In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Susan Colantuono, Michelle Redfern, and Mel Butcher take a hard look at executive presence—what it actually is, why it matters, and why so much advice aimed at women misses the mark.
Executive presence is often framed as polish, confidence, or style. This conversation reframes it as something far more substantive: how leaders are perceived when decisions are being made. Presence is built through clarity of thinking, business judgement, and the ability to connect work to outcomes that matter to the organisation.
The discussion challenges superficial advice and focuses instead on the skills and behaviours senior leaders respond to. Particularly the ones that influence trust, credibility, and advancement.
What this episode covers
What executive presence really means at senior levels
Why traditional advice about presence fails women
How business and strategic judgement shape credibility
The role of language, clarity, and outcomes in leadership perception
Why presence is earned through contribution, not performance
Key insights
Executive presence is not a personality trait. It is a leadership signal.
Leaders are trusted when they demonstrate sound judgment under pressure.
Women are often coached on visibility while being under-coached on how power and decisions work.
Recommended reading
No Ceiling, No Walls
Make the Most of Mentoring
Who this episode is for
Women preparing for senior or enterprise-level leadership roles
Leaders who want to understand how credibility is assessed
Coaches and managers supporting women’s progression
Anyone tired of vague advice about “confidence” and “style”
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