Executive Speaking, Inc.

Executive Speaking, Inc. Provider of Executive Speaker Coaching Since 1979 Speaking is an art- But speaking is also a science.

I specialize in bringing the best out of each client and giving each client the tools to be their best without me. My goal is to give each client the tools they need to speak at the right level to the right audience with the right message in the style that’s right for them. I help clients get beyond their own myopic myths – I’m speaking too fast… I can’t find the right word… Ehs…ahs...You knows… t

o learn the skills that empower and liberate. I have spent decades coaching thousands of leaders and emerging leaders, from Fortune 50 CEOs to frontline managers, from Singapore to San Francisco, from Delhi to Dubai. What keeps me going is discovering what is unique about each client and then building on that foundation of authenticity. I am constantly developing, testing, and refining new tools to help each client learn faster, better – their way. I feel so privileged that clients have trusted me to coach them for key board meetings, analyst meetings, and town halls – when decisions are crucial -When careers are on the line.

If you are an experienced road warrior, you’ve learned to pack less. Less baggage equals more ease. If you want to be an...
06/10/2026

If you are an experienced road warrior, you’ve learned to pack less. Less baggage equals more ease.

If you want to be an effective speaker, you must apply the same lesson. You need to pack less into your presentation. The more data and catchphrases you add, the less ease and impact you’ll have.

Audiences today suffer from cognitive overload. You don’t need research to tell you that attention spans are shrinking. You see it every day. In meeting after meeting, how many screens do you have open at one time?

When my husband showed me a gorgeous image of the new Rolls-Royce electric car, my reaction was instant. So sleek. Such clean lines. What harmony.

You may not be presenting something as glamorous. You still want your audience to make an instant connection with your key point. They need to see the clean lines of your strategic thinking.

If you want help distilling your message so you feel at ease and connect instantly with the room, schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation to explore my virtual leadership speaking programs: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min

A Yale University business simulation experiment proved this when researchers asked two groups to distribute employee bo...
06/08/2026

A Yale University business simulation experiment proved this when researchers asked two groups to distribute employee bonuses from a set fund. Each person wanted to get a large bonus for specific employees while remaining fair to everyone. The groups didn't know that researchers put an actor in each room.

The first group got a downbeat, negative actor. Conflicting agendas quickly ruined the meeting, creating heavy stress and tension.

The second group got an upbeat, positive actor. The atmosphere shifted. Everyone finished the session feeling good about the result.

The group followed the actor.

As a leader, your mood speaks before your words do. When you speak under pressure, your team catches your emotional state. You must manage your internal tone to control the room.

You cannot fake your way into a positive environment. Instead, I teach leaders to use acting tools of concentration to anchor their presence. By sharing specific stories that naturally connect you to the exact mood you need, you tap into genuine emotion. You find your pivot point and lead from a place of real conviction.

It's not about faking it. It's about making it.

Let's talk about how virtual coaching can change your impact. You can book a time with me here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min



Chairman gets fired for bullying and abusive behavior." When I read that headline about the chairman of a major corporat...
05/27/2026

Chairman gets fired for bullying and abusive behavior."

When I read that headline about the chairman of a major corporation getting terminated for bullying and abusive behavior, I was surprised. I was surprised for two reasons.

First, the heyday of the big bad bully has passed. When I founded my business decades ago, I would hear tales of leaders jumping up on tables to make their point. One of my clients told me about a time he was talking to the CEO of one of the largest corporations in technology. The CEO wanted to make a point, so he hit a file cabinet viciously, making a dent. My client responded by making another dent.

Big-time bullying is nothing new. It's interesting that so many headlines called that out in the press around the world. Maybe the world is changing and that kind of behavior is fading out of favor. Who knows?

What really surprised me was the shortness of his tenure. He was terminated after eight months. This shows me that at every level of the corporation today, the honeymoon period has shrunk. Significantly!

New leaders are being asked to fit into the culture and prove their worth immediately. In years past, I would get calls from new leaders who were struggling after about nine months to a year. Now I'm getting calls about leaders who are being judged and potentially terminated after just four months because of their communication. In today's instant, on-demand world, you can't have a slow start. The window of opportunity to establish your leadership presence is shrinking.

If you want to make sure that you are communicating at your best in every new situation, whether you are in front of investors, the board, or your leadership team, let's talk.

You can book a time with me here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min



Why did that reference to replacing jobs with AI get so much attention, like the front-page headline in the Wall Street ...
05/20/2026

Why did that reference to replacing jobs with AI get so much attention, like the front-page headline in the Wall Street Journal?

Why shouldn't a leader speak in analytic terms? Corporate talk reflects clear strategic thinking. What's the difference between talking about working capital and low-value human capital?

The difference is significant.

We all see the power of AI, but we also see the threats. Leaders today have to show respect for their workforce as people, not parts of a process. Leaders can't use language that is dispassionate and euphemistic. He can't follow up that kind of comment by telling his company that some people were "unsettled."

When I coach leaders to speak, particularly in times of disruptive change, we begin by thinking about what they want to say. That's step one. But step two involves thinking about what the audience wants to hear.

This CEO's workforce was upset, angry, scared, and insulted. They were experiencing so many intense feelings. His use of "unsettled" reflected his distancing from the room and his lack of personal connection with his audience.

If you want to learn how to position tough messages in these times of disruptive change so the attention you get is positive and constructive, I invite you to consider private virtual coaching. Let's talk about how you can communicate authentically under pressure: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min

A CEO I coached recently spent twenty minutes explaining a complex merger. He had data, he had logic, and he had a visio...
05/14/2026

A CEO I coached recently spent twenty minutes explaining a complex merger. He had data, he had logic, and he had a vision. But by the time he finished, the room looked like they’d just run a marathon in the dark. He’d buried his brilliance under a mountain of detail.

In the moment, he thought he was being thorough. He was actually being invisible.

When you’re under pressure in high-stakes meetings, the temptation is to dump everything you know. You want to prove your value through volume. I’ve seen this mistake for over forty years, and the result is always the same: your audience stops listening and starts waiting for you to stop talking.

To command the room, you have to move from explaining to leading.

I taught him to use my proprietary Core Satellite System. It’s the framework I use to help leaders organize their thoughts so they land with clarity and confidence. Instead of a linear data dump, you focus on one key point and let every other detail orbit around it. If a piece of information doesn’t support that central idea, it doesn't belong in the conversation.

Stop trying to be a walking encyclopedia. Be a leader with a message.

If you’re ready to stop rambling and start projecting real executive presence, let's talk about how you can pivot your communication style.

Book a strategy session with me here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min



We're living in a world where AI can draft your emails and apps can track your speech patterns. It’s tempting to think t...
05/13/2026

We're living in a world where AI can draft your emails and apps can track your speech patterns. It’s tempting to think that more data equals better communication. But executive communication is a human-to-human endeavor. It’s about trust. It’s about how you show up authentically when the stakes are at their highest.

A personal coach acts as a strategic partner, not just a trainer. I work virtually with clients all over the world, and the focus is always the same: how do we make your message unshakeable? We look at the "pivot point" in your presentation where you might lose the audience. We look at how you answer hostile questions without losing your cool.

You can't get that from a platform that manages ten thousand coaches. You get it from a direct relationship with someone who has a vested interest in your specific success. When you work with a boutique firm, you aren't a user in a database. You're a leader with a mission.

Ready to elevate your communication?

Book a 30-minute strategy session here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min



There is a specific kind of warmth that exists in high-stakes leadership. It isn't about being "friends" with your repor...
05/12/2026

There is a specific kind of warmth that exists in high-stakes leadership. It isn't about being "friends" with your reports. It’s about being authentically human while maintaining the boundaries of your role. Many leaders swing too far in one direction. They are either cold and distant, or they become so vulnerable that the team starts to worry about the leader’s own mental state.

One of the most effective ways to show empathy without losing authority is through the use of "pivot points" in your conversation. Acknowledge the struggle, then pivot to the path forward. This structure shows that you are compassionate, but you are still the one holding the map. It prevents the conversation from spiraling into a venting session while ensuring the team feels heard. Most executives need less material and more focus on how they deliver that material. For more on how to strike this balance, check out my Programs for 1-on-1 coaching: https://executivespeaking.net/programs/

If you’re ready to transform how you lead your team through high-stakes uncertainty, let’s talk.

Check out my one-on-one coaching here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min

I recently started working with a new business unit CFO who came to me with a common challenge. Her leadership team saw ...
05/05/2026

I recently started working with a new business unit CFO who came to me with a common challenge. Her leadership team saw immense potential in her. She was brilliant, possessed sharp analytical skills, and had a tireless work ethic. Despite those strengths, she lacked leadership presence.

When we met virtually for our first session, I immediately spotted the problem. This CFO was constantly in motion. She jiggled her leg, bounced back and forth in her chair, and stabbed the air with her gestures. Her body was telling a story of restlessness rather than authority.

When I pointed out these behaviors, she wasn't surprised. She told me she always bounces around because it makes her feel comfortable. That was the trap. Her unconscious habit of striving for personal comfort was actively sabotaging her leadership presence in the eyes of her peers.

If you have movement habits, such as pacing or bouncing in your chair, you might be sabotaging your own presence without even realizing it.

The Shift to Intentionality

What is the solution? You have to shift from unconscious, comfort-seeking behaviors to intentional actions that connect you with your message and your audience.

You don't need to focus on simply stopping a habit. Instead, you must focus on orchestrating your behaviors to build the presence you need to advance your agenda and your career. When you are under pressure, your physical discipline becomes a key point of your overall delivery.

I have spent over 40 years helping hundreds of leaders and emerging leaders develop the habits they need to command the room with clarity and confidence. If you have been told you need to build your leadership presence but don't know where to start, let's talk.



Ready to transform your leadership presence? Schedule a 30-minute introductory call with me here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min

Pick up any article on board presentation tips and you’ll read, "Judgment is one of the key factors boards consider when...
04/28/2026

Pick up any article on board presentation tips and you’ll read, "Judgment is one of the key factors boards consider when choosing their next-generation leaders."

So how do you demonstrate judgment?

Your first thought might be to describe how you’ve made tough decisions in the past—a tough decision about reducing headcount or a big bet on a new product launch.

The problem with describing these pivotal moments is that they focus on the past. How many times have you read this disclaimer about making an investment: "Past performance is no indication of future performance"?

When your board is making decisions about investing in the success of your company going forward, you need to describe what you anticipate will happen. You need to show how you’re going to focus on building success in these turbulent times of shifting political sands and erupting technical innovations.

Of course, you don’t have a crystal ball. But what do you imagine? And what does that say about your judgment?

I was having coffee with a CEO client who just completed a major acquisition, finished a new round of financing, and is getting ready to go public. He’s driving incredible momentum, so I asked him, "What do you see as your biggest challenge five years from today?"

Without hesitation, he responded, "Social unrest."

What does that say about his judgment? It’s provocative. It makes you think. He’s demonstrating that he looks at a future that is more than product innovation and more than margin growth. He is demonstrating judgment that is broad and strategic.

If you’re looking for ways to demonstrate your judgment, authentically, I invite you to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min. I have a 40-year track record of helping leaders speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose in the boardroom.

Complexity is the reality of leadership today. You deal with intricate data and multi-layered strategies every hour. The...
04/23/2026

Complexity is the reality of leadership today. You deal with intricate data and multi-layered strategies every hour. The challenge isn't the data itself, but how you communicate it without diluting the substance or drowning your audience in a deluge of details.

Focus on Meaning Over Process

You must resist the temptation to showcase the thoroughness of your analysis. Leaders often feel compelled to prove their hard work by walking through every pivot point of their research. Your audience doesn't want to join you on a journey through every twist and turn. They aren't interested in the struggle of the "how."

Your audience wants to know what the analysis means to them. When you prioritize the meaning over the mechanics, you respect their time and their cognitive energy. You have to give up the assumption that what’s obvious to you is obvious to them. They don't want the burden of figuring it all out.

Lead the Way

If you want to keep the room engaged, you have to show them where you're going and why they should follow you. This shift in focus ensures your message lands with clarity and confidence. When you organize your message using the proprietary Core Satellite System, you ensure that every key point connects directly back to your central strategy.

Moving through complex ideas faster and better is a skill that gives you a competitive advantage. I've coached hundreds of executives to find that strategic focus under pressure. We can work together to ensure your brilliance isn't lost in the numbers.

If you’re ready to command the room with your ideas, let’s talk.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation here: https://calendly.com/execspeak/30min



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55402

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