Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

Our guest today is the vibrant and engaging AJ Vassar, international business coach and speaker. AJ comes from an underprivileged background being the eldest of 8 in a single-parent household. As he grew up, he realized that, regardless of finances, everyone has their struggles. Now he coaches individuals to sell and/or become professional speakers.If you want to be someone worth listening to, this episode is for you. AJ’s experience and wisdom will help you communicate your VALUE and SELL your ideas (even if you’re an introvert). You will also learn the importance of MINDSET and how to take any situation and make it better. Additionally, you will also get these golden, multi-million dollar takeaways:● The benefits of going through difficult times and embracing them as part of your story● Why you need to KNOW that what you have to say is important● The one question people will always ask themselves as your audience● Why you need to focus on contribution vs appreciation● Learning to value YOURSELF instead of looking to others for affirmation● How to evaluate yourself objectively● Using proactive language instead of reactive● A simple exercise to help you get out of your comfort zone

Today’s engaging guest on the Speak Up with Laura Camacho podcast is President of Formfree, Eric Lapin. Formfree is an innovative company in the finance world which uses direct source data to accurately assess credit risk.With a finance background, Eric has invaluable insight into managing risk-taking and innovation in the workplace and maneuvering times of change which we are all seeing at the moment—whether we like it or not!If you want to make CHANGE HAPPEN but are risk-averse, or if you are facing difficult changes in the workplace that are outside of your CONTROL, this episode is for you.In our jam-packed conversation, Eric and host Laura Camacho discuss:● Communication pitfalls that can come with an innovative company or approach in the workplace● How to handle resistance to change internally while building trust● Why as a leader it’s essential to know your audience● The reality of the velocity of change in our fast-paced world● How to tolerate failure without letting it get out of hand or be detrimental to the company● The importance of developing trust in a high-risk environment● Why you should strive to be SUCCINCT and communicate often with your teamThis episode of the Speak Up with Laura Camacho podcast is brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute.

Today’s guest on Speak Up with Laura Camacho specializes in helping leaders leverage their body language for impact. Join Laura in this bracing conversation with speech-writing awardwinner Richard Newman.After high school, Richard wasn’t sure what career he wanted to pursue and ended with his spending time in a Tibetan monastery teaching the resident monks English.This wildly unique experience taught Richard how to communicate with others beyond words and sparked his interest in authentic and effective communication principles. While working as a professional actor, Richard started helping hairdressers with their communication. His workshops were so successful that he founded UK Body Talk Ltd.In 2014 he won the Cicero Grand Prize for Best Speechwriter of the Year. His research with University of the City London highlights the immense impact of your body language on your leadership and influence, later published in You Were Born to Speak.In this fascinating episode Richard and host Laura cover:- The importance of congruence in communication- Understanding and working through our protective mechanisms- Why being too serious can undermine your message- How to trust your instincts when it comes to body language- How your nonverbal behavior can dramatically influence how others respond to you- The most effective gestures that persuade- The key to becoming a better story-tellerThis episode of the Speak Up with Laura Camacho podcast is brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute.

This fascinating episode of Speak Up with Laura Camacho features the fabulous Dr. Valerie Fridland, sociolinguist and professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.Her area of research is about the relationship between language and society. She wrote a book to help educate us about her findings entitled: Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English.Dr. Fridland grew up in Memphis, TN. Because her family was not native English speakers, they were treated as very exotic. This helped her notice early in life how people responded to differences in language.This enthralling episode is for anyone for whom English is a second language and/or wants to harness the power of language to improve their communication at work—so they can get their bottom line across. It’s a key resource for anyone struggling with verbal fillers - uhs, ums, and so on.In 45 action-packed minutes you will learn:- The challenges that having an accent can present in the workplace- The role women played in changing the English language into what we are familiar with today- Why women tend to be leaders in language change- How fillers in conversation can be beneficial linguistically and socially- How a compelling message always, always, always trumps delivery issues- Things to focus on if you want to improve your English if it is not your first language- Why using the word ‘like’ can help you come across as sociable and agreeableThis episode is brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute

In this episode of Speak Up with Laura Camacho, Laura has a wonderfully candid conversation with Jenne Sevilla, a certified financial planner, about one of the trickiest topics: money.Jenne entered the field of life insurance sales after college. She found that it did not come naturally to her, her tendency was to educate and develop relationships as opposed to sell quickly.After facing the same issue at a different firm, Jenne realized that insurance sales was not for her. She decided to take a position in a support role in the finance industry instead. During that time she educated herself thoroughly on the topic of personal finance and eventually became a certified financial planner. It was after this that she created Money Moods, a personal finance program that focuses on behavior first and helps you build financial confidence.In this episode, Jenne and Laura discuss the importance of addressing money openly in the workplace (and at home). Other wisdom bombs include:- How emotions play a pivotal role in our money behaviors- Signs you may be with the wrong financial advisor- Whether or not we should be worried about the banking industry- What is cash flow analysis and why it’s an essential part to financial health- Why as investors it is essential we pursue financial education- Why money has become a taboo topic- The five money moods: guarded, dreamer, spontaneous, generous, and passive Jenne’s strategies for bringing up money, even when it feels uber uncomfortableYou can learn more about Jenne and how she can help you on her website.Brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute by Laura Camacho, PhD.

Influence starts with a first impression.This is a mini-episode that will tell you exactly what you need to know about improving your elevator pitch to build massive social capital. In fifteen fast-paced minutes Laura will cover:- The most important quality you bring to a conversation- The number one tip for taking leadership of the conversation- Some ways to talk about your work to communicate the value you bring to the table- How to OWN all that you have to offer- The number one turn-off in introductory conversations- Tips for maneuvering networking events as an introvertThis episode is brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute

Michelle Gladiuex is founder of Gladieux Consulting, which helps organizations of all types and sizes use training and coaching to improve their workforce and workplace. Her approach to having courage at work includes learning how to manage risks, uncovering your blind spots, and getting an accurate perception of how others see you.Michelle had a love for science as a student and dove into organizational psychology. After 20+ years of working with many types of organizations and successfully implementing positive changes, she documented her expertise in her new book: Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges. In this lively podcast episode, you will learn:- How to take and manage calculated risks in communication - Why you should embrace imperfection in the workplace (and in life)- How to capitalize on and learn from your mistakes- The importance of finding and working on your blind spots- A powerful exercise to find out what people REALLY think about you- What to do when the voice of fear interferes - The power of following upYou can learn more about Michelle and her work at www.gladieuxconsulting.com.This episode of the Speak Up with Laura Camacho Podcast is brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute.

A friend introduced Laura to Jenny Melrose, a teacher-turned-massively successful business-owner who now consults influencers. She’s the influencer to the influencers. 😎This timely conversation drops a number of influence tips but intel that’s even more scarce: the essentials you need to launch a successful side hustle. If you’ve ever had to deal with that dreaded icky feeling that your career is eating too much into your family life, Jenny’s dealt with that as well. Jenny’s also a major introvert and the most organized person I know (except for my sister). What this means for you the listener is that not one nanosecond of this interview is wasted - it’s all diamond-studded value. In this intense conversation we share: - Take the very first step to see if your proposed side hustle is marketable - Jenny’s organized slide preparation process to save you time - A different perspective on confidence and how to grow it - What you need to know about social media algorithms - Analyze the risks involved in your potential side hustle Be sure to follow Jenny on Instagram or check out her website for more information about her consulting business. This episode brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute by Laura Camacho, PhD.

Welcome to episode #3 in the Supper Club Series! This conversation spotlights influencer and leading She Said/She Said podcaster Laura Cox Kaplan (@lauracoxkaplan), who spills the tea on building influence, winning over hard hearts and sharp minds, and even the steps to get a role on corporate or nonprofit boards.A corporate and non-profit board member and adviser, Laura has more than two decades of executive experience in public policy, communications, corporate governance, and stakeholder engagement in the public, private and non-profit sectors. As the Principal-in-Charge of Government, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Laura spent a decade on the executive management team of PwC and almost 12 years managing PwC’s public policy engagement strategy, which coordinates public policy strategies across 150+ countries. She also advises a broad range of c-suite level clients, and has significant experience building coalitions and partnerships to advance issues and policies.In this high-energy, 100% transparent conversation enjoy the insider influence tips like:- How to prepare if you want to leave corporate for something more creative- Tales from the trenches on getting more women elected to public office- A useful thread to tell your story when you feel like you should be bragging on yourself (btw this means you are normal!)- The word to use instead of “failure” to help you learn from it- What to do if you’re ready for a board position (corporate or nonprofit)- 3 keys to grow influence when you don’t have a trust fund or big personality- Energize yourself and stand out with dopamine dressingFollow Laura Cox Kaplan on Instagram or check out her podcast to keep updated on how to build and sustain influence.This episode brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute by Laura Camacho, PhD.

Here at Speak Up with Laura Camacho, we’re all about influencing the c-suite and BECOMING the c-suite. In this episode, Laura introduces you to her colleague, Donna Griffit, a Corporate Storyteller who has worked globally for over 18 years with Fortune 500 companies and Startups. Leveraging her early days in theater, Donna developed the ability to magically spin raw data into compelling stories that captivate audiences and drive results and now she’s sharing that with us.Donna’s book, Sticking To My Story - The Alchemy Of Storytelling For Startups, is not just for start-ups, any high performing professional needs to ace the storytelling skill set. Laura was particularly impressed with her technique of preparing presentations and for nailing the Q&A. You’ll love our discussion around why so many corporate presentations bring us to “suislide”.Whether you’re a technical leader or not, Donna shares super helpful tips to use data to craft compelling stories.In this lively conversation, pick up some tips to give yourself an unfair advantage at work:- The real reason behind TMI in our presentations and what to do about it- Where to position your recommendation to beat competing solutions- What you want to collect that makes your presentation bullet proof- How technical presentations can leverage emotional connection to persuade- The questions you need to answer before creating the first slide- Make your presentation a conversation, not a tsunami of facts- Specifically word your question to the audience for the best result- The underlying role of slides in supporting your presentationThis episode brought to you by The Practical Guide to Effective Communication: Get Recognized for the Value You Already Contribute by Laura Camacho, PhD.