Presence
IN THIS LESSON
What We’re Achieving
Reaching the next level of leadership—whether that’s Managing Director, Partner, or C-suite—isn’t a linear climb. It’s shaped by perception, sponsorship, commercial impact, and the ability to influence beyond your immediate team. This module helps you see the real path to advancement and step into it with intention.
It’s not just about securing a promotion. It’s about showing up as the leader your organization or stakeholders already recognize as indispensable.
Key Learning Areas
Understanding the true criteria for advancement beyond execution and technical excellence.
Building strategic visibility with decision-makers and senior leadership.
Owning your narrative and positioning so that recognition feels inevitable, not negotiated.
Balancing delivery with franchise-building impact: clients, capital, strategy, and people.
Deepen Your Understanding and Translate Insights into Action
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Have you clearly positioned yourself as a business driver, originator, or strategic connector within the priorities of your firm or organization?
Do you have active sponsors advocating for you behind closed doors?
Are you seen as someone who elevates others—not just someone who executes exceptionally?
Is your trajectory clear to you, and is it equally clear to those who matter in shaping it?
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Stakeholder Map & Visibility Plan: Identify the key decision-makers, influencers, and potential sponsors inside your firm or ecosystem. Map where you have strong ties and where you need to increase visibility. Build a 3-month plan with intentional touchpoints—client wins, strategic projects, panels, or one-on-ones.
Sponsorship Clarity Exercise: Craft your next-level narrative in three parts: (1) the value you’ve already delivered, (2) the franchise or platform you’ve built, and (3) how you’ll scale it over the next 2–3 years.
Impact Storytelling Drill: Write a short, specific story that highlights how you created impact beyond your own role—through a deal, a client relationship, or a leadership decision. Practice telling it in under two minutes.
Real-World Challenge
Own Your Narrative: Create a one-page brief that captures:
Your leadership impact to date
Your origination or strategic contributions
Your internal influence and cross-functional reach
What makes you a builder of lasting value
Share this with a senior leader, board member, or sponsor in your next check-in. Invite candid feedback, then refine both your plan and your positioning. The aim is not politics—it’s to step into the room as the leader others already expect you to be.