SHOW / EPISODE

EP154 – Wai Poc, Executive Coach at Unleashed Leaders – Political Acumen: Bring Your Best Self, Not Your Whole Self

42m | Oct 21, 2026

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: https://www.changwenderoth.com

Politics has become so divisive that many of us would rather tune it out altogether. But what happens when "I hate politics" follows you into work? That can have massive, unintended consequences for your career, says Silicon Valley executive coach Wai Poc. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Wai about how to build political acumen without becoming manipulative: understanding agendas, building strategic relationships, earning trust, and using power responsibly. They also take aim at the popular leadership mantra of bringing your "whole" or "authentic" self to work – and argue instead that you should bring your best self. If office politics makes you recoil, this episode will make you think again — and help you get bigger things done. You can succeed with high integrity – just be savvy about how you go about it.

SHOW NOTES

When avoiding politics becomes dangerous:

"Swimming and swirling": External political rancor and the retreat from conflict
When "bring your whole self to work" went too far
Why your best self is different from your authentic self
How avoiding politics can turn into political blindness

Political acumen without the ick:

Politics as advancing agendas
First ask yourself: What are we going after?
Why you need to know your agenda – and how to surface the agendas of others
The role of trust and reputation in networks
"If you want to be great at politics, have high integrity – but be savvy"
Strategic relationship building means deciding who deserves your limited attention

Power, AI, and lessons from the trenches:

11 bosses in 10 years at Genentech
What cultural anthropology taught Wai
What Wai is seeing from AI leaders in Silicon Valley
How AI has entered Wai and Michael's coaching
Why leaders need to stop fearing or leaking power – and instead learn to wield it responsibly

BIO AND LINKS

Wai Poc is a Silicon Valley based Executive Coach with 20+ years of leadership experience from VPs at Fortune 100 companies to C-levels at pre- and post- IPO companies. He specializes in high tech, biotech, and fintech including at Google, Genentech, the Federal Reserve Bank. Wai has partnered with his clients to build strategic relationships and navigate political currents to get big things done. Learn more about Wai at Unleashed Leaders: https://unleashedleaders.com

Connect with Wai

Website: https://www.unleashedleaders.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waipoc/

Resources Referenced

"Emotions are data" – interview with Dina Denham Smith, best-selling author of Emotionally Charged: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/97-effective/id1646325886?i=1000749192395
"China Latino" and being global from the get-go: https://unleashedleaders.com/about-me/
Cultural anthropology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_anthropology
Robert Caro's books on politics and power: https://www.robertcaro.org/books
Ron Carucci's research on how leaders abdicate their power (97% Effective interview): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/97-effective/id1646325886?i=1000670619534