A Cup of Coffee | A Glass of Wine Issue 01 - August 2025
It all begins with an idea.
Forward the Action | Deepen the Insight
This month, I found myself returning to a simple truth I’ve seen again and again—both across two decades in investment banking and now in coaching rooms:
You don’t rise to the level of your ambition. You rise to the level of your credibility.
Credibility is what earns you a seat at the table—not just ambition or effort.
In banking, investing, or any high-performance seat, the people who are trusted with deal mandates, investment opportunities, or leadership visibility are the ones who can speak about their coverage or domain with specificity and conviction.
It’s not just about relationships—it’s about relevance, and that relevance comes from credibility.
Whether you’re advising, investing, or leading from the C-suite, long-term influence depends on how deeply you understand the dynamics of your space. Shift from generalist execution to domain authority. Become the person others turn to for strategic clarity—not just operational support.
Credibility builds through repetition, reflection, and signal tracking. Over time, your expertise sharpens, your positioning strengthens, and your voice becomes indispensable. That’s what it means to build earned credibility—not just intelligence, but layered judgment grounded in lived context.
This Month’s Question:
Where do I need to build more credibility before I ask for more visibility?
Coaching Insight of the Month
When credibility deepens, advisory leadership opens.
What strong leaders consistently practice behind the scenes:
They own a clear universe. They can articulate their sector or client base in one sentence.
They track signals, not just headlines. Strong coverage is proactive, not reactive.
They simplify the noise. Real influence comes from insight—not just commentary.
Mini Challenge:
If I asked for your “3-sentence sector thesis,” could you deliver it clearly, without prep?
Next Step:
Record yourself in Deep Lake Signal™ - click here. Who shows up? Are you speaking from domain clarity or generic comfort?
🔗 Access the Vault library module: Building Domain Expertise & Credibility
Signals, Stories & Invitations
🔦 Case Study
“From Overlooked to Originator”
A VP in his third year came into Deep Lake unsure of where he stood. Smart, capable—but hesitant to claim space.
Over our sessions, we focused on one thing: clarity of coverage.
He built a tight coverage list, engaged in sharper conversations, and shifted his mindset from “doing the work” to “owning the relationship.”
Last month, he originated a capital raise on his own merit.
Not because he spoke louder—but because his signal got sharper.
📍 What’s Happening @ Deep Lake
🌀 New Cohort: Foundations of Advisory Leadership
4 virtual sessions (Aug 7–Sep 4) | Optional dinner Sep 4 in NYC
Learn more
🔄 1:1 Coaching
For professionals ready to step up from executing to originating.
Explore Private Coaching
🧭 Advisory Leadership Compass™
Take the 3-minute self-assessment across 12 leadership competencies
Start Here
🫱 Invitation
Curious about the platform—or just want to reconnect?
📚 Sloka | Book | Video
Three small sips to end the month well:
📺 Video: How Great Leaders See the Future – Roselinde Torres > YouTube
→ Pattern recognition isn’t a gift. It’s a skill you build.
📘 Book: Competing Against Luck – Clayton Christensen > Amazon | Blinkist
→ Use the “Jobs to Be Done” lens to decode decisions and sharpen your relevance.
🕉 Sloka from the Gita – Chapter 4, Verse 38
“na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ pavitram iha vidyate” | “In this world, there is nothing as purifying as knowledge. One who is perfected in this finds true understanding within themselves in due course of time.”
→True credibility isn’t performative—it’s cultivated. This reminds us that deep knowledge refines, and sharpens your voice. When you take time to internalize and reflect, your insights become cleaner, more trustworthy, and unmistakably yours. That’s what makes your expertise and credibility matter.