Your Maven Self > Executive Presence

Executive Presence Is a Trap — Let’s Redefine It

Most women in leadership have been told at some point that they need to “develop executive presence.”

But here’s the truth we don’t say out loud often enough:

Those expectations were created in an era when women weren’t even in the room.

For decades, “executive presence” has been code for boldness, volume, and dominance—traits that work for some, but hardly define great leadership. What gets overlooked are qualities like collaboration, curiosity, discernment, and relational intelligence. Strengths many women naturally bring to the table.

And yet, these strengths are often undervalued simply because they don’t fit the mold.

I learned this firsthand early in my career, when I was told I needed to “improve” how I briefed senior leaders. My approach was different from others at the table—more measured, more relational—and instead of being recognized as effective, it was treated as a gap.

A Client Story: From Performing to Leading

One of my clients, a VP in a male‑dominated industry, came to me with a familiar concern. She’d been told she lacked the “executive presence” needed for a C‑suite role.

Her leadership was relational, collaborative, and generous.

But in a culture that rewarded boldness and volume, her strengths were dismissed. She was overlooked, her expertise minimized, and she began second‑guessing her instincts.

Together, we shifted the focus.

We clarified the leader she wanted to be—not the one she was told to emulate.

We rebuilt her presence from the inside out: grounded in her values, aligned with her natural style, and expressed with clarity.

And the transformation was remarkable.

She stopped performing and started leading.

She no longer chased approval or overcompensated.

She spoke with conviction in large rooms, contributed insights with confidence, and felt like an equal at the table—within months.

The real validation came when the same peers who once questioned her readiness began openly acknowledging her impact.

This is the kind of shift that reminds me why I love this work.

What Presence Really Looks Like

This is what happens when leadership presence flows from authenticity.

When you’re aligned with your values and strengths, you don’t have to chase credibility.

You embody it.

Executive presence shouldn’t be a performance.

It should be a reflection of who you are at your best.

A Better Question

If you’ve been told you need more executive presence, I’d invite you to pause and ask a different question:

“How can I redefine the norms and lead as my true self?”

That’s the conversation I help women leaders step into—one grounded in truth, not templates.

Maven Mindset

Your leadership doesn’t need to be louder.

It needs to be truer.

Let’s challenge the norms together.