Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

Laura Camacho

🏆 Ranked #1 Business Communication Podcast by Million Podcasts Do you often feel sidelined in discussions, wanting to speak up and have more influence? Ever experience that you say something in a meeting and then it seems like people maybe are still not getting what you’re saying? Do you need more executive presence in high stakes meetings? Discover tactics to confidently assert yourself and make your ideas count on Speak Up, the podcast for high-performing introverts and ambiverts. You'll learn: 1. Visibility Strategies from the art of persuasion, ensuring your voice is heard and respected in meetings and sought after for key projects 2. How to expand your influence, to reclaim your recognition, get green lights, and avoid your ideas being taken credit for by others 3. How to develop your confidence, to participate actively in senior leadership and executive meetings and beyond Host Laura Camacho, with 20 years of coaching experience, guides high-performing professionals to express their ideas clearly and build executive presence. Tune in every Monday for a 10-minute executive communication skill, Wednesdays for a half-hour industry leader interview, and Fridays for a 8 to 10-minute charisma or leadership tip from leading personalities like JK Rowling and Elon Musk. If you're ready to move forward in your career, listen to Speak Up episode 390: These 12 Science-Backed Charisma Tactics Skyrocket Executive Presence & Leadership Impact: https://pod.fo/e/2c2b5e

  1. 17h ago

    584: The Executive Positioning Mistake That Makes Smart Leaders Sound Junior

    Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. 👉 Book Your Call here Have you ever walked out of a leadership meeting feeling like people underestimated your intelligence or overlooked your value? Many highly capable professionals assume promotions and executive influence come purely from competence. But in high-level environments, people quickly judge whether you sound strategic, leadership-oriented, and trustworthy based on how you communicate — often within the first minute. This episode breaks down the hidden communication patterns that make smart professionals sound tactical instead of executive-ready. By the end of this episode you’ll know: 🔬Why over-explaining and excessive detail can quietly damage your executive presence 🚀How senior leaders communicate in ways that reduce uncertainty and create confidence 🏆The subtle positioning shifts that make people perceive you as strategic, composed, and leadership-ready Play this episode to learn how to transform the way leadership perceives you and finally communicate at the executive level you’re truly capable of operating at. Speak Up Summer Camp (July 6 – Aug 1) A private podcast with 24 short daily leadership reps to help you build the communication habits senior leaders actually notice. → Enroll here So if you’re someone who knows you’re highly capable… …but you’re tired of feeling underestimated in executive environments… You may have an executive positioning problem. And that’s exactly why I created the Executive Presence Mastery System. The goal is not simply to “communicate better.” The goal is to position yourself at the level you’re truly capable of operating at. Go to the top of these show notes, click the link, and book a call with me. To learn more 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. Topics covered in this episode: Executive presenceLeadership communication skillsStrategic communicationExecutive positioningHow to sound more executiveLeadership presence in meetingsExecutive leadership perceptionExecutive mindsetExecutive influenceHigh-level communication strategiesExecutive presence coachingProfessional visibility in leadershipBoardroom communication skillsLeadership perception and influenceHow to communicate with executivesExecutive speaking skillsLeadership developmentCommunication patterns of successful leadersExecutive communication trainingLeadership positioning strategiesStrategic executive thinking

    7 min

  2. 3d ago

    583: The Executive Presence Habit That Made A-Lister Jensen Huang One of the Most Trusted CEOs Ever

    Speak Up Summer Camp (July 6 – Aug 1) A private podcast with 24 short daily leadership reps to help you build the communication habits senior leaders actually notice. → Enroll here What if executive presence has less to do with charisma and more to do with clarity? Most high-performing professionals believe sounding detailed and complex makes them appear more intelligent. But senior leaders often interpret overexplaining, rambling, and verbal clutter as a lack of clarity and confidence. In this episode, Laura Camacho breaks down the executive presence habit that helped NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang become one of the most trusted leaders in business — and how simplifying your communication can instantly elevate your executive presence. By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to: 🪝Communicate with more clarity and confidence in high-stakes conversations 🧲Sound far more strategic by sharply framing your message 👏🏻Eliminate verbal habits that quietly reduce trust and executive presence Press play now to learn the executive communication habits that help trusted leaders stand out, influence decisions, and create clarity under pressure. And remember: The goal is not to impress people with complexity. The goal is to create clarity that people trust. Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. 👉 Book Your Call here To learn more 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.

    12 min

  3. 5d ago

    582: How High-Level Executives Build Presence, Credibility & Influence Under Pressure

    Speak Up Summer Camp (July 6 – Aug 1) A private podcast with 24 short daily leadership reps to help you build the communication habits senior leaders actually notice. → Enroll here Why do some incredibly smart professionals command executive trust instantly… while others struggle to get promoted despite having stronger technical expertise? In this episode, Laura sits down with cyber security executive MK Palmore to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership skills in modern business: communicating with executive presence. From framing risk strategically to owning the room during high-stakes presentations, this conversation reveals why communication—not just competence—is what separates technical experts from influential senior leaders. In this episode with MK Palmore, you’ll discover: How to communicate risk and complex ideas in ways that senior executives immediately understand and trust Practical techniques for owning the room, managing nerves, and building credibility during presentations Why storytelling, strategic framing, and audience engagement are essential for executive-level influence Listen now to learn how to transform your expertise into executive influence and become the kind of leader decision-makers trust under pressure. Speak Up Summer Camp (July 6 – Aug 1) A private podcast with 24 short daily leadership reps to help you build the communication habits senior leaders actually notice. → Enroll here To learn more visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. New Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning. About our guest: MK Palmore is founder and CEO of Apogee Global RMS. His work lives at the intersection of high-stakes risk and high-stakes communication, A few quick pieces of context: 20+ years across the FBI, global CISO and advisory roles, and the U.S. Marine Corps.Executive advisory and board engagement focused on cybersecurity strategy and operational resilience.Leadership development and recruiting for high-trust cyber and IT roles, because the “people part” decides whether strategy survives contact with reality. 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.

    31 min

  4. Jun 1

    581: How Smart, Caring Leaders Accidentally Sabotage Their Executive Presence

    Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. 👉 Book Your Call here Your empathy isn’t making people respect you more at work. It’s making people stop seeing you as executive material. Many high-performing professionals believe empathy and helpfulness are leadership superpowers. And while empathy absolutely matters, constantly rescuing your team, over-explaining, and carrying everyone emotionally may actually be weakening your executive presence. In this episode, Laura Camacho reveals why leaders who care deeply often get overlooked for senior leadership roles — and what strategic leaders do differently to earn trust, authority, and promotion opportunities. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: 😱Why overhelping and emotional over-functioning quietly erode your authority at work 🔬The hidden connection between empathy, burnout, and stalled career growth 🔑3 reflection questions so that you can achieve executive-level influence. Listen now to learn how to lead with empathy without sacrificing your authority, energy, or executive-level influence. Speak Up Summer Camp (July 6 – Aug 1) A private podcast with 24 short daily leadership reps to help you build the communication habits senior leaders actually notice. → Enroll: here To learn more 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. Research Sources Mentioned in This Episode Gerdes, K. E., et al. “Empathy and Leadership Effectiveness.” Organizational Dynamics. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11301-024-00472-7Zhang, Y., et al. “Emotional Labor, Empathic Concern, and Burnout in Leadership Roles.” Scientific Reports (Nature).https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-11304-3Goleman, Daniel. What Makes a Leader? Harvard Business Review.https://hbr.org/2004/01/what-makes-a-leaderIbarra, Herminia & Hansen, Morten. Are You a Collaborative Leader? Harvard Business Review.https://hbr.org/2011/07/are-you-a-collaborative-leaderCenter for Creative Leadership — “Why Leaders Need Boundaries to Avoid Burnout”https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/boundaries-burnout-and-balance/Harvard Business Review — “The Costs of Being a ‘Too Nice’ Manager”https://hbr.org/2018/11/the-hidden-costs-of-being-a-too-nice-manager

    8 min

  5. May 29

    580: Why This Hospitality Principle Is the Ultimate Power Move in Executive Presence and Leadership

    Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. Book Your Call here Click here if you’re a senior leader who’s ready to recalibrate how you’re perceived at the executive level — in the next 90–120 days. The Executive Presence Mastery System may be your logical next step. Have you ever entered a conversation feeling confused and then left thinking, “Wow… so and so made everything feel easier”? Most professionals believe executive presence is about confidence, charisma, or commanding attention in meetings. But senior leaders are often looking for something very different: people who reduce confusion, simplify complexity, and create momentum. In this episode, Laura Camacho reveals how the concept of “unreasonable hospitality” can dramatically improve your communication, influence, and leadership presence at work. By the end of this short episode you’ll know: ✅How to make your communication clearer and more strategically valuable. 💰Ways to anticipate concerns to instantly elevate your executive presence with senior leaders. 🪝How to stop overcomplicating your message and start becoming the person people trust faster. Press play to discover the subtle communication shifts that make high-performing professionals unforgettable leaders. Senior leaders don’t trust people who create avoidable surprises. They trust people who think around corners. And if you want to strengthen your own executive presence, grab my free Executive Presence Scorecard. The link is here. This episode was inspired by Unreasonable Hospitality Field Guide by Will Guidara. (not an affiliate link) To learn more 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. Topics covered in this episode: Executive presence for introvertsExecutive communication skillsHow to build executive presenceStrategic communication at workLeadership communication skillsExecutive presence and influence

    13 min

  6. May 27

    579: A Simple Mindset Shift That Instantly Upgrades Executive Presence for Engineers and other Nerds

    Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. Book Your Call here What does it really take for an engineer or other technical leader to quickly earn trust, influence decisions, and lead at the executive level? As AI, automation, and robotics rapidly transform industries, leaders everywhere are being forced to adapt faster than ever before. In this episode, Chang Robotics CTO Ross Barnard shares what’s actually happening inside the world of advanced automation, how companies are preparing for the “factory of the future,” and why communication skills are becoming just as valuable as technical expertise. By the end of this conversation with Chang Robotics CTO Ross Barnard, you’ll know: 🔑How technical professionals can successfully transition into executive leadership roles 🚀Why communication and alignment are critical in high-growth technology companies 🎯Ways AI, robotics, and automation are changing manufacturing, healthcare, and the future of work Press play to hear how today’s smartest tech leaders are navigating AI disruption while building stronger teams, clearer communication, and future-ready businesses. Click here if you’re a senior leader who’s ready to recalibrate how you’re perceived at the executive level — in the next 90–120 days. The Executive Presence Mastery System may be your logical next step. If you know you have valuable ideas, expertise, or stories to share — but you’re still holding yourself back from speaking up consistently, showing up confidently, or putting yourself out there in a bigger way…you’re probably also holding yourself back from bigger opportunities. That’s why we built Speak Up Summer Camp — a private podcast experience created specifically to help listeners sharpen their communication skills, grow their confidence, and learn how to speak with more clarity, authority, and impact. So if you’re ready to become the kind of communicator people actually remember and listen to, go to the show notes, click here to join the Speak Up Summer Camp waitlist now. About our guest: When automation has to work in the real world, companies call Ross Barnard. As Chief Technology Officer at Chang Robotics, Ross leads the integration of autonomous systems and advanced automation technologies that deliver measurable results across industries. With 16+ years of global engineering experience, Ross has overseen multimillion-dollar projects for brands like Coca-Cola, coordinated design and implementation teams across 13 international sites, and spent 18 months embedded at an Airbus supplier learning how to make complex systems succeed. His career spans factories, breweries, and hospitals— bringing automation into some of the toughest realworld environments and making it work the first time, without derailing operations. Ross is known for translating “engineer speak” into plain English, helping leaders cut through the hype to see where automation and AI deliver actual ROI. He equips industries to prepare for the coming reshoring wave so they can move fast when the market unfrozen. Off the mic, you’ll find him rock climbing, hiking the Rockies with his family, or sharing funny stories. To learn more 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. Topics in this episode: executive presence for engineersengineer to CTOtechnical leadership skillscommunication skills for engineersCTO leadership advicerobotics industry leadershipAI and automation leadershipengineering leadership communicationintroverted leaders communicationexecutive presence for technical professionals

    25 min

  7. May 25

    578: Stop Overthinking Every Word and Use This Approach to Executive Presence to Own the Room

    Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. Book Your Call here Click here if you’re a senior leader who’s ready to recalibrate how you’re perceived at the executive level — in the next 90–120 days. The Executive Presence Mastery System may be your logical next step. Have you ever walked out of an important meeting replaying every word you said — wondering why your communication didn’t land the way you intended? Many high-performing professionals built their careers on being thoughtful, articulate, and detailed communicators. But once they step into executive-level conversations, those same habits can suddenly work against them. Instead of sounding strategic and confident, they feel stuck over-explaining, overthinking, and second-guessing themselves in real time. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why brilliant senior leaders suddenly feel ineffective in high-level meetingsThe subtle communication habits that quietly weaken authorityAnd how to stop over-explaining and start commanding attention when you speak Press play to learn how to communicate like a trusted executive leader — and start becoming the person who changes the energy in the room instead of disappearing inside it. It’s about learning the executive communication patterns nobody teaches once you get promoted. In the Executive Presence Mastery System I help high-performing executives communicate with clarity, authority, and confidence in the rooms that matter most. So if you’re tired of second-guessing yourself every time you speak… go to the top of these show notes, click the link, and book a conversation. And let’s help you become the kind of leader whose presence changes the room — instead of disappearing inside it. To learn more 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.

    9 min

  8. May 22

    577: The Surprising Executive Presence & Charisma Lesson Hidden in Michael Jackson’s Interviews

    Want Faster Promotions, More Influence, and Stronger Executive Presence? Book a confidential Executive Presence Strategy Call to discover the communication patterns that help high performers get seen as senior leaders. Book Your Call here Click here if you’re a senior leader who’s ready to recalibrate how you’re perceived at the executive level — in the next 90–120 days. The Executive Presence Mastery System may be your logical next step. Click here to pinpoint the specific area in your executive presence that’s keeping you invisible to senior leadership and guarantees you stay working hard as a pack mule who never gets promoted. Download the Executive Presence Scorecard assessment. Do you unintentionally sound less confident in those executive leadership team meetings — even when you know exactly what you’re talking about? Many high-performing professionals believe confidence is about personality, charisma, or being naturally outspoken. But in reality, leadership presence often comes down to subtle communication signals. In this episode Laura Camacho breaks down the hidden habits that cause smart, capable professionals to sound uncertain in high-stakes conversations — especially around senior leadership. If you’ve ever over explained your ideas, softened your recommendations, or minimized your opinions before speaking, this episode will completely change how you think about executive presence and influence. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: 😅How small phrases like “just a thought” or “I could be wrong” quietly weaken leadership perception (unless you’re the CEO) 🔑Why overexplaining creates cognitive overload and reduces executive impact 👑 Simple communication shifts that help your ideas sound clearer, stronger, and more promotable Press play now to discover how subtle communication upgrades can instantly strengthen your executive presence, increase trust in your ideas. To learn more visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. New Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning. Topics covered in this episode: executive presenceconfident communicationleadership communicationcommunication skills for professionalsexecutive communicationhow to sound confident in meetingsleadership presence for introverts 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.

    10 min
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4.9
out of 5
114 Ratings

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🏆 Ranked #1 Business Communication Podcast by Million Podcasts Do you often feel sidelined in discussions, wanting to speak up and have more influence? Ever experience that you say something in a meeting and then it seems like people maybe are still not getting what you’re saying? Do you need more executive presence in high stakes meetings? Discover tactics to confidently assert yourself and make your ideas count on Speak Up, the podcast for high-performing introverts and ambiverts. You'll learn: 1. Visibility Strategies from the art of persuasion, ensuring your voice is heard and respected in meetings and sought after for key projects 2. How to expand your influence, to reclaim your recognition, get green lights, and avoid your ideas being taken credit for by others 3. How to develop your confidence, to participate actively in senior leadership and executive meetings and beyond Host Laura Camacho, with 20 years of coaching experience, guides high-performing professionals to express their ideas clearly and build executive presence. Tune in every Monday for a 10-minute executive communication skill, Wednesdays for a half-hour industry leader interview, and Fridays for a 8 to 10-minute charisma or leadership tip from leading personalities like JK Rowling and Elon Musk. If you're ready to move forward in your career, listen to Speak Up episode 390: These 12 Science-Backed Charisma Tactics Skyrocket Executive Presence & Leadership Impact: https://pod.fo/e/2c2b5e

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