From Roster to Results:
23 Words Every Executive Should Know
CEFR Level: B1 & Higher
Published: 2025-03-26
From The Desk Of The Language Sentinel
In our daily business lives, we use—and often overlook—words that reveal how we think, operate, and lead. Whether you’re in logistics, banking, tech, or education, these terms shape the way we talk about work. This post is part of a special series from The Language Sentinel, brought to you by Learn Hive, to help you build a sharper, more strategic business vocabulary.
Below, you’ll find 23 key business terms, each paired with an example sentence inspired by real-world professional contexts. These examples subtly reflect some of the themes explored in our deeper story blog posts, without giving too much away—because the best stories are always layered.
¹ roster — a list of people, especially students or members of a team
Example: The university’s executive MBA program includes a roster of Fortune 500 leaders and government advisors.
² patented — legally registered as an invention
Example: Her team developed a patented polymer used in biodegradable packaging across Europe.
³ world-renowned — known and respected all over the world
Example: The firm hired a world-renowned strategist to lead their global expansion plans.
⁴ prestigious — having high status or respect
Example: He completed his PhD at a prestigious business school in Zurich.
⁵ wears many hats — to do many jobs or play multiple roles
Example: In a small consultancy, it’s common to wear many hats—finance, sales, and delivery all fall under one person.
⁶ technologist — a person who uses scientific or technical knowledge in practical ways
Example: As a technologist, she streamlined the onboarding process using AI-driven solutions.
⁷ bespoke — made or designed specifically for a particular person
Example: Their agency offers bespoke branding strategies tailored to startups entering niche markets.
⁸ crafting — skillfully making or constructing
Example: The CEO is known for crafting investor pitches that win funding every time.
⁹ polishing — improving something to make it better
Example: Before the meeting, the marketing director spent the morning polishing her presentation.
¹⁰ pitch — a short presentation or speech, especially to persuade
Example: His pitch secured €3 million in funding from a panel of venture capitalists.
¹¹ tailor — to make or adapt something for a specific person or purpose
Example: We tailor every training program to the client’s business objectives and team culture.
¹² aligned — matching or coordinated with something
Example: Their goals were perfectly aligned with the company’s five-year strategic vision.
¹³ solo — done alone, without help from others
Example: She launched her solo consultancy after a decade at a top multinational firm.
¹⁴ troubleshooting — solving problems or fixing issues, especially technical ones
Example: The operations manager spent the afternoon troubleshooting a supply chain delay.
¹⁵ tailored — specially made or adapted for a particular person
Example: Each onboarding email was tailored to the user’s country and professional background.
¹⁶ insight — a deep understanding of something
Example: His insight into consumer behavior helped the company double its market share.
¹⁷ edge — an advantage
Example: Speaking fluent English gave her an edge in closing international contracts.
¹⁸ prime — the best or most important
Example: They reserved the prime 9:00 a.m. meeting slots for top-tier clients.
¹⁹ sustainability — the ability to continue something at a certain level without running out of resources or energy
Example: The startup focused on long-term sustainability rather than quick profits.
²⁰ let go — to stop working with someone or release them from responsibility
Example: Due to frequent delays, the vendor was eventually let go.
²¹ business perspective — thinking in terms of costs, value, and sustainability
Example: From a business perspective, their partnership was no longer feasible.
²² halved — reduced by half
Example: Without the bulk contract, their projected revenue was effectively halved.
²³ discontinue — to stop doing something or providing something
Example: They decided to discontinue the product line after poor Q1 performance.
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Reflection Questions
- Which of these words were new to you? Can you use them in a sentence related to your own work?
2. Do you ever find yourself wearing many hats in your professional life? How do you manage the switch between roles?
3. In what ways do you or your company craft bespoke services or solutions for clients?
4. How does sustainability factor into your team’s long-term decisions?
5. Have you ever had to let go of a client or project for business reasons? How did you navigate it?
Stay tuned for our upcoming deep-dive stories on professional identity, communication, and the hidden layers of value behind every lesson.
From The Desk of The Language Sentinel — only at The Learn Hive.