You know you need ‘leadership presence' to be an exec. You may have heard about the importance of ‘command' or ‘executive presence'. And that's good.

Because this matters if you want to be seen as senior leadership material.

But what does it all even mean?

And how can you start to demonstrate it?

One of the biggest challenges I hear from the women I work with is this:

“How do I demonstrate that I'm ready to be a senior leader if I don't have the team or the authority yet?“

Today, I'm going to dive into a great way to start doing just that. I'm going to share:

  • What it means to own the room
  • Why it's so important for leaders
  • Key factors to help you start owning the room today

Let's dive in…

What is ‘owning the room' anyways?

Owning the room is all about the energy that you radiate when you walk into a room or share an idea. Note that it doesn't need to be loud, and you don't need to be an extrovert. Rather, your energy says, “I belong here“.

We probably all know what this looks like in other leaders, but is it something you can develop? The short answer is yes.

Owning the room looks like knowing your value, speaking with clarity, and holding space with authority – i.e. without shrinking, apologizing, or over-explaining.

These are all things you can learn to do. I know, because I've learned them. I went from a shy kid who never spoke up (I'm serious, my first boss joked that I didn't speak for the first year of my career) to someone who portrays confidence and presence.

And you can too.

Now, maybe you're asking yourself:

Why is this so important to develop?

The answer lies in a theme that I've written and spoken about many times: perception. Like it or not, the way people perceive us often determines whether we're considered for a big opportunity or that upcoming promotion.

Working hard with your head down is simply not enough. People assess your leadership potential by the way you show up: your executive presence.

And owning the room = executive presence in action

Sometimes our ability to influence peers or rally the team around a new direction is more important than hard work or expertise. Sounds crazy, but it's true!

How to start if you struggle here

Here are three areas to pay attention to if you're not quite sure where to start:

1. Be aware of your body language

Your presence speaks even before you do. In fact, the moment you walk into a room is your opportunity to own it. It’s not about being the loudest. It’s about being grounded, composed, and intentional.

People feel your confidence in your posture, tone, and energy before you even speak.

2. Master your communication style

Clarity is such a power tool. The most influential leaders communicate with intention and precision. They don’t ramble, over-explain, or seek validation. They get to the point, know their value, and speak with purpose. And that’s what makes people listen.

3. You don't need to be an extrovert!

Remember that owning the room is a skill, not a personality type. You don’t need to be extroverted or dominate the conversation to own the room. Presence, influence, and confidence are skills you can build. With the right tools and practice, any woman can show up like a leader and stay in command of the room.

So… are you convinced you need to own the room?

If yes, it's time to get in the room with me. Literally.

If you don't believe one day can change your life, I want to change your mind this summer at a one-day event jam-packed with interactive workshops and sessions that will have you leaving as a more confident and influential leader.

You'll get to spend the day with me and a special guest to perfect your elevator pitch, create your vault of influential leadership stories, learn to speak and present with confidence and authority, and gain clarity into the authentic leader you are ready to be.

It's going to be transformational!

​Find out more and grab your spot when you subscribe to my newsletter​!

Until next time friends… ✌️💜

Katy