Meridith Elliot Powell: How to Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity

Meridith Elliot Powell: How to Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity

From The Drop In CEO by Deborah Coviello

April 7, 2026 · 33 min · Season 5 · Episode 552

About this episode

Deb Coviello interviews Meridith Elliot Powell about turning uncertainty into opportunity for C-Suite leaders.

In this episode, Deb Coviello sits down with Hall of Fame speaker, award-winning author, and business strategist Meridith Elliot Powell to explore one of the biggest challenges facing C-Suite leaders today: uncertainty. Meridith shares her research-backed, three-step formula for surviving disruption and leveraging it as a competitive advantage. From adapting your perspective to listening deeply to your customers and committing to process, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies for any leader navigating a turbulent marketplace.   Episode Highlights: 2:44 — Meridith shares her origin story and why she became obsessed with uncertainty: how 2016 sparked her research into companies that thrived through the Great Depression, World Wars, and other disruptions — and the three-step formula she developed from that work. 9:03 — The three-step formula revealed: (1) Adapt your perspective so uncertainty leads to opportunity, (2) Focus on people by mastering the skill of listening to your team, customers, and network, and (3) Commit to process by leading your team for tomorrow, not just today. 20:02 — Meridith's powerful "seeds, weeds, and needs"…

People in this episode

Host: Deb Coviello

Guest: Meridith Elliot Powell

Topics covered

  • uncertainty
  • leadership
  • business strategy
  • C-Suite
  • competitive advantage

Keywords

  • three-step formula
  • disruption
  • listening
  • process
  • quarterly review tool

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