“Purpose, not money, is what drives the best CEOs. It is what makes their vision stronger and their teams more committed.”

Juliana Garaizar, climate leader, venture capitalist, angel investor, and Kauffman Fellow, joins Dr. Maria Angela Capello and Dr. Liz Coffey to share what truly sets great CEOs apart. From building a powerful vision to navigating politics and scaling a business, Juliana offers practical lessons from working with more than 140 CEOs worldwide.

Key takeaways

• Vision and Purpose Drive Leadership – A bold, clear vision is essential for attracting top talent and inspiring commitment, especially in the early stages.

• Two Distinct CEO Journeys – Young, first-time CEOs often learn on the job, while seasoned executives bring process expertise and industry insight; both paths require adaptability.

• Self-Awareness and Team Building – The best CEOs know their limits, hire smarter people, and foster a culture that values diversity, trust, and collaboration.

Next step: Reflect on your own leadership journey and identify one area where you can strengthen your vision, self-awareness, or team-building approach this week.

About Juliana

Juliana Garaizar is an experienced CEO with a proven history in venture capital and private equity. She is skilled in business planning, entrepreneurship, international business, venture capital, and strategic partnerships. A strong business development professional, she is a Kauffman Fellow and VC Include Fellow, focused on VC and diversity. Learn more at EnergyTech Nexus.

Uplevel Your Career

• Connect with MAC at https://www.redtreeconsultingllc.com/.

• Connect with Liz at https://www.sparkleadership.co.uk/.

About the Hosts

Dr. Maria Angela Capello (MAC) is the President of Red Tree Consulting LLC and a distinguished leader in the energy sector. She spearheads initiatives in sustainability, diversity and inclusion (D&I), and geosciences.

MAC has held prominent roles at Kuwait Oil Company, Halliburton, and Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). The Italian Government has honored her with the “Star of Italy” knighthood, and UNESCO has endorsed her work, publishing her report “Geosciences in Action – Advancing Sustainable Development.”

MAC was recently conferred the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Lifetime Achievement Award for Diversity and Inclusion. Author of more than 107 technical articles and four books, Capello earned her PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Plymouth (UK) in 2024, an MSc in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines (USA), and a BSc in Physics from Simon Bolivar University (Venezuela).

Dr. Elizabeth Coffey (Liz), Founder of Spark Leadership Ltd, is an internationally recognized leadership expert, lecturer, and author who develops CEOs, CEO Successors, and Board Executives of FTSE 100 and Global 500 companies. She has coached CEOs and their successors in a wide range of businesses and sectors.

Previously a Senior Partner in Korn Ferry’s Leadership and Talent Consultancy, Liz held senior positions with Mercer Delta Consulting and The Change Partnership. In 2022-23, she was a Distinguished Lecturer for SPE, speaking to thousands of leaders across the energy sector in more than 50 countries about “How CEOs Lead for Success.”Liz has written several leadership books, including McGraw Hill’s “10 Things That Keep CEOs Awake – and How to Put Them to Bed” (2002), Deutsche Bank’s “The End of Tolerance?” (2001), and “The Changing Culture of Leadership – Women Leaders’ Voices” (1999). 

Liz has received many awards over the past two decades, including an Honourary Doctorate (2024), Woman Super Achiever (2018), Mentor of the Year (2007), and the European Woman of Achievement Award (2001). She has worked in more than 40 countries, including extensively in several GCC countries.