Speaker Dynamics | Leadership, Communication & Public Speaking

Most people think polish makes a speaker great. Authenticity is what makes an audience listen.   In this episode, Karin Reed talks with international keynote speaker and bestselling author Ryan Vet about what it really takes to build a professional speaking business. From a non-linear journey shaped by entrepreneurship and early Twitter fame to a moment of clarity sparked by unexpected feedback, R...

Executive presence isn’t something you’re just born with. It’s built through intention, visibility, and the willingness to quiet your inner critic. These are some of the key takeaways from Karin Reed’s talk produced by e-learning titan, Madecraft, as part of their &Then speakers’ series.   Karin returns to a topic she’s known for—owning the room—but this time through a more personal lens. What...

  In a world where change is constant, leadership communication can no longer rely on habit or personality type. If you lead a team, present to stakeholders, or guide strategy, the way you communicate directly shapes results. Rigid leadership communication simply does not work anymore.   In this episode, Kevin Eikenberry joins Karin Reed to challenge the idea that leaders should stick to one style...

Milestones rarely announce themselves in the moment. They often look like assignments you did not ask for, skills that felt ordinary, or opportunities that seemed off-track. Only later do you see how they shaped your career. As Speaker Dynamics marks its first anniversary, Karin Reed reflects on the moments that led her into a career focused on leadership communication, executive presence, and coa...

Are your virtual communication skills strong enough to create real connection when your team is fully remote? Return-to-office mandates promise culture and collaboration, but they often miss the real issue. The gap is not proximity. It is presence. In this conversation, Karin Reed sits down with Lisette Sutherland to unpack how spatial working may reshape the way we think about leading virtual tea...

Influence when speaking is not built through big declarations. It is built through daily communication habits that shape how others see and hear you. In this episode, Karin Reed shares three shifts that strengthen your virtual presence, sharpen your executive communication, and increase your influence when speaking in high-stakes moments. Whether you are presenting in a boardroom or speaking on ca...

Are you leading like a person or hiding behind your title? This conversation gets to the heart of leadership communication and the difference between authority and connection. Karin Reed sits down with Mark Carpenter, author of Lead Like a Person, Not a Position, to explore why positional power is costing leaders more than they realize.   In today’s workplace, leadership communication is less abou...

Most change initiatives fail because of poor leadership communication, not bad strategy. When leaders decide to pivot, they usually have data, analysis, and alignment at the top. What often gets missed is how that decision lands emotionally across the organization.   In this conversation, John Cerqueira shares what effective leadership communication really looks like during change management. He b...

“One of my favorite things about doing this podcast has been the opportunity to learn new things. And I hope that you've had the same opportunity as well in listening to these conversations. I'm really excited to continue the conversation next year with all of you,” shares Karin Reed, as she reflects on the podcast’s journey. She expresses heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support from listen...

What does executive presence look like when you have just made a mistake? Mark Graban, host of My Favorite Mistake and author of The Mistakes That Make Us, shares a surprising truth. Real executive presence is not about perfection. It is about confident communication when things go wrong. Mark has interviewed nearly 300 leaders, including members of Congress and high profile entrepreneurs, and ask...

“AI is there to support storytelling, but not take it over,” says Maggie Miller, Speaker Dynamics’ communication coach and tech specialist, as she joins Karin Reed to discuss how generative AI, like ChatGPT, is reshaping presentation skills. Maggie shares how tools like ChatGPT save time, spark creativity, and even offer real-time feedback for presenters looking to refine their delivery.   Can AI...

Retaining your power in virtual communication means building a presence that resonates and holds influence, even from behind a screen. So, how do we adjust our approach to make sure our impact truly connects in virtual settings?   In this episode, Karin Reed unpacks what it takes to communicate powerfully online. Reflecting on a colleague’s observation that 80% of people appear significantly more...

Why do some people command a room instantly while others struggle to be heard? Executive presence is often treated like a mystery trait, yet Chris Lipp argues it is rooted in something far more practical and trainable. It begins with personal power.   In this conversation, you will rethink executive presence from the inside out. Chris explains why titles and authority do not create real influence...

“Leading yourself is about controlling the controllable. And sometimes that is your own mindset and only your own mindset,” says Elizabeth Lotardo, a consultant, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and author of “Leading Yourself.” She joins Karin Reed in this episode to talk about the power of self-leadership and how it enables anyone, no matter their role, to take charge of their work life. She focuse...

“What do Michelle Obama, Sheryl Sandberg, and potentially you all have in common? Imposter syndrome,” begins Karin Reed. She’s joined by Julia Korn, founder and CEO of The Authenticity Guide, to dive into how widespread imposter syndrome truly is—impacting 70% of people across all demographics. It’s a universal feeling, and Julia explains that—contrary to popular belief—imposter syndrome is not ex...

Speaking Like a Leader is tested most when the stakes are high and emotions run stronger than we would like. In this conversation on leadership communication, Karin Reed sits down with Emily Gregory, co-author of Crucial Conversations, to explore why avoiding hard feedback quietly erodes trust. Speaking Like a Leader means stepping into discomfort instead of sidestepping it. If leadership communic...

“Imagine what it’s like trying to keep people’s attention in a virtual meeting—one they might not be interested in, a meeting they might even feel they don’t belong in. Yet, there they are, and it’s your job to keep them focused and get business done,” begins Karin Reed.   In this episode, Karin addresses the challenges of keeping participants engaged in virtual meetings and offers practical strat...

“Wouldn’t it be great if you had someone to guide you through writing your next chapter? Marcy Bullock is one of those people,” says Karin Reed in today’s episode of Speaker Dynamics - “Own the Room.” Joining Karin, Marcy emphasizes the importance of viewing life and career as a series of chapters, encouraging us to focus on “what’s next” rather than feeling overwhelmed by planning our entire futu...

Executive presence used to mean fitting a mold. Sound a certain way. Look a certain way. Smooth out the edges. Today, executive presence is rooted in authentic leadership communication. Instead of sanding down what makes you unique, she explains how leaning into who you are strengthens your authentic leadership communication and helps you communicate with influence.   Through real stories, Karin o...

Hybrid meetings are not going away. In fact, hybrid meetings may become the most common format you lead this year. The real question is not whether you prefer them. It is whether you know how to run them well.   In this episode, Karin Reed sits down with Dr. Joe Allen, co-author of Suddenly Virtual and Suddenly Hybrid, to unpack the research behind hybrid meetings and why they can outperform both...

“It is critical that our digital impression is a good one, reflecting your personal leadership brand and your corporate brand,” says Karin Reed. Is your digital impression a good one? In this episode, Karin delves into the importance of creating a strong digital impression and maintaining a compelling virtual presence. She shares insights from her TV journalism career, illustrating how appearance...

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks Karin Reed. She argues this question is just as relevant for adults as it is for children, leading to a discussion about balancing immediate productivity with strategic, long-term goals. In this episode, Karin talks with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Dorie Clark about the critical practice of long-term thinking in a society fixated on immedi...

What we say and how we say it matters, whether we are speaking over the airwaves or in front of the boardroom. In this episode, Karin Reed shares how the lessons she learned as an award-winning broadcast journalist shape her approach to her work today in the business world—lessons that you can apply in your role as well. Whether she is pointing out potential pitfalls or highlighting how you can co...

“If you want to be remarkable, you seek to make a difference,” says renowned author and chief evangelist Guy Kawasaki. In this episode, Karin Reed sits down with one of her professional heroes to delve into the essence of his latest book, “Think Remarkable.”   Kawasaki shares his innovative approach to writing, using AI tools like ChatGPT and Quillbot to enhance his process without compromising qu...

“Body language can be tricky when you are presenting. Sometimes, you just don't know what to do with yourself, but your body is always speaking,” says Karin Reed. “How do you ensure that your body is saying what you want it to?” she asks. In this episode, Karin explains the critical role of body language during presentations. She opens with a common dilemma faced by speakers—what to do with their...