You are really good at what you do.
You've built a career on being thorough and reliable. In conversations, you're clear, in your element.
But then there are the other moments.
The meeting where leadership shuts down ideas. The presentation where your heart races. The moment your point gets talked over, only to watch someone with more authority say the same thing and get acknowledged for it.
You're confident in your expertise. But around dominant leaders, you shrink. You second-guess. The clarity you had disappears.
You've probably started avoiding opportunities you know would advance your career. You make excuses, delegate, don't pursue visibility. Because the gap between your expertise and ability to articulate it feels too wide.
Status anxiety is real.
You defer to authority even though you have the expertise. It's not impostor syndrome. The system rewards dominance, even when depth matters more.
You over-prepare, terrified of being caught without an answer. You practice over and over. But when you speak, it doesn't land.
The physical symptoms are real: heart racing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing. Your body responds to the threat of dominance in the room.
So sometimes you stay silent. You shut down around senior leaders. You watch colleagues with half your expertise get promoted because they perform confidence better.
People tell you to "speak up more." But that's not a tool. That's just asking you to be different.
Every time you shrink, every time you over-prepare or stay silent because you're worried about perception—that's not just anxiety. That's systems designed to keep your voice small.
And right now?
We don't have time for small.
This isn't a communication issue. You communicate perfectly when you're comfortable.
The struggle is situational, systemic. You feel confident around people who listen, who value depth over dominance.
Status anxiety makes sense. You defer to authority even though you have the expertise. That's not a flaw. That's a response to systems designed to keep your voice small.
You're not broken. The rooms are broken.
This work isn't about perfecting your voice. It's about liberating it.
It's about stopping the compliance and performance. Stopping the over-working and self-doubt. Using your empathy as the focusing tool it was always meant to be.
The world needs people who can speak truth clearly, who can articulate what matters, who can align our voices with our values.
Not next year. Not when you've practiced enough. Right now.
“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
Current Offerings
Executive
3-months
$1700/month
Expert
6-months
$1600/month
custom packages include
Private Sessions
75-minutes every other week on Zoom. We practice in real-time so you leave with frameworks you can use immediately.
Personal Playbook
I send a clear recap after each session so you know exactly what to focus on.
Real-Time Support
You can message me between sessions for support with your biggest moments.
I reserve a few 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 an application and I’ll be in touch to schedule a chat on Zoom so we can get to know each other.
Group Practice
Monthly space on Zoom to try tools in a supportive environment with my other clients.
Hey, I’m Lee
I never saw myself as an expert, either.
I was confident doing the work. But the moment I had to talk about myself, I'd freeze.
Then I realized: perfectionism was making it impossible for me to be present. The moment I stopped trying to "fix" my voice, I could speak fully and freely.
I've spent 10+ years helping empathetic leaders do the same. My clients report 94.3% improved confidence, not because they became someone else, but because they stopped performing and started liberating their voices.
What actually changes
You stop performing and over-preparing. You speak truth clearly when put on the spot. You speak up for yourself and others more. You stop deferring to authority and start trusting your expertise.
The world needs people who can articulate what matters, who can use their voices to actually do something.
Not next year. Right now.
This work is for you if:
You have deep expertise but shrink around senior leaders or dominant personalities
You're confident in your work but defer when authority is in the room
You're tired of watching colleagues with less depth get recognition because they perform confidence better
You've been waiting for permission to speak up, to lead differently, to say what you actually mean
about
Empathetic Presence
Empathetic Presence means you stop performing confidence and start embodying it. You stop deferring to authority and start trusting your expertise. You get out of your head and into the present moment.
Embody your confidence
Get out of your head. Focus on presence, not perfection.
leverage your Empathy
Use empathy to influence in an impactful, authentic way.
own your expertise
Articulate your unique perspective clearly.
Testimonials
What questions are coming up?
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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.
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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.
After signing up, you’ll complete an intake form to help me design our process to meet your goals.
We meet every other week for a 75-minute private coaching session on Zoom.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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This will save you time. Instead of hours spent over-preparing, you'll have frameworks you can access in the moment.
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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.
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The fear isn't the problem. The fear makes sense. You've been in rooms where dominant voices get heard and depth gets ignored. Your body is responding to that.
Overcoming fear isn't about "getting over it" or building false confidence. It's about building tools that help you stay present even when the fear shows up. Tools that replace over-preparation with focused presence. Tools that help you stop performing and start speaking like yourself.
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Public speaking anxiety isn't just nerves. It's often status anxiety. You're confident in your expertise, but around senior leaders or dominant personalities, you get quiet.
The physical symptoms are real: heart racing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing. Your body responds to the threat of dominance in the room.
The struggle isn't your voice. It's situational, systemic. You need personal, practical tools to help you regulate your nervous system and anchor your attention in the present moment.
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Yes, I work with corporate teams and occasionally launch my own group coaching programs:
Group Coaching: Click here to get on the waitlist to be updated the next time I launch a group option.
Corporate Training: I design and facilitate custom workshops virtually or in-person which can be adapted for any size group. Click here to learn more.
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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. Apply at this link.
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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.
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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).
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I offer two coaching paths:
Executive (3 months): $1,700/month
Expert (6 months): $1,600/month
Both include bi-weekly private sessions, action plans, real-time support between sessions, and monthly group practice.
You can pay in full for 10% off and I offer additional discounts to teachers and those working for non-profits or advocacy. I also reserve a few pay-what-you-wish spots for those working in social justice or who have lost their livelihood.
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Executive presence is usually code for performing dominance. It's about projecting authority, commanding rooms, looking polished.
That's not what the world needs.
We don't need more dominant, disconnected leaders who struggle with actual connection. We need Empathetic Presence: people who can speak truth clearly, who use their empathy as a focusing tool, who align their voices with their values.
Empathetic Presence means you stop performing confidence and start embodying it. You stop deferring to authority and start trusting your expertise. You get out of your head and into the present moment.
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