Let’s be real - executive presence might be the most overused, under-explained feedback in corporate America. If you've ever been told to "speak up more," "own the room," or "look the part," there's a good chance you walked away wondering: What does that even mean?
And if you're a first- or second-generation professional - especially a woman of color, a first-gen college grad, an immigrant, or someone navigating workplace culture you didn’t grow up in - executive presence can feel like a moving target. One that shifts depending on who’s in the room, what’s trending on LinkedIn, or which manager decides what “leadership material” looks like this quarter.
Too often, executive presence gets packaged as a vibe: charismatic, commanding, a little mysterious, and definitely fluent in corporate buzzwords. Or worse, it’s reduced to surface-level optics: loud voice, strong handshake, expensive shoes. But here’s the thing. That’s not presence. That’s performance. And it’s exhausting.
So WTF is executive presence, really?
At its core, executive presence is how people experience you when you walk into a room, and how they remember you when you leave. It’s the blend of energy, communication, and credibility that signals: I’ve got this and you can trust me to lead.
It has nothing to do with having the most polished accent, the fanciest title, or the loudest voice. In fact, some of the most powerful people in the world speak softly, don’t wear suits, and have zero desire to dominate a room. They lead by being fully themselves - not a watered-down, office-friendly version of who they think they should be.
The real markers of executive presence? Think 3 Cs:
Clarity - You speak with intention. You know what you’re trying to say and why it matters. You don’t just communicate information, you create alignment.
Calm - You hold your ground when things get tense. Not by faking stoicism, but by managing your emotions without suppressing them. You take a breath, respond instead of react, and make others feel safe following your lead.
Credibility - You know your stuff, and it shows, not because you talk over people or rattle off your résumé, but because you speak from your lived experience, not around it. You’re grounded in your value. You don’t overexplain. You don’t shrink. You don’t seek permission to be in the room.
Notice what’s not on this list: perfect grammar; fancy degrees; burning yourself out to prove you belong. Executive presence is not about assimilating to an outdated ideal. It’s about aligning who you are with how you show up.
That’s power. And it’s buildable.
Want to build your version of executive presence? Start here:
Your voice doesn’t have to be loud, but it does need to be clear. Try this filter: Am I saying what I mean, or am I saying what I think they want to hear? If it’s the latter, there’s work to do - not in your vocabulary, but in your self-permission.
👋🏽 Hi! I’m Minal — a Career Success & Leadership Coach for 1st & 2nd generation professionals. I help ambitious folks like you break free from outdated workplace narratives and finally own the room without working harder, code-switching, or playing small.
If no one ever taught you how to build executive presence, that’s not your fault. Most people can’t define it, let alone teach it, especially in a way that includes folks who aren’t already in the room.
But that’s what we’re doing here.
Every issue of Unmuted is about rewriting the rules - on leadership, confidence, and visibility - so that you can rise without burning out, shape-shifting or selling out.
You don’t have to shout to be heard. But you do have to stop whispering your worth.
Presence isn’t about assimilation. It’s about alignment - between your voice, your values, and your vision. Let’s build real presence. The kind that makes people remember your name and not just your résumé.
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If today’s issue made you feel seen, sparked a shift, or gave you something real to work with…
Because presence isn’t performance. It’s power. Let’s build it together.
See you next week!
