Executive Presence: How to Lead with Calm Confidence

Editor’s Note

Monica Pereira is one of the most exceptional brand marketers I’ve had the privilege to work with. During our time together at Lutron Electronics, I learned from her not only because she’s sharp and talented, but because of her thoughtfulness, subtle presence, and masterful use of the pause in conversations and presentations.

If anyone embodies the power of pause, it’s Monica. She’s polished, grounded, a true leader, and a devoted mother who shows that it’s possible to succeed professionally while balancing motherhood with grace.

Her journey, from consulting to startups to corporate leadership, has shaped a leadership style rooted in self-awareness, authenticity, and intention.

In our conversation, she shares experiences ranging from golf workshops and startup speed to sitting beside Tim Ferriss at Oheka Castle—moments that influenced how she shows up and shares her ideas.

What has had the most impact on your perspective as a woman in leadership?

The biggest influence has been reflecting on my own journey through three phases:

1. Learning confidence in structured environments where I didn’t fit the mold.

2. Finding my voice in entrepreneurial and more creative settings.

3. Owning my perspective and feeling comfortable leading as myself.

   
   

Early in my career at Accenture, I often felt pressure to “fit in” to traditional business norms—even joining golf workshops meant to help women connect with client executives. Later at Sony, I realized how energized I felt in creative marketing. And when I helped launch a boutique growth agency serving venture-backed startups, I was surrounded by women whose confidence I admired and wanted to build in myself.

Each stage gave me building blocks. Today, I ground my presence in confidence, individuality, and the ability to bridge structure with creativity.

From your perspective, what makes leadership most challenging for women in today’s workplace?

There’s still an implicit bias tied to a long history of male dominance in business, especially when there isn’t a clear, intentional effort to change it. Without intention, the imbalance keeps perpetuating itself.

I also think emotional intelligence (EQ) skills are often overlooked or undervalued. Many workplaces reward the loudest voice or the fastest response. When that value system exists, it creates a loop where those traits keep winning.

When you think of executive presence, what comes to mind for you?

Executive presence is deeply tied to demeanor and how you treat people.

If you have a track record of success, carry yourself with confidence, and maintain composure, especially in challenging situations, you naturally project emotional intelligence.

And when you recognize that your success has never been yours alone, and you acknowledge the people who helped you, it shapes how you show up.

That kind of grounded presence is hard to fake. It’s in:

• How you listen

• How you treat others

• The calm you bring into a room

  
  

Style matters too, how you present yourself visually can enhance presence—but it only works when paired with authenticity, kindness, and emotional steadiness.

What has changed the most in your executive presence over the course of your career?

The biggest change has been self-awareness, especially not over-identifying with traits or characteristics.

Self-awareness means recognizing the influences that shaped you. I grew up with a beautiful but patriarchal Latino cultural influence that affected how I interacted with authority and how comfortable I felt advocating for myself.

As I took on leadership roles and managed people from diverse backgrounds, those patterns became clearer. I also discovered I really love the development side of leadership—helping people grow—and that process becomes a mirror. You start noticing traits in others that reflect your own strengths or your growth edges.

Self-awareness is understanding what shaped you without letting it box you in. It’s asking:“How can I use who I am as a strength to lead better and interact more effectively at work?”

Tips for commanding a room, reading an audience, and being authentic when presenting ideas?

I once presented on stage at a sales meeting to a room of 300 employees. I knew the audience, but presenting at that scale is different from presenting to a small group of executives or in a hybrid meeting.

For formal presentations in a bigger space:

• Know your talking points deeply (not a memorized script, but clear key points)

• Practice so you can be crisp and tight (what works for a small group won’t land the same way with a large audience)

• Edit yourself—clarity and pacing matter more at scale

• Find familiar faces in the room to ground yourself

When I was on that stage, spotting people I knew helped me stay steady and connected.

How do decision-making approaches vary across different organizations?

It varies a lot by workplace culture.

In some environments, “decisiveness” is really about determining:

• the next step

• who should be involved

• how discussions should happen

Those choices become the decisions, and my role is often facilitation and alignment.

That’s very different from startup environments, where the culture is rapid execution and fast decisions. In that setting, asking everyone for input can be seen as a cost to the business.

Must-read / watch / listen recommendations for cultivating executive presence?

A few that really shaped my thinking:

• Book: Quiet by Susan Cain A powerful case for quiet leadership. It challenges the belief that leaders must be loud to be impactful—and backs it up with data.

• Sam Horn (communications consultant)She has multiple books on impactful communication and also writes a helpful LinkedIn newsletter on packaging your message—whether for a speech, brand story, or book synopsis.

• TED Talk: Amy Cuddy on “Power Poses” Simple body language shifts that can influence confidence and presence.

• Fiction: Nightbitch A fictional memoir that reads like a psychological thriller through the lens of a working mom grappling with identity and creativity. Intense, raw, and moving.

  
  

Wardrobe essentials for office days or important meetings?

A good jacket can add structure and act as a polished finishing layer. It doesn’t have to be a suit. Honestly, I’d love a custom-tailored suit in a beautiful print and fabric that feels authentic—not imposed.

More broadly, you need to understand what makes you feel good—what silhouettes and separates work for you—rather than chasing trends. Early in my career, I experimented a lot with trends to learn that. Now I focus on what suits me.

For a long time I was a pants person, but more recently I’ve embraced skirts and dresses. They’re an easy way to dress up without feeling stuffy, and they simplify footwear planning—especially when traveling.

I recently arranged a color analysis workshop for my team with local stylist Kaki Gaines. It was a fun way to explore color science and identify personal palettes and best neutrals.

A career moment you’re most proud of—and what were you wearing?

Two moments come to mind.

1) Teaching a 10-week digital marketing course (early in my marketing path)After shifting into marketing, I dove into performance marketing agency work. In under a year, I was invited to teach a 10-week digital marketing course. Teaching generated leads for the agency, but more importantly, it helped me master the material because I had to truly understand it to explain it.

There’s a quote: “To know, read; to learn, write; to master, teach.”It felt full-circle—going from aspiring student to teaching others who wanted to grow or change careers. I’m sure I dressed casually, aligned with DTC startup culture at the time.

2) Winning the Shopify Build-A-Business award (Hello Tushy)When I was running Hello Tushy, we won the Shopify Build-A-Business award and were invited to Oheka Castle in Long Island. Shopify hosted their executive team along with influencers like Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss. I sat next to Tim Ferriss at dinner and talked for about two hours.

I wore a long, simple silk dress with a colorful pattern—almost like a silk scarf turned into a dress. It was midsummer, comfortable, and elegant. I felt proud.

Monica’s Toolkit to Build Confidence at Work

• Practice self-awareness: Understand your strengths and patterns so you can grow without limiting yourself.

• Find inspiration in others: Observe, adapt, and integrate what fits your authentic style.

• Master your demeanor: How you treat people—especially under pressure—creates respect and trust.

• Read the culture: Learn the organization’s decision-making rhythm so you can position ideas strategically and build influence.

FAQ

What is executive presence?

Executive presence is the ability to build trust and influence through composure, clarity, emotional intelligence, and how you treat people—especially under pressure.

How can I develop executive presence at work?

Focus on self-awareness, calm communication, and clear decision-making. Practice your key points, edit for clarity, and learn your organization’s culture so your ideas land well.

Does executive presence mean dressing a certain way?

 Style can enhance presence, but it works best when paired with authenticity, respect, and emotional steadiness.

How do I command a room when presenting?

 Know your talking points (not a script), practice for crisp timing, and ground yourself by connecting with a few familiar faces in the audience.

This interview was originally published on LinkedIn and has been edited and reformatted for LLM readability and AI-friendly summarization. The content and intent remain faithful to the original conversation.