Elevate your leadership presence

Express yourself at the executive level so you can lead with ease in every room

You are really good at what you do.

You've built a career on being thorough, detail-focused, and reliable. When there's a problem that needs solving, people come to you. In one-on-one conversations, you're clear, thoughtful, and completely in your element.

But then there are the other moments.

The team meeting where you have the perfect solution but can't get the words out right. The presentation where your heart starts racing. The moment when you make a point that gets ignored, only to watch someone else make the same point minutes later to enthusiastic agreement.

You know you belong in these rooms. You've earned your place there. But something happens when the stakes feel higher, when there's an audience, when you're expected to prove your authority.

Maybe this has always been part of your story—you've never loved public speaking, but you've managed to get through it when necessary.

Or maybe something shifted along the way. More responsibility meant more visibility. A new role put you in front of different audiences. The higher you've climb, the harder these moments seem to feel.

The unpredictability is what gets to you most. You never know if this will be the meeting where you articulate your ideas perfectly, or the one where you stumble over words you've practiced a dozen times.

Either way, you've probably started avoiding the speaking opportunities you can. You make excuses, delegate to others, or simply don't pursue the visibility that you know, logically, would advance your career.

You over-prepare because you're terrified of being caught without an answer. You practice what you want to say over and over in your head but when you finally speak up, it doesn't come out right. Or you lose your train of thought completely.

The physical symptoms are real: heart racing, tightness in your chest, difficulty breathing, dry mouth.

Here's what's really happening

So sometimes you just choose not to speak. You shut down. You get quiet in meetings with senior leaders.

The irony is that people respect you and tell you to "speak up more"—but that feedback feels exhausting because it doesn't translate into tangible solutions.

Here's what I want you to know:

This isn't a communication issue. You communicate perfectly when you're comfortable.

The struggle isn't your voice. It's situational. It's systemic. You feel confident speaking when you're in situations where you're comfortable. The difference isn't your communication skills—it's comfort vs. performance pressure.

Maybe you’re wondering: "I get deferential around authority figures even though I have the same expertise." That's status anxiety, and it makes complete sense.

Or: "I used to be good at speaking, but since [this change] I'm overthinking and stuck in my head." Over-working perpetuates the problem.

You're not broken. The rooms are broken.

Interested in this work?

Sign up here and I'll be in touch with next steps (there's no obligation to commit when you sign up).

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    “After working with Lee, so many doors and opportunities opened up for me. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to jump on the chance to work with them earlier."

    — Chief Wellness Officerf

    How we work together

    This isn't about becoming someone you're not. It's about being more fully yourself with tools that help you access your natural confidence consistently.

    custom packages include

    Private Sessions

    75 minutes every other week on Zoom. We practice tools in real-time. I'm your thought partner, sounding board, and outside eye.

    Action Plans

    Clear recap and personalized plan after each session. The work folds naturally into your everyday communication because it's yours.

    Real-Time Support

    Message me between sessions for your biggest meetings and most important moments.

    Group Practice

    Monthly practice sessions with other empathetic leaders in a supportive environment.

    Two Paths Forward

    Executive

    3-months

    Express yourself at the executive level with more ease and less effort.

    $1,700/month

    Expert

    6-months

    The Executive process plus be seen as the expert you are while building thought leadership.

    $1,600/month

    Pay in full for a discounted rate. I reserve pay-what-you-wish spots for those working in social justice or who have lost their livelihood in this moment.

    Interested in this work? Submit the form and I’ll be in touch to schedule a chat on Zoom so we can get to know each other. There’s no obligation to sign up so please sign up today.

    Interested in this work?

    Sign up here and I'll be in touch with next steps (there's no obligation to commit when you sign up).

      Unsubscribe at any time.

      Hey, I’m Lee

      I never saw myself as an expert.

      I was confident doing the work itself, but the moment I had to talk about the work (or myself) I’d get shy and my mind would go blank. I thought I had nothing interesting to say.

      But then I realized that perfectionism was making it impossible for me to be present. The moment I stopped trying to “fix” my voice, I could articulate myself fully and freely.

      I’ve spent the past 10+ years helping thousands of empathetic leaders elevate their voices and authority with clients reporting 94.3% improved confidence and 92.5% increased meeting participation.

      • “My coworkers have noticed my increased confidence, and more importantly, I feel it.”

        Veterinarian

      • “Lee's empirical and practical methods have helped arm me with tools to strengthen, empower, and trust in my distinctive voice.”

        U.S. Military Officer

      • "I found myself feeling more comfortable and confident in situations that used to intimidate me."

        Chief Wellness Officer

      • "They dive deep and help to unearth your authentic voice."

        Michelle Gahee

      This work is for you if:

      • You have deep expertise but struggle articulating it in certain spaces

      • You work hard to have "Executive Presence" but it makes you doubt yourself

      • You defer to senior leaders even though you're an authority on your work

      • You're tired of colleagues getting recognition because they're more "polished"

      • You fear your communication is holding you back from advancement

      • You avoid speaking opportunities you know would advance your career

      What Actually Changes

      You stop over-thinking and over-working. You get out of your head and into the present moment. You speak with concise clarity when put on the spot. You create efficient frameworks that replace hours of preparation with focused presence. My clients also report the following transformation:

      Testimonials

      • "Working with Lee was transformative. They helped me acknowledge the deeper issues underneath my speaking anxiety while also offering easy and actionable tips to speak with more confidence and clarity."

        — Susanna Maffeo, Product Manager

      • "After working with Lee, so many doors and opportunities opened up for me. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to jump on the chance to work with them earlier."

        — Chief Wellness Officer

      • "I learned to let go of those values and practices of patriarchy and white supremacy that make me feel less significant and less worthy to be heard."

        — Toya Northington, Artist & Activist

      • "Through my work with Lee I’ve developed the presence of mind and cultivated a self-confidence that has led to real, positive change in interactions across all walks of life."

        — John Viscardi, Executive Vice President at Viscardi

      • "Lee helped me learn to trust myself and my voice, to be more present with others, to understand and manage my nerves, and shared fantastically easy and practical tools that I know I’ll be using for years to come! "

        — Sarah Karges, Psychotherapist

      • "Within just a few weeks, my speaking nerves dramatically diminished and I felt more confident presenting to clients and speaking off the cuff."

        — Alex Honeysett, CEO

      • "They help you be more of yourself when speaking, not less. And, they give you brilliant tools to do so. One session with Lee will change how you show up and speak to any room."

        — Christina Ferguson, Founder and Chief Storyteller, Parable

      • "The single best professional development training I have taken part in."

        — Zachary Rosen, CEO at Pantheon

      • "I have become clearer on who I am and what my purpose is - and how to communicate the impact I can have on my clients. This work was highly personalized and worth every penny."

        — Alex Hurworth, UX Leader

      • "PresentVoices offers a consistent avenue to amplify your authentic voice, bolstering confidence in yourself and your expression. If you seek to tap into your authentic voice in a safe space, this is where you should be."

        — Dr. Bobbi Snowden President, InVested in You Incorporated

      • "I leave the sessions feeling so refreshed, inspired, and supported. It's a great reminder that so many of us have similar fears around communication, and being reminded that I'm not alone is so encouraging."

        — Haley, Product Manager

      • "Lee's focus on providing various tools to disrupt the behaviors and habits that trigger my nervousness and anxiety when public speaking was a game changer for me."

        — VP, Actuary

      What questions are coming up?

      • I work with people across industries and seniority levels who want to leverage empathy to make an impact. I’ve worked with many physicians, software engineers, product managers, data science leaders, tech executives, nonprofit leaders, activists, engineering leaders, CEOs, and sales leaders.

        1. Sign up on this page.

        2. I’ll email you to set up a free call where we can get to know each other and see if I can support you.

        3. After signing up, you’ll complete an intake form to help me design our process to meet your goals.

        4. We meet every other week for a 75-minute private coaching session on Zoom.

        5. After each session, I email you a recap and personalized plan so you have full clarity of what to work on between now and next time.

        6. You’re encouraged to be in touch with me between our sessions so I can support you in real-time as you encounter roadblocks or questions.

        7. Once a month, you’re invited to come and practice our work in an intimate, confidential group space with my other clients. Think of this as public speaking exposure therapy as you build muscle memory to bring this work into some of your more challenging rooms and Zooms.

      • This work is personalized for your voice and daily moments. We build tools based on what already works for you, so it folds naturally into your communication. It works because it's yours.

      • This will save you time. Instead of hours spent over-preparing, you'll have frameworks you can access in the moment.

      • Our sessions go beyond theoretical. In each session, we are practicing and implementing tools so you feel prepared to bring this work into your biggest moments. Our sessions focus on getting you to your goals, whether we’re practicing tools for when you’re put on the spot or preparing for presentations or speaking engagements.

      • Yes, I work with corporate teams and occasionally launch my own group coaching programs:

      • This work opens opportunities for advancement and recognition. Most clients find it pays for itself through career growth.

        I reserve limited pay-what-you-wish spots, with priority given to people working for social justice.

      • Your empathy is your strength. The tools we use work with your brain, not against it. We focus on consolidating your attention in the present moment.

      • In our sessions, we build a foundation to support you across all of your communication, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t have specific speaking opportunities coming up.

        We want to begin using the tools in spaces where you’re more comfortable so you can build your confidence. I simulate the intensity of putting you on the spot in our sessions (and our group space is a great place to practice these tools).

      Have more questions? Email me at Lee@presentvoices.com

      “Lee helps you be *more* of yourself when speaking, not less. And, they give you brilliant tools to do so. One session with Lee will change how you show up and speak to any room - in person or virtual.”

      — Christina Ferguson, Founder and Chief Storyteller, Parable

      Ready to stop over-thinking?

      Interested in this work?

      Sign up here and I'll be in touch with next steps (there's no obligation to commit when you sign up).

        Unsubscribe at any time.

        Sign up and I’ll be in touch with next steps. There’s no obligation to sign up when you submit.

        I only work with a handful of private clients at a time for deep personalization. I accept applications based on fit and readiness.