Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

Laura Camacho
  • 4.9 (95)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 1D AGO

    535: 5 Unexpected Neuroscience Tips to Slash Cognitive Friction and Instantly Gain Trust From Senior Leadership

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognized and nail that executive promotion / visibility …and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. If you’re working hard, constantly explaining yourself, and still not being recognized for leadership potential, you might be missing the neuroscience behind true executive presence. This episode breaks down what really signals authority to senior leadership—especially if you’re a high-performing introvert. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 🧲Why calm pacing overrides fast talking to communicate confidence and intelligence ✅How you can reduce “cognitive friction” and become easier for executives to trust starting right now 🔑 The 5 neuroscience-backed shifts that elevate your executive presence without over-performing Listen now to learn how to shift from overlooked to trusted by using calm authority and clarity to transform your presence. Learn how a Sid Mashburn store mirrors the way senior leaders are evaluated in real rooms—and why talking more, explaining harder, or “proving yourself” is often doing the opposite of what you intend. And if you’re ready to build calm authority check out the Executive Presence scorecard. There’s a link to it in the 2nd paragraph of these show notes. Because the room isn’t waiting for you to talk more...It’s waiting for you to be trusted. 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.

    13 min

  2. 3D AGO

    534: Why Perfectionism Makes You a Bad Leader and Cancels Out Your Executive Presence (Even If Your Work Is Great)

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognized and nail that promotion…and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. Are your high standards quietly killing your teams’ morale? If you're a high-achieving introvert or perfectionist leader, you've probably struggled with letting go, delegating, or managing teams without redoing their work. This episode explores the hidden costs of perfectionism in leadership — and how it could be driving away great people without you realizing it. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 🧩How to build trust and respect even when you're not the expert in the room 💰A mindset shift that helps perfectionists lead with more ease and less stress 🇯🇵How a Japanese tea ceremony revealed the true power of presence for leadership impact Tap play to discover how to lead powerfully without letting perfectionism hold you — or your team — back. If you’ve recently stepped into a senior leadership or c-suite role where you’re not the expert—and it’s making you feel like an imposter, unsure how to earn respect or manage people who know more than you—but you really want to show up with confidence, own your role, and lead strategically at a higher level… that’s why we built the Executive Presence Mastery program. You can self assess how your executive presence shows up in different contexts by taking the Executive Presence Scorecard 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: Cynthia Lai is a governance leader and board advisor with over 20 years of experience leading transformation across Asia-Pacific at OCBC Bank, HSBC, and Bank of China (Hong Kong). As a former Executive Director at OCBC, she led multi-market teams through change while maintaining a zero regulatory breach record, proving that transformation and trust can coexist. Now a Board Advisor, Executive Coach, and Co-Founder of MetaOptix, a deep-tech venture with 15 patents, Cynthia helps leaders build credibility and connection in an era increasingly shaped by AI. Her story, from a perfectionist manager who lost team members to a leader who develops others, captures the evolution from control to empowerment, and why empathy, ethics, and clarity of presence define modern leadership. 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...

    24 min

  3. 5D AGO

    533: The Quiet Executive Presence Risk that Makes You Lose Momentum

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognized and nail that executive promotion / visibility …and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. You’re respected, trusted, and technically strong — so why does your momentum suddenly feel slower at the more senior executive level? Learn the answer in today’s episode. If you’re in the room but not shaping decisions, this episode exposes the hidden executive presence risk that quietly stalls high-performing leaders — even when everything looks “fine” from the outside. In today’s episode, you’ll learn: 😳Why silence in certain meetings erodes status — even when results stay strong 🔑 How identity ceilings form and why time actually locks them in 🔥 What intentional visibility looks like without becoming louder or inauthentic If you want to protect your trajectory and build real influence before options quietly close, press play and get clarity on what needs to shift now. Because the problem isn’t your performance... It’s that your value isn’t fully visible where decisions are being made. That’s why I created a private, high-touch Executive Presence Mastery System to help senior leaders break identity ceilings, build intentional visibility, and regain momentum without abandoning who they are. If you want clarity on what’s really holding you back, go to the top of these show notes, click the first link, or head to www.speakupwithlaura.com/speakup and choose a time that works for you. I’d love to show you how to move forward — intentionally and strategically. 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.

    8 min

  4. FEB 13

    532: Why Absolut x Tabasco Can Teach You Executive Presence That Gets You Promoted

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognized and nail that promotion…and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. Most high performers stay stuck because they rely on clarity and accuracy to communicate. But senior leaders aren’t listening for effort—they’re listening for judgment. This episode shows why unusual pairings (think Absolut x Tabasco) are your secret weapon to creating contrast and credibility in how you speak. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 🧲The fastest way to sound like an industry leader without talking more or louder 🧩5 easy-to-use tactics to elevate your messaging and become unforgettable in meetings 🚀Why connecting two “unexpected worlds” in your language builds executive presence instantly Listen now to discover how one surprising shift in your communication style can help you go from reliable contributor to trusted leader. 💡 So if you’re ready to move from reliable contributor to trusted advisor, go to the show notes, click the first link you find, or head over to speakupwithlaura.com/speakup — and book a time that works for you. I’d love to show you how to fast-track your transition into visible leadership — without selling out your personality. 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

  5. FEB 11

    531: 5 Mistakes High Performers Make When Trying to Join Executive Circles & How to Avoid Losing Your Leadership Presence

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognised and nail that promotion…and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. In today’s episode discover why hard work isn’t enough to reach the board room and how to re-engineer access, authority, and visibility that unlock career-defining doors. If you’ve ever felt invisible in leadership circles, struggled to grow your influence, or wondered how others effortlessly land high-profile opportunities and board roles — this episode is your playbook. Discover why hard work isn’t enough and how to re-engineer access, authority, and visibility to unlock career-defining doors. By the end of today’s episode with Callum Laing you’ll know: 🧩A powerful framework for moving from outsider to insider in your industry. 🎯Why connections, not self-promotion, are the real currency of influence — and how to build them without being transactional. 🚀How to land your first board seat (even if you're not a CEO), and why this one move can 10x your authority and career options. Hit play now to learn how to unlock high-level access, build real influence, and create opportunities that most people never even see. Here is a complimentary copy of Mr. Laing’s book: Boardroom Blueprint: Boost your career with a board seat in 60 days: https://bit.ly/BB-dbook. Or the audio version: https://bit.ly/BB-AudioYT About our guest: Callum Laing is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and investor with more than 15 years of experience raising capital for private and public companies. He has completed over 100 public acquisitions and managed a $100 million MAS-regulated fund. During this time, he has published interviews with more than 2,500 leaders, hosts a top 5% leadership podcast, and has helped hundreds of executives secure their first board seats. He focuses on helping audiences create access where others see only barriers. Conventional wisdom is often well-meaning but falls short in today's fast-paced world. He shows leaders how to step into the right circles, networks, and opportunities that truly move the needle—whether in influence, capital, or connections. Featured in Forbes, the Financial Times, and other leading media, he is known for simplifying complex strategies and delivering them with energy and clarity. His mission is simple: to help ambitious professionals get into the right rooms so they can make the biggest impact. 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...

    22 min

  6. FEB 9

    530: Why You’re Still Operating One Level Below After the Promotion & How to Successfully Adapt Your Executive Presence

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognised and nail that promotion…and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. If you're a high-performing leader who preps endlessly but still hesitates to speak up at the table, this episode reveals the exact reason you're being overlooked — and how communication, not competence, is now your career driver. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 🔥Why over-preparing is a leftover habit that’s now working against you. 🚀The 3 executive behaviors that signal leadership — and have nothing to do with technical skills. 🎯 How to shift from sounding smart to sounding strategic — so you're trusted, not just respected. Listen now to learn how to match your communication to your title and finally get recognized at the level you’ve already earned. Are you still leading with data instead of decisions? Waiting to be invited to speak instead of shaping the narrative? If you’ve been promoted but feel like you're being overlooked for the next opportunity, you're not alone—and it’s not a skills problem. That’s why I built the Executive Presence Mastery System—to help senior leaders like you stop relying on technical perfection and start building trust through strategic communication. Because presence, judgment, and communication now make up 70% of your leadership evaluation. So if you're ready to stop playing small and start signaling real leadership, go to the show notes, click the first link you find, or visit www.speakupwithlaura.com/speakup to schedule a time that works for you. I'd love to help you close the presence gap once and for all. 🔗 Research & References Mentioned in This Episode 🎯 Executive Presence & Leadership PerceptionCarol Kinsey Goman – The Silent Language of Leadershttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10401591-the-silent-language-of-leadersCenter for Talent Innovation – Executive Presence (2014 Study)https://www.talentinnovation.org/_private/assets/ExecutivePresence-CTI-Research.pdfBain & Company – What Separates Top Leadersa href="https://www.bain.com/insights/what-executive-presence-means-and-why-it-matters/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    9 min

  7. FEB 6

    529: 5 Concrete Ways Executive Presence Turns Technical Expertise into Real Business Wins

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognised and nail that promotion…and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. What if the key to faster decisions, clearer alignment, and more resources isn't more data—but how you show up in the room? If you're a high-performing technical leader—engineer, analyst, finance expert—chances are your work is excellent, but your message isn’t landing with decision-makers. This episode reveals why executive presence, not more technical detail, is what actually drives business outcomes and accelerates your influence. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 🚀5 specific ways executive presence leads to better, faster decisions. 🎯How to present complex ideas so senior leaders see the value instantly. 🏆 Shift from simply “explaining work” to actually driving outcomes and influence in high-stakes rooms. Listen now to uncover how your executive presence could be the key to turning your technical expertise into tangible business impact. If this episode hit close to home, you already know: You don’t need to be louder. You need to be clearer, steadier, and more intentional in how you show up.And that’s exactly what we build here on Speak Up. To get access to the Executive Presence scorecard assessment click the link in the second paragraph of these show notes! 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.

    11 min

  8. FEB 4

    528: Hollywood Writer Shares Executive Presence Secrets to Consistently Captivate Your Audience

    Click here if: You’re a senior leader who’s finally ready to level up, speak up, get recognized and nail that promotion…and you want to work with Laura Camacho to build your Executive Presence in the next 90-120 days. 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. Are your presentations packed with facts but still falling flat? Learn the storytelling techniques Hollywood uses to keep people glued to their screens—and how you can apply them in your next meeting. Whether you’re an introvert leader dreading public speaking or a professional who regularly presents reports, this episode will show you why transferring information isn’t enough. You’ll learn how to structure your message with emotional impact, even when talking about numbers, finance, or technical topics. By the end of today’s episode you’ll know: 🎯 The storytelling framework used by professional TV writers to structure engaging communication. 🚀 Practical memorization and delivery techniques, especially tailored for introverts. 💰How to turn data-heavy presentations into compelling narratives that move people to action. Hit play to learn how to build presentations that hook your audience from the first sentence and leave them thinking long after it ends. So if you're an introvert executive who's tired of dreading every presentation — feeling like you're just surviving your time in the spotlight instead of owning the room — and deep down, you know you're capable of delivering something meaningful and memorable... That’s exactly why we created the Executive Presence scorecard — to give you an accurate view of your strengths and opportunities related to your executive presence. If that resonates, go to the show notes, click the first link in the second paragraph. About our guest: Former television writer and producer, Lee Schneider teaches storytelling masterclasses for architects, design professionals, and startup founders. He is an introvert who gives keynote presentations and moderates panel discussions. Lee has taught a media making and storytelling class at the University of Southern California's School of Architecture for over 10 years. He's the founder of Red Cup Agency, an award-winning podcast production company. Previously a writer/producer for major networks, he now focuses on practical storytelling frameworks for thought leaders. 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.

    26 min
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4.9
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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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