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The turning point wasn’t effort — it was executive presence
I thought I was getting promoted to Partner.
I’d worked the long hours.
Delivered the complex projects.
Earned the stellar reviews.
When the decision came…there was much anticipation, and the decision was a quiet “no.”
No explanation.
No roadmap.
Just a sinking feeling in my gut.
At first, I felt shame, doubt, grief.
Then I made a choice:
I wasn’t done.
But here’s what I realized—
Working harder and billing more hours wasn’t going to change anything.
I had to work on how I showed up.
I studied executive presence as if it were my full-time job.
According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s framework, executive presence breaks down into:
→ 60% Gravitas — confidence & decisiveness under pressure.
→ 30% Communication — clarity, brevity, making others feel heard.
→ 10% Appearance — showing you take your work seriously from the first impression.
For me, the turning point was mastering two things:
- Brevity – say less, mean more.
- Confidence – not sounding smart but sounding certain.
That shift changed everything.
I went from being overlooked…
…to being followed.
Now, I coach professionals who’ve been passed over or underestimated.
We rebuild how they show up.
We reframe failure.
We reposition them to rise.
If you just got the email…
If the promotion went to someone else…
If you’re wondering “What now?”
This isn’t the end. It’s your next beginning.