On 15 February 2025, YWLC hosted a Leadership Development Masterclass on “Nailing the Formula for Authentic Executive Presence” at Visa’s office. The session was led by Chuen Chuen Yeo, Managing Director of ACESENCE Agile Leadership, who guided participants through an interactive and thought-provoking journey of building an executive presence with authenticity and impact.
Before diving into the masterclass, we had the honour of hearing from Serene Gay, Group Country Manager, Regional Southeast Asia at Visa. In her opening address, she shared her insights on why executive presence is a game-changer for career growth.
Debunking the Myths of Executive PresenceMany assume executive presence is about how you dress, speak, or your job title - but that’s far from the truth. The session broke down these misconceptions and emphasised that true executive presence is about confidence, credibility, and authenticity - qualities that enhance visibility, build trust, and open doors to leadership opportunities.
The Three Key Elements of Executive Presence
Through engaging activities and personal reflections, participants explored:1. Discovering Your Known Genius – What makes you shine? Recognising and owning your unique strengths.2. Becoming a Trust Magnet – Does your behaviour attract trust? Cultivating credibility through intentional actions.3. Building Self-Belief – Do you habitually play small? Overcoming self-doubt to step into leadership with confidence.
How to Speak Like a Thought Leader
Chuen Chuen also shared practical techniques to communicate with clarity and impact, including:
✔ Use simple language instead of jargon for better understanding.
✔ Lead with the key message instead of a chronological backstory.
✔ Pace yourself and pause to avoid rambling.
✔ Consider multiple perspectives rather than just your own.
Key Takeaway: Start Before You Feel Ready
And what was the most powerful message from the session? You don’t have to “feel ready” to start. Instead of waiting for confidence to come, take action first - acquire external skills and let your inner confidence grow alongside them. Executive presence isn’t about faking it. It’s about growing into a leader people trust.
YWLC’s Masterclasses aim to build participants’ leadership competencies through practical workshops, in learning from exemplary leaders and speakers to better navigate their personal and professional lives.
Speaker: Chuen Chuen Yeo
Venue partner: Visa
Author: Blanche Lim
Organising team: Samantha Halim, Joping Chai, Blanche Lim, Jane Sea, Amanda Chew
Comentários