Arete Coach 1211 Severin Sorensen "Navigating Choppy Economic Waters Like a Captain"
- S1E1211
- 25:53
- March 6th 2025
In this timely episode of the Arete Coach Podcast, host Severin Sorensen provides an essential guide for CEOs and business leaders navigating the turbulent economic landscape following the introduction of new tariffs by the Trump administration.
Recorded on March 5, 2025, this episode explores the undercurrents of financial markets reacting sharply and economic uncertainty rising, and this episode offers 10 strategic actions that leaders can take to fortify their businesses and emerge stronger in the face of volatility.
Severin examines the latest market data, including significant declines in the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, and the ripple effects across key industries such as automotive, oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture. He highlights the potential impact of tariffs on inflation, consumer spending, trade relations, and monetary policy.
But more importantly, this episode isn’t just about identifying challenges—it’s about solutions. Severin shares a structured 10-point strategy to help CEOs lead with confidence, including:
✔ Preserving and strengthening cash reserves
✔ Managing interest rate and debt exposure
✔ Strengthening financial forecasting and scenario planning
✔ Optimizing and lean-out business operations
✔ Investing in workforce resilience and automation
✔ Deepening customer relationships and value propositions
✔ Staying opportunistic and preparing to invest when others retreat
✔ Monitoring supply chain and trade risks closely
✔ Leaning on trusted advisors and industry networks
✔ Projecting strength, stability, and confidence as a leader
Using powerful maritime metaphors, Severin likens business leadership to captaining a ship through stormy seas—emphasizing the importance of foresight, adaptability, and calm decision-making.
Memorable Quotes:
"The best captains don’t panic when the winds shift—they adjust their sails."
"In economic storms, businesses rarely sink because of profitability issues; they sink because they run out of cash."
"A lighter ship moves faster and can navigate narrow passages that would ground a heavier vessel."
"Your most loyal customers are your anchor during economic storms."
"No captain navigates unfamiliar waters without consulting charts created by those who have sailed there before."
The Arete Coach Podcast explores the art and science of executive coaching. You can find more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.
This episode was recorded on March 5, 2024.
Copyright © 2025 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.
Arete Coach: Exploring the Art and Science of Executive Coaching
“Arete Coach Podcast" Explores the "Art and Science" of Executive Coaching hosted by Severin Sorensen. The “Arete Coach Podcast" is for executive coaches and anyone considering becoming an executive coach. The podcast is especially valuable to executive coaches who are lifetime learners with deep curiosity about the "art and science" of coaching. In this podcast, the ‘art of coaching’ is explored through engaging interviews with leading executive coaches from diverse backgrounds sharing their individual coaching journeys, learnings, methods, best questions, and situational approaches to executive coaching. Beyond best practices, the podcast will regularly mine research on the ‘science of coaching’ and explores ongoing scientific discoveries and studies looking for what works and why, with an aim to improve the core body of knowledge for executive coaches and the industry. Severin Sorensen has provided over 7,500 hours of paid executive coaching sessions and he holds the following coaching certifications: ICF/ACSTH Certified Executive Coach (CEC), Certified Organizational Development Coach (CODC), Certified Life Coach (CLC); and the IAC: Coach Masteries Practioner. Severin Sorensen has an M.Phil in Economics at King's College, Cambridge University, and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Utah.
The Arete Coach Podcast is the copyright of Arete Coach LLC.
Severin Sorensen is host of the Arete Coach Podcast, where he interviews executive coaches and researchers with the aims to celebrate and explore the art and science of executive coaching today.
Severin is a senior executive coach, serial entrepreneur and lifetime learner with a passionate curiosity about people and businesses. Severin is the CEO of ePraxis LLC, a premier level retained search firm that provides executive headhunting, talent selection, and executive coaching. (www.epraxis.com)
Severin is a certified coach with an IAC Masteries Practitioner designation and 800+ hours of ICF/ACSTH and other advanced training in Executive Coaching, Organizational Development, EOS, Life Coaching, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and Positive Intelligence (PQ). Severin has over 7,500+ hours of paid executive coaching working with high performing executives, owners, and operators of public and private companies throughout North America.Severin's coaching clients include boards of directors, CEOs, Presidents, GMs, COO, CFO, CTO, VP Engineering, VP Talent, and many other positions.
Severin lives in Park City , Utah and his virtual coach practice includes clients throughout the Americas.
From 2010-2018 Severin was a Vistage Chair where he coached three CEO and Key executive groups. In 2011, Severin received the "Rookie of the Year Chair Award" from Vistage. Since 2013, Severin has added international speaking for Vistage, CEO conferences, executive peer groups, and corporations on the topic of identifying and hiring difference making top talent.
In terms of the types of clients coached, Severin has coached new CEOs (with less than 2 years experience), large company executives (e.g., Managing Director of Rio Tinto), numerous high-growth entrepreneurs operating INC 5000 businesses, multi-generational family owned businesses, and primary-equity business owners who are still actively managing their companies. Severin has experience coaching both private and public company executives and their executive teams.
Severin's own coaching practice is tool based, using diagnostics, surveys, and Socratic questioning to get to root issues. You can learn more about Severin at epraxis.com (insights), LinkedIn, Quora, and Twitter. If you think you might be a good fit for executive coaching with Severin, he is happy to give you a free test drive coaching session to see if this would be good for you and your team. You can book a free test-drive 30 min coaching huddle at: calendly.com/epraxis.