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Discounts available for group enrollments, UA faculty/staff, UA Alumni, and Chamber members. Reach out to stephanie.lowe@ua.edu for more information.
Command the room and inspire confidence with every interaction
Executive presence isn’t just about style—it’s about the substance, confidence, and credibility you bring to every conversation, meeting, or presentation.
Join us for this interactive and practical course where you will explore the key elements that shape how others perceive your leadership potential. From communication style to body language and decision-making under pressure, you’ll receive targeted feedback to help you strengthen your presence, project confidence, and lead with authenticity in any setting.
topics
- Owning the Space
- Defining Your Purpose
- Audience Analysis
- Organizing an Informative Brief or Persuasive Pitch
- Powerful Introductions and Conclusions
- Develop an outline for an upcoming presentation
- Nonverbal Communication
- How to deliver and receive feedback
Program OVERVIEW
Designed for:
- Mid- to senior-level professionals looking to elevate how they are perceived as leaders
- Managers and emerging leaders seeking to increase influence and visibility
- Professionals preparing for high-stakes interactions or executive-facing roles
- Team leaders who want to communicate with more clarity and confidence
- Anyone wanting to expand their leadership capabilities and professional presence
Participants will learn:
- The characteristics of executive presence and how to embody them
- Verbal and nonverbal techniques to enhance confidence and credibility
- Strategies for leading and navigating difficult conversations
- Tools for self-advocacy, power-sharing, and empathetic leadership
- Practices for managing anxiety and showing up with intention
In this dynamic two-day program, participants will explore what it means to lead with presence—through communication, mindset, and behavior. Using interactive exercises, coaching, and practical frameworks, professionals will leave with a toolkit to inspire confidence, drive engagement, and elevate their leadership impact.
Format:
The program will be hosted on campus at The University of Alabama in the Culverhouse College of Business.
- Plan to be on campus from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Exact times will be sent with a finalized schedule).
- Light breakfast, lunch, snacks and coffee will be provided
Participants will receive a physical certificate of completion as well as a digital badge from Credly. The digital badge can be displayed on a participant’s LinkedIn and email signature.
This program is not eligible for federal financial aid. No academic credit will be awarded.
The executive presence and public speaking course was transformative. It provided practical techniques to command a room, engage audiences, and convey complex ideas with confidence and clarity. The hands-on coaching and feedback were invaluable, leading to immediate improvements in both my presentation skills and overall executive presence. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to elevate their communication and leadership abilities.
In public speaking, perfection is probably one of the biggest myths; however, authenticity is where the magic truly lies. This program reminded me that the real flex isn’t in sounding rehearsed or robotic. It’s in showing up as your full, powerful, imperfect self and letting your truth be heard.
As an Administrative Assistant II for the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design, student supervisor, and life coach, I’ve been in many rooms, but this one was different. The energy, the support, the way each participant was poured into. Unmatched! The instructors didn’t just teach us how to speak, they pulled the confidence out of us that was already there, waiting to be unlocked.
I walked in with butterflies and walked out with boldness. From real-time feedback to dynamic techniques that actually work, this experience leveled me up both personally and professionally. It’s not just about learning how to speak; it’s about learning how to own your voice, your story, and your stage. I’m thrilled with the results of this class!
The Executive Presentation Skills program was highly effective in enhancing our presentation skills tailored to any audience. The structure of the program was clear, focused and well-paced, providing a good balance of learning and participating. Dr. Chilcutt and Dr. Brooks were very knowledgeable, engaging and provided practical insights into executive presenting. I would highly recommend this class to anyone that is interested. It is well worth your time.
This program was a game-changer. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and reshaped how I present. I gained skills that apply not only to my current job but any future role. The interactive format, safe space for questions and personalized feedback set it apart.
You’ll learn how to craft impactful messages, master body language and gain confidence in public speaking. Whether presenting to key stakeholders or leading a meeting, the skills taught here will elevate your presence and influence. Overall, I highly recommend this course for any professional who wants to enhance their public speaking skills. The hands-on approach, expert guidance, and welcoming environment made this one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had.
As a communications leader, what I say and how I say it has real impacts. And when it comes to in-person communications, in front of an audience, I knew that there were some ways I could improve my poise, articulation, and projected confidence. The Executive Presence session with Drs. Brooks and Chilcutt provided a positive environment to address those factors, giving me tools that I could draw upon to be a better public speaker who speaks clearly, with purpose and a plan.
Dr. Brooks is amazing and really gave effective feedback. I love the enthusiasm and I love how he built my confidence in being able to speak in front of a crowd. I cannot say enough of how thought-out the course was. I was able to leave with the basics of building a speech.
This professional development course was incredibly valuable. It was very informative and engaging which has also equipped me with new tools and strategies to enhance my skills. I would like to say thank you to Dr. Adam Brooks and Dr. Alexa S. Chilcutt for doing an amazing job!!
This class was incredibly enlightening and informative. I left with several actionable takeaways and valuable feedback that I can continue to apply. Dr. Chilcutt and Dr. Brooks were outstanding presenters, demonstrating their deep passion and expertise in their fields. The Culverhouse Exec Ed program exemplifies top-tier education, truly worthy of the Alabama brand.
I can honestly say this program was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had for improving my communication skills. The session was packed with practical advice, from crafting strong introductions to managing public speaking anxiety. The best part? The interactive nature of the session, where we got to practice and receive feedback. I left feeling so much more confident about delivering presentations, whether in-person or virtually. I’d highly recommend this session to anyone looking to step up their public speaking game!
Public speaking is such a daunting task for many and I went into this class with a great deal of nerves not knowing what to expect. I was blown away by Dr. Brooks and Dr. Chilcutt’s methods of tackling this important but intimidating task. The class acknowledged and provided ways to overcoming all of the challenges that public speaking presents. It drew back the curtain on where true effectiveness lies in conveying messages to others while putting to rest myths that good public speakers are “naturals." They provided fantastic tools for each individual in attendance with in the moment constructive feedback. For me it went beyond public speaking and had practical applications for how we communicate in general with others whether it be a crowd of 400 or one. Highly recommend this class for anyone and everyone.
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INSTRUCTOR
With an MA in Public Relations and PhD in Communication and Information Sciences, Dr. Alexa Chilcutt is the faculty lead for the Executive Business Communication and co-lead for the Academy of Women in Leadership programs at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
Additionally, Alexa provides training for TCU Neeley Business School’s Executive Education program and The University of Alabama Executive Education and EMBA programs. Topics include business communication, executive presence, and executive presentation skills.
Corporate clients have included Exelon Corporation, Constellation Energy, Hoya Corporation, Prometric, Brinker International, Allstate, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, German-based company igus, and Johns Hopkins International Medicine Concierge Services.
Publications include “Engineered to Speak: Helping You Create and Deliver Engaging Technical Presentations” published by Wiley IEEE PCS Professional Engineering Communication Series with Dr. Adam Brooks, and articles featured in Workplace Health & Safety, MedEdPORTAL, Journal of American Dental Association (JADA), Association of General Dentist’s “Impact” magazine, Public Relations Journal, and Georgia Academy of General Dentistry’s Explorer magazine.
Looking for more program options?
WE CAN CUSTOMIZE PROGRAMS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION.
Virtual
On-site
Hybrid