Sabina Nawaz on Executive Presence, Power, and What Changes When You Become the Boss

In this episode of The Jason Cavness Experience, Jason sits down with Sabina Nawaz, an executive coach and leadership advisor who works with founders, CEOs, and senior leaders navigating power, influence, and responsibility at the highest levels.

Sabina shares what she's learned from years of coaching executives as they step into positions of authority and why leadership often becomes harder, not easier, as power increases.

She explains how authority subtly changes behavior, how communication breaks down at the top, and why well-intentioned leaders can unintentionally create silence, fear, or distance on their teams. Jason and Sabina discuss executive presence, emotional regulation, feedback, and how leaders can stay grounded and human while still holding accountability.

Sabina also talks about the ideas behind her book, You're the Boss, and what leaders need to understand once they're officially "in charge." This episode is especially valuable for founders, CEOs, and operators who are scaling their influence and want to lead with clarity, self-awareness, and trust.

Topics Discussed

• How power changes leadership behavior

• Why communication often breaks down at senior levels

• Executive presence and influence

• Managing authority without creating fear

• Feedback loops and honest conversations

• Emotional regulation for leaders

• Listening as a core leadership skill

• Blind spots that appear as leaders gain power

• Staying human while holding accountability

• Coaching executives through high-stakes decisions

• Lessons from working with CEOs and founders

• What changes when you officially become "the boss"

Connect with Sabina Nawaz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinanawaz/

Website: https://sabinanawaz.com/ Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sabinacoaching/

Book – You're the Boss: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Youre-the-Boss/Sabina-Nawaz/9781668023181

Connect with Jason Cavness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasoncavnessexperience/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasoncavness

Podcast: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com