Authentic Professional: Developing your executive presence

When you think of someone that embodies “an executive presence,” who comes to mind? If we’re being honest with ourselves, does that example feel out of reach or not true to your personality? It is possible to cultivate a posture of leadership in an authentic way.

In our panel discussion "Authentic Professional" our panelists Erica Zaretsky (Miro), Ashley Merrill (Donaldson), and Katie Capuzzo (WISE) shared perspectives on how you can hone your executive presence authentically. 

Here are some key takeaways to guide you in your professional journey.

Authentic executive checklist. 

Do you care? Are you passionate? Are you humble? Showing up as yourself and encouraging your team to do the same, projects a vision that inspires trust.

Curiosity over perfection. 

Along your career journey, there may be times when you feel out of place or under qualified. The best way to feel more comfortable and prepared is by asking questions to better understand business priorities or career paths you’re interested in. Don’t overthink it, show up with a curiosity and an eagerness to learn.

Keep your business acumen flexible. 

We’re not saying you should completely change with each new room you enter. But being self aware is key when understanding what motivates you, and in turn, how you develop an authentic executive presence. You’ll likely need to adapt to different audiences and evolve in new roles. This shows a growth mindset! However, if there’s misalignment with your values and the company’s, you may find that you’re having to show up inauthentically at your core, which is exhausting and unsustainable long term.

Need some career advice? Ask our experts at advice@womeninsaleseverywhere.com.

Want to learn more? You can stream the full event recording here.

‍Thank you to all of the WISE partners for making this event possible and our panelists for sharing their time and advice.