135: From Anxiety to Executive Presence

Anxiety doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It often means you care. Meet Gloria. Confident one-on-one but anxious in high-stakes rooms, Gloria freezes when presenting to senior leaders. Despite being capable and respected, anxiety hijacks her focus, causing her to avoid visibility and stall her growth. What she wants most is presence, confidence, and the ability to speak up when it matters.  In this episode, Jay speaks with Stephanie Richardson, a certified speaking coach, former therapist, keynote speaker, and international bestselling author. Stephanie breaks down how high-achieving professionals can shift from anxiety to executive presence by addressing mindset, preparation, and delivery, without trying to become someone they’re not. Notable Quotes “Fear overtakes logic. Anxiety hijacks her brain.” — Stephanie Richardson “You don’t get confidence first. You build it through evidence.” — Stephanie Richardson “You don’t know what you don’t know. And when you don’t have the knowledge, it’s hard to have the confidence.” — Stephanie Richardson About Our Guest Stephanie Richardson is a certified speaking coach, former licensed professional counselor, keynote speaker, and international bestselling author. She helps high-achieving leaders overcome anxiety, build confidence, and communicate with clarity and executive presence, especially in high-stakes moments. Her work blends psychology, coaching, and practical communication tools to help professionals perform at their best. Resources & Links Stephanie Richardson Website – https://stephanierichardsonuyp.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachstephanierichardson/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@coachstephanierichardson Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/UnlockYourPotentialwithStephanie Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story  Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay walks through how to create a masterful PowerPoint presentation. He’ll share seven practical principles used in keynotes and workshops to help your slides support your message, not distract from it. If presentations are part of your role, this episode will give you tools you can apply immediately.