
#49 James Riley - Life Beyond the C-Suite
From Playing The Inner Game by Michael Campion
May 27, 2025 · 59 min · Episode 49
About this episode
James Riley discusses his life after leading the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and his pursuit of meaning beyond corporate metrics.
James Riley spent decades leading one of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands. But this episode isn’t about boardrooms or five-star service, it’s about what happens after 40 years of executive employment. When James stepped down as CEO of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, he didn’t slow down - he rewrote the rules. From abseiling Angel Falls with limited eyesight to backing mission-driven startups, he’s chasing meaning over metrics. We talk about reinventing identity, letting go o...
People in this episode
Host: Michael Campion
Guest: James Riley
Topics covered
- executive transition
- reinventing identity
- life after C-suite
- adventure
- mission-driven startups
Keywords
- C-suite
- executive employment
- identity
- adventure
- startups
- leadership
- meaning
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
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