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 memorable

Hit 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 hello@speakupwithlaura.com 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.

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 not

Hit 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 hello@speakupwithlaura.com.

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...

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 leadership

Listen 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.