Executive
PresenceCornell

Certificate Program

Do you have the presence of a leader? Executive presence is a vital skill in business and life: being able to connect with other people by making your case and communicating genuine emotion, even in the most intimidating circumstances. Whether you’re leading a team meeting or giving a formal presentation to a large group, you can learn to combine your breath, your voice, your body positioning, your passionate belief in what you're saying, and your authentic self so profoundly that people won't be able to look away.

In this 15-week certificate program, you'll learn by doing to refine your public speaking skills and build confidence in your own presence. By sharing videos of yourself presenting and receiving constructive feedback from fellow students and experts, you'll practice analyzing your performance, repeating, and refining your work in exercises and acting techniques specially designed by Cornell Theatre Professor David Feldshuh. It's not about achieving perfection. The core skills, analytical tools, and training exercises presented in this program are intended to position you for a lifetime of development. The better you get, the more confident you’ll feel. And it will show.

This program includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature several days of live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore the most pressing leadership topics. Symposium events are held several times throughout the year. Once enrolled in your program, you will receive information about upcoming events.

Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.