Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

• 483: Why You Need THIS Response Strategy to Turn Dreaded Questions Into Executive Presence Opportunities

  To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.In today’s episode you’ll discover how to reframe that moment—when someone throws a question at you during a meeting or presentation. Don’t see it as a pop quiz or a test. It’s not a trap. It’s a blue-diamond opportunity. Whether you're in meetings, giving presentations, or being interviewed on a podcast, handling questions well is critical—but most high performers miss the chance to build their reputation. This episode reveals how to flip the script and use questions to elevate your executive presence, influence, and career opportunities. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know:💰A 4-step framework to answer any question with clarity, confidence and warmth🔥Why it’s better to intentionally withhold certain information from your presentation🧲How to leverage the power of “micro-relationship builders” that make you more trustworthy and memorableHit play now to learn how to turn any question into a spotlight moment that builds your credibility, influence, and personal brand.If you're on a path to the C-suite—or already there—these moments are where your executive presence is either built or diminished. My clients are smart, experienced, and high-performing. But what sets them apart is the extra edge—the ability to be memorable, quotable, and undeniably credible.If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting and thought, “Ugh, I wish I’d answered that question better,” and it’s left you second-guessing your performance or wondering if you left the right impression…That’s why we built the Executive Presence Scorecard. It helps you quickly assess the key areas that make you magnetic, memorable, and quoted—instead of overlooked. Simply email me at [email protected] with “Score” in the subject line.For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. New Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities. By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.

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• 482: What Executives Actually Notice When Evaluating Talent for a Senior Leadership Role

  To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.Do you feel invisible at work—even though you're consistently delivering amazing results?In this episode, Aires CEO Josh Bruni offers a raw, real look at what leaders actually notice when evaluating talent—and why many high-performing introverts stay stuck in middle roles despite outperforming louder peers. If you've ever felt like the go-to “pack mule” but never the promoted one, this conversation will resonate deeply. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 💯Why you must first define and articulate what “winning” looks like so leaders can’t ignore you✅The mindset shift that separates future executives from dependable executors🔑Clear strategies to increase your visibility—without becoming someone you're notHit play now to learn how to lead, influence, and rise—quietly but powerfully—from someone who's done it himself.If you’ve been told you’re great at what you do, but never quite seen as a strategic leader… and that disconnect is starting to wear on you—making you question if you’ll ever actually move up—that’s a signal, not a dead end.In this episode, we break down the exact mindset shift that separates dependable doers from future execs—and in the Executive Presence Scorecard you will see your strengths and opportunities in this domain.To get access simply email me with “score” in the subject line at [email protected]. For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. We release episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.About our guest:Josh Bruni is the visionary CEO of Aires, a pioneering force in category creation and a global voice at the intersection of technology and human health. With over two decades of executive leadership, he has shaped household-name brands such as Pacsun, Reckitt Benckiser, and Ancestry.com, while scaling high-growth startups through operational excellence and innovative growth marketing strategies. His career journey—from building global brands to fostering inventive ventures—is defined by deep curiosity, creative problem-solving, and a passion for distilling complex challenges into clear, accessible insights. Respected for his authentic and thoughtful approach to today's toughest questions, Josh blends holistic, systems-level thinking with fearless exploration of new ideas, earning him a reputation as a thought leader in digital innovation.At Aires (airestech.com), Josh is redefining how people interact with technology to enhance health and wellness, crafting solutions grounded in real science yet attuned to the rhythms of modern life—how we connect, perform, and thrive in a rapidly evolving world. In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing...

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• 481: 5 Signs You’re Overexplaining and How It’s Blocking Your Executive Presence

  To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.Are you working overtime to “prove” your value with long updates, detailed slides, and full-context explanations—yet still not connecting and influencing the c-suite?In today’s episode, we’re unpacking a silent credibility killer that’s holding back countless high-performing professionals: overexplaining. If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting wondering why your brilliant insight didn’t land—or why someone else got credit with a 60-second update—this episode is for you.By the end of today’s episode you’ll know:3️⃣The 3 core reasons smart people tend to overexplain (and how to shift this habit)😱What overexplaining signals to senior leadership—and why it’s the opposite of confidence🔑How getting to the point is an act of respect and executive leadershipListen now to learn how simplifying your message can unlock executive-level trust, influence, and recognition.If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, ‘They just don’t see my value,’ this is your wake-up call. Clarity isn’t optional—it’s your leadership language. That’s exactly why I developed the Executive Presence Mastery System - to prepare high-performing introverts to be successful senior leaders. If you’re a senior leader tired of feeling unheard or overlooked, head to www.speakupwithlaura.com/speakup and book a clarity call. Let’s make your brilliance impossible to ignore.We release fresh episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities. By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.

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• 480: Use This 3% Rule to Show Up Like a Charismatic Leader (Even If You Hate the Spotlight)

  To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.If you're a high-performing introvert, you’ve probably been told you need to “speak up” more or act more outgoing to succeed. But what if the key to executive presence isn’t about being louder—but about being 3% more intentional? In today’s episode you’ll discover some ways to be perceived as a charismatic icon without having to make a massive effort or take a huge risk. By the end of this episode you’ll know:🔑The low-effort 3% Rule that made Virgil Abloh a global style icon—and how it applies to your communication🚀 How to ditch perfectionism and build sustainable charisma 🏆 Walk away with real-life tweaks you can apply to emails, meetings, and presentations that make you more magnetic without burning out.Hit play to learn the simple 3% strategy that helps introverts lead with authenticity and finally get noticed.So look—if you’re stuck in perfectionism and it’s keeping you from speaking up or taking that next bold step, and it's starting to feel like all your prep still isn’t landing you the recognition you deserve, even though you’re doing everything “right”—that’s exactly why we created the Executive Presence Mastery System. It’s a 90-day coaching intensive designed to help high-performing introverts like you stand out with magnetic charisma—without burning out.If you’re ready to replace overthinking with innovative communication and sustainable presence, head to the show notes or go to www.speakupwithlaura.com/speakup and book a strategy call. A brief history of Virgil Abloh.For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities. By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.

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• 479: Why Being the Smartest Person in the Room Won’t Get You to Senior Leadership Without THIS

  To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.Are you a high-performing leader frustrated that you're not being recognized—or promoted—despite doing everything “right”? In this episode, Jimmy Burrows—ex-British Army officer and performance leadership consultant—dives deep into why smart, capable professionals often stall at mid-management and what communication habits are sabotaging their leadership impact. If you’ve ever felt stuck, undervalued, or unsure how to truly show up as a leader, this conversation is a must-listen.By the end of today’s conversation with Jimmy you’ll know:🚀 The 3 invisible communication barriers even high performers face—and how to eliminate them🎯The “Simplify to Amplify” method that’s been shown to boost team performance by 40%🧲Game-changing scripts and leadership frameworks to build trust, clarity, and strategic influence—even if you're introvertedThis episode is a roadmap for anyone feeling "stuck despite doing everything right"—it's not about working harder, but communicating smarter to unlock promotions and respect. If it resonates, definitely hit play for the full scripts and stories from Jimmy's Army-to-boardroom journey.If you’ve been promoted into leadership and suddenly feel like you’re carrying your old “manager backpack” full of outdated habits — juggling too much, solving problems instead of leading through others, and wondering why you’re not being seen as “executive-ready” — this episode should be your wake-up call.That’s exactly why we created the Executive Presence Scorecard — to help leaders like you identify which old skills to let go of, and which new leadership behaviors to develop to step confidently into that next-level role.So if you’re serious about upgrading your leadership operating system, email me [email protected] with “score” in the subject line and I’ll send you access to the Scorecard.About our guest:Jimmy Burroughes is a global leadership expert who transforms how leaders and teams operate in high-pressure environments. His journey from British Military Officer to renowned consultant uncovered a pivotal insight: traditional leadership approaches often breed burnout while undermining sustainable success. To address this, he founded JBL High Performance, empowering leaders to escape the cycle of endless firefighting and deliver exceptional results without exhaustion. As the author of Beat Burnout – Ignite Performance and Escape the Multitasking Trap, Burroughes has crafted methodologies that elevate leadership effectiveness across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups, fusing military precision with cutting-edge corporate strategies that teams can apply right away.What distinguishes Burroughes' programs is their unwavering practicality—he doesn't merely impart concepts but weaves them seamlessly into a team's everyday workflows. His no-nonsense facilitation style merges captivating storytelling with proven, battle-hardened techniques to foster trust, enhance alignment, and sharpen clarity among participants. In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and...

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