don’t… and wise enough to seek them.


🎯 Reflect & Reset:


🔹 Start: Listening with curiosity instead of pressure

🔹 Stop: Thinking you have to prove yourself every time

🔹 Continue: Owning your journey with humility and strength


🎧 If you’ve ever felt like the “least smart person in the room,” this episode will remind you:

You’re there for a reason. And you’re not alone.


#TheExecutiveAppeal #AlexDTremble #RizwanJan #LeadershipDevelopment #ImposterSyndrome #GrowthMindset #LongGameLeadership #HumbleLeadership #OwnYourJourney #GPSLeadership #ExecutivePresence #ListenFirstLeadWell

About the Podcast

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The Executive Appeal with Alex D. Tremble
For CEOs of $10M–$25M companies who want to stop being the bottleneck.

About your host

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Alex D. Tremble

Alex D. Tremble is the Founder and CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions, a bestselling author, and an award‑winning executive coach to CEOs of early eight‑figure, multi‑location companies. With a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and over a decade of advising Fortune 500 executives, federal leaders, and high‑growth founders, Alex helps CEOs stop being the bottleneck in their own businesses.

Through his Executive 360 Snapshot and 90‑Day CEO Reset programs, Alex uses his TP3™ framework – Trust, Proactivity, Productivity, Profitability – to reveal how CEOs are truly experienced, pinpoint the behaviors that are slowing everything down, and install simple leadership operating systems so their companies can run fast without them in every decision.

He is the author of five leadership books, including "Leadership Sucks! (Sometimes)" and Unlocking the Executive Advantage, and hosts The Executive Appeal, where he interviews CEOs and senior leaders on the real work of leading companies that no longer depend on hero leadership.