Last call: MBA application deadline extended to June 29. No application fee, no test scores required. Apply now.

Apply Now

Executive Presence and Strategic Influence

  • Two-day course
  • Top-ranked school
  • World-renowned faculty

Communicate with Clarity, Credibility, Confidence and Impact

This two-day interactive program helps leaders strengthen executive presence as a critical capability for influencing stakeholders, aligning teams and driving results in high-stakes environments. As leaders face greater visibility and complexity, how they communicate — and how they’re perceived — becomes crucial to their effectiveness. Participants will develop practical skills to communicate with authority and authenticity, navigate pressure with composure, and adapt their presence across diverse leadership contexts. Through real-time practice and immediate application, participants will build the confidence and capability to lead with impact and sustain their effectiveness beyond the program.

Upcoming Program Dates

December 2-3, 2026 
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Why Rice Business Executive Education

  • World-Renowned Faculty: Learn from expert, award-winning business school faculty who are leaders in their fields.
  • Experiential Learning: Gain practical insights through real-world applications, faculty consulting experience, and collaboration with peers.
  • Alumni Benefits: Participants receive access to future events, including executive speakers and conferences.

Who Should Attend

  • Senior managers, directors, vice presidents and high-potential leaders preparing for broader or executive-level responsibilities
  • Leaders managing cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholder groups, as well as technical or functional experts seeking to increase their strategic influence
  • Professionals who need to communicate with clarity and confidence in high-stakes situations
  • Early-career leaders and first-time supervisors seeking to build credibility, confidence and a strong foundation in executive presence

Outcome

  • Participants will leave the program with:
  • Strengthen executive presence to communicate with clarity, credibility and confidence
  • Apply practical techniques to influence stakeholders and drive alignment in high-stakes situations
  • Adapt communication style across different audiences and contexts
  • Increase awareness of how you are perceived, and how to adjust in real time
  • Maintain composure and effectiveness under pressure
  • Develop a clear, actionable plan to strengthen executive presence

 

Program Schedule

 
AM Session
PM Session

DAY ONE

Foundations of Executive Presence

  • Understand the key executive presence principles for today’s rapidly changing environment
  • Communicate with authenticity and credibility
  • Identify ways to strengthen your personal brand through executive presence

Executive Presence as a Catalyst for Influence and Impact

  • Understand the elements of persuasive leadership communication
  • Apply physical and vocal techniques to communicate with confidence
  • Demonstrate both authority and warmth in virtual settings
  • Use self-regulation techniques to maintain composure under pressure
  • Read the room and adapt in real time

DAY TWO

Assess and Practice Executive Presence Skills

  • Address imposter syndrome and strategies to overcome it
  • Identify strengths and gaps in your executive presence skill set
  • Engage in interactive exercises to practice and refine skills through peer feedback

Develop a Personalized Executive Presence Plan

  • Debrief key insights from practice sessions
  • Identify specific behavior changes to strengthen executive presence
  • Apply techniques to overcome common barriers and accelerate growth
  • Translate insights into a personalized executive presence plan

Meet Your Professor

Want to Know More

Connect With Us

What Participants Say

Craig Taylor, CEO of Atlas Commodities – a mid-stream energy company, shares the value of Rice Business Executive Education programs and how they’ve fueled the success of the organization’s employees.