Leadership advice is everywhere. Books, podcasts, panels and more. Everyone has a view on what it takes to reach the top. Far fewer are honest about what it takes to stay there.

That is where James Lafferty’s story stands apart.

A 4x Forbes CEO and Powerlifting Olympian, James has spent decades operating at the highest levels, both in business and sport, across regions, cultures, and moments of real pressure. His perspective on leadership was not shaped by theory or playbooks, but by discipline, repetition, and decisions that carried real consequences.

In the first episode of Above C-Level, James sits down with host Mohammad Osama for a raw and honest conversation about all things executive. They talk about why the most effective leaders approach their careers the way elite athletes approach training, with resilience and an understanding that performance is built over time, not declared upfront.

Some uncomfortable truths are spoken about: why people often fails when pressure shows up. Why desire matters more than talent when hiring anyone. And why certain decisions, made quietly and without applause, define leadership far more than titles ever could.

James also reflects on moments that tested his principles, like being bribed $7,000,000, and reshaped how he thinks about responsibility at the top. It is a reminder that leadership is rarely about doing what looks good but rather what holds up.

It’s not a motivational episode. It’s a grounded one. The kind which impact lingers, especially for those who are ambitious and want to know how to be the 1%.

Watch The Conversation Here 

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