Executive presence is often cited as the reason leaders don’t get promoted, but rarely explained.

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Wassia Kamon sits down with executive coach Jill Avey to unpack what executive presence actually means, why high performers get stuck at the Director or VP level, and how promotions really happen at senior levels.

00:00:00 – Welcome back!

01:16:00 – What is executive presence? Jill’s model for understanding and building it

07:50:00 – The challenges women face in leadership roles and how to overcome them

10:35:00 – How to balance confidence with warmth and authenticity in leadership

13:25:00 – Preparing for high-stakes meetings: Strategies for executive success

15:36:00 – The power of listening and how it enhances your leadership presence

23:10:00 – Key obstacles keeping leaders stuck at the director level and how to break through

32:07:00 – How visibility, communication, and executive presence can advance your career

This conversation explores:

What executive presence is and what it’s not
Why hard work and strong performance reviews aren’t enough
The role of visibility, trust, and strategic perspective
How leaders can show confidence without losing authenticity
Common leadership traps that affect both men and women

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Executive Presence Explained: Why Top Performers Still Get Overlooked, with Executive Coach, Jill Avey

The Diary of a CFO