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PODCAST · business

Speaking to Influence

by Dr. Laura Sicola

When you speak, do you want to inspire others and be recognized as a true leader? Do you want to feel more confident, have greater influence, and get bigger results? This is the show for executives, business owners and leaders who need to command the room, connect with their audience and close the deal.Join host Dr. Laura Sicola, communication and influence expert, as she interviews world-class business and industry leaders, who reveal the importance of strong communication skills in their success and the (sometimes hard) lessons they learned along the way. You’ll gain insights into confident public speaking, conflict management, executive presence, and more!For more information, visit https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com To book Laura as a guest or speaker email [email protected]

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 15, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Angelo J. Valletta: Concise Communication, Empathy and Servant Leadership

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Angelo J Valletta, CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, about leadership communication and taking risks. They discuss the importance of concise communication, the challenges of being an expert in a specific field and the need for empathy and…

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  2. Aundrea Mitchell - Customer Contact Services: Building Trust Through Transparency

    In this episode of Speaking to Influence, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Aundrea Mitchell, president of Customer Contact Services. Aundrea shares her experiences of handling a major error, turning a crisis into trust. Hear how she faced the challenge head-on, communicated transparently, and built...

  3. Dr. Sarah Combs - Univ Area Communi Dev. Corp.: Getting Community Buy-In

    Dr. Sarah Combs, CEO of University Area Community Development Corporation, shares her insights on the importance of active listening and recounts a personal experience where she failed to fully listen to a direct report, leading to a strained relationship. Dr. Combs also discusses the…

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  4. Misty Davis, CMO Circana: The Power of Authentic Communication

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Misty Davis, the Chief Marketing Officer of Circana. They discuss the importance of authenticity in communication, the value of understanding different personality types, and the power of going to bat for others. Misty shares her experiences of taking...

  5. Liz Ross, Shift Paradigm: The Power of Having a Point of View

    In this conversation, Liz Ross, CEO of Shift Paradigm, discusses the importance of transparency within a framework in leadership communication. She shares a personal experience where lack of transparency caused disruption and unrest within her organization. Liz emphasizes the need for leaders to...

  6. Kate McQuade - VP Marketing at P360: Effective Team Collaboration and Dynamics

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Kate McQuade, the Vice President of Marketing at P360, a life sciences SaaS company. They discuss the importance of collaboration in leadership communication and the benefits of asking for help. Kate shares a missed opportunity where she didn't speak…

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  7. Reed Phillips - Oaklins DeSilva + Phillips: Mastering the Art of Win-Win Negotiations

    Reed Phillips, CEO of Oaklins De Silva and Phillips, shares insights on leadership communication and lessons learned from his career in investment banking. He emphasizes the importance of transparency in communication and the negative consequences of being secretive with employees. Reed also...

  8. Richard Blank - CRCC - Building Rapport: Getting to Know Your Team

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Richard Blank, the CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, about the importance of communication skills and influence in the business world. They discuss the value of soft skills, such as foreign language proficiency, and the need to recognize and leverage...

  9. Ekaterina (Katie) Curry, Millennial Specialty Insurance: Precision, Timing, and Advocacy

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Ekaterina (Katie) Curry, the Managing Director of Millennial Specialty Insurance. They discuss various topics related to communication and leadership, including the importance of precision in word choice, the need to be a translator between the C-suite...

  10. How to Clearly State Your Own Value

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola discusses the importance of crafting a clear and compelling elevator pitch. She deconstructs several examples of effective elevator pitches and highlights the key elements that make them powerful. She emphasizes the need for simplicity, relatability, and passion…

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  11. Patrick Lencioni, The Table Group: Unleashing the Six Types of Working Genius

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Six Types of Working Genius. They discuss the importance of trust, vulnerability, and conflict in teams, as well as the six types of working genius. Patrick shares personal experiences...

  12. Jeffrey Orlando, Bristol Myers Squibb: Simplifying Messages - The Rule of Three

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Jeff Orlando, the Chief Learning Officer for Bristol Myers Squibb, about leadership communication. They discuss the importance of simplifying complex concepts and using the rule of three to convey messages effectively. Jeff shares a story about missing...

  13. Martha Sharkey: Letting Go as a Sign of Strength

    Martha Sharkey, founder and CEO of Today Is a Good Day, shares her experience in nonprofit leadership and the mission of her organization to provide support for families who have experienced the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She discusses the inspiration behind the organization's name and...

  14. Dr. Laura Sicola: What’s Your Executive Communication IQ?

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola discusses the importance of measuring and improving executive presence and leadership communication. She introduces a simple tool that assesses 10 core communication contexts and competencies that are essential for a leader's brand. The tool measures confidence…

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  15. STI 208 - Jane Boulware - Author of "Worthy" and retired Microsoft Exec: Worthy

    In this episode, Jane Boulware, author of Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft, shares her journey from rural Iowa to becoming a top executive at Microsoft. She emphasizes the importance of overcoming self-doubt and claiming one's worth. Boulware discusses the need to adapt...

  16. Jeff Wetzler, Transcend: Curiosity and Reinventing School

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Jeff Wetzler, co-founder and co-CEO of Transcend, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming education. They discuss the need for education reform and the challenges of communication in leadership. Wetzler emphasizes the importance of listening...

  17. Amy Bernstein, Harvard Business Review: Motivate, Don't Micromanage

    In this compelling episode, Amy Bernstein, esteemed editor at Harvard Business Review, delves into the nuances of leadership communication and the transformative power of relinquishing control. Drawing from her wealth of experience, Amy underscores the importance of motivating over micromanaging,...

  18. Dr. Robert Cavagnol, St. Luke's Hospital: Listening, Advocating, and Admitting Mistakes

    In this episode, Dr. Robert Cavagnol, President of St. Luke's Clinic, shares insights on communication and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of listening and empathetic listening as key communication skills. Dr. Cavagnol also discusses the use of the DISC profile for understanding...

  19. Marian Baldini - Kencrest: Leading a 90-Day Miracle

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Marian Baldini, the CEO and president of Kencrest, a human services and early learning provider. Marian shares her experiences and insights on leadership communication, including the importance of enrolling people to their giftedness and the power of...

  20. Jason Scott - 120VC: Winning Teams and Effective Leadership

    In this episode of Speaking To Influence, Dr. Laura Sicola engages in a captivating conversation with Jason Scott, CEO of 120VC, unraveling the core elements of winning teams and effective leadership. In this episode you will learn: Connecting employees to the company's mission is crucial for…

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  21. Eric Watkins - Abstrakt Marketing: Effective Communication

    In this episode of Speaking To Influence, Dr. Laura Sicola engages in a captivating conversation with Eric Watkins, President at Abstract Marketing Group. They delve into various aspects of effective communication, personal growth, and professional development. Key Points Discussed:...

  22. Ian Wendt of Jaguar Health: Being Coachable

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Ian Wendt, the Chief Commercial Officer at Jaguar Health. They discuss various topics related to leadership, communication, and personal development. Ian shares insights about his experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and the unique aspects of...

  23. What Podcasting Taught Me about Leadership, Communication and Influence

    In this 200th episode of "Speaking to Influence", Dr. Laura Sicola reflects on the lessons she has learned from podcasting about leadership, communication, and influence. She also shares insights from a panel of experienced podcasters. The key takeaways include the importance of listening as a...

  24. Ashley Sardjoe: Presence, Risk, and Results: Communication Secrets for the Modern Leader

    Ashley Sardjoe shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of being present, embracing mistakes, and clear communication during change. He highlights the power of accountability partners and self-discipline for achieving goals. In this episode you will learn: The power of being present and...

  25. Ngozi Okeh - Driving Business Success through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola interviews Ngozi Okeh, the global head of DEI at NextRoll, a marketing tech company. They delve into the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and how it can significantly impact business success. In this episode you will learn…

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  26. Dan Bradbury: The Three Commandments for Success: Connect, Understand, and Know Your Numbers

    Laura welcomes Dan Bradbury to the show where he shares his three commandments for success and enhancing confidence, presence, and influence in Mergers and Acquisitions. In this episode you will learn: Why connecting personally is so important in M&A, as it builds trust and rapport- show how much...

  27. Katie Bussing of Springfield Clinic: Pulse Check - A Tool for Organizational Strategy, Communication to Stakeholders, and Receiving Feedback from Your Team

    Katie Bussing, Chief Human Resources officer of Springfield Clinic, is Laura’s guest this week on Speaking to Influence. Katie shares some tips on how she pulse checks a room when speaking to different groups, especially key stakeholder groups. In this episode you will learn: How Katie is working...

  28. Skip Howard of Spacee: Transparency, Triumph, and Taking Risks

    Laura welcomes Skip Howard, Founder of Spacee, to this episode of Speaking to Influence. Skip talks about a time when he had a vision that no one, his investors, board of directors, or sales teams believed in, and what happened when he decided to execute it anyway. Tune in to find out what...

  29. Glenn Hofmann of New York Life Insurance: Busting A.I. Myths

    Glenn Hofmann, Chief Analytics Officer of New York Life Insurance, is our guest on the newest episode of Speaking to Influence where he shares with Laura why we should not be afraid of A.I. and gives tips on how to leverage it for job security. In this episode you will learn: How he has addressed...

  30. Luke Billeri of Member’s Choice Credit Union: The Art of Adaptive Communication

    On this week’s episode of ‘Speaking to Influence,’ Luke Billeri, president and CEO of Member’s Choice Credit Union tells Laura how he used ‘pre-suasion’ to gain key stakeholder buy-in before a critical decision. In this episode you will learn: How Luke learned the importance of adapting...

  31. Scott Miller of YESLY Water: Cultivating a ‘We’ Culture

    Scott Miller is the guest on this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence. The Co-Founder and CEO of YESLY Water speaks to Laura about how he handled pushback and set boundaries to move forward. In this episode you will learn: How Scott used individual time with his team members to be vulnerable...

  32. Vivian Wesson of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church: The Power of Small Gestures

    In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola and guest Vivian Wesson explore the importance of curiosity over judgment in inclusive conversations, emphasizing the transformative power of small gestures and acts of kindness in creating an inclusive society and highlighting the positive impact of smiles. In...

  33. Johann Wrede of Emburse: The Power of Experience

    Joining Laura on this week’s episode of ‘Speaking to Influence’ is Johann Wrede, Chief Experience Officer at Emburse. Johann shares how he manages group dynamics among key stakeholders to keep them from hijacking meetings with their own agendas so that his plan stays intact. In this episode you...

  34. Dr. Laura Sicola: The Big Reveal

    Happy New Year! Dr. Laura Sicola is back with Part II: The Big Reveal. In this episode, she unveils her rebranding journey, discussing the issues and challenges her Vocal Impact brand had, and introduces the audience to her new brand: LauraSicola.com. In this episode you will learn: How and why...

  35. Sneak Peek - What's Even Better than VIP?

    Dr. Laura Sicola: Sneak Peek- What’s Even Better than VIP? This week, join Dr. Laura Sicola for Part I of a two part series where she talks about defining and claiming your brand…or more specifically, HER brand! Join us for a sneak peek in the episode of an exciting development. In this episode…

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  36. Clate Mask of Keap: When It’s Time to Stop Trying to Persuade

    On this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence, join Clate Mask, CEO of Keap Small Business Automation, as he tells Laura about when he knew it was time to put his career on the line by giving an ultimatum to his company, rather than continuing the battle of trying to persuade. In this episode…

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  37. Dr. Shanil Ebrahim of Deloitte: From Clinical Epidemiologist to Consultant: Navigating Impact, Branding, and Leadership

    Laura welcomes Dr. Shanil Ebrahim, Partner at Deloitte Canada, where he shares how he learned how to stop using layers of technical jargon that were preventing clients from identifying clear, actionable next steps. In this episode you will learn: How Shanil decided to make the pivot from research...

  38. Anu Muralidharan of Expensify: A Human ‘Swiss-Army Knife’

    This week on ‘Speaking to Influence,’ Dr. Laura is joined by COO of Expensify, Anu Muralidharan, where Anu shares how she was able to build momentum in her company by having everyone identify their own unique value, and how it mattered in getting the company to their goal. In this episode you…

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  39. Paul Comfort of Modaxo & Transit Unplugged: Leadership Triumphs in Transportation: Navigating Crisis, Building Respect, and Fostering Passion

    We welcome Paul Comfort of Modaxo and Transit Unplugged to this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence where he shares stories from his experiences running some of the world’s largest transportation and transportation technology organizations through potential powder-keg situations and refocused...

  40. Melissa Schoger of Avery Dennison: "Navigating Mixed Messages: A Finance VP's Journey to Clarity and Collaboration"

    On this week’s episode, Melissa Schoger, Vice President of Finance for Identification Solutions and Vestcom at Avery Dennison talks with Laura about how she helped teams overcome an instance of mixed messaging to achieve mutual understanding. In this episode you will learn: How Melissa made sure...

  41. Chantal Capodicasa of TD Bank: Speak Up!

    Laura welcomes Senior Vice President of TD Bank, Chantal Capodicasa, to talk about how she found the courage to speak up in defense of her team and challenge a directive in a time of crisis. In this episode you will learn: How Chantal challenges the misconceptions about ‘lenders’ at banks, and...

  42. Charlie Saffro of CS Recruiting: Asking the Right Questions

    Our newest episode of Speaking to Influence features Charlie Saffro, CEO and Founder of CS Recruiting, who talks about the importance of resourcefulness and curiosity in a job interview, and how to do it by doing your research on social media and asking the right questions…and even shares what…

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  43. Ossa Fisher of Aurora Tech: Listen First

    Joining Laura on this week’s episode is Ossa Fisher, President of Aurora Innovation, where Ossa shares the multi-faceted pow rapport-building techniques to uncover the real problem and get people on board, resulting in enthusiastic participation. In this episode you will learn: About the...

  44. Erik Ryan of Iron Mountain: The Power of ‘No’

    This week’s episode of Speaking to Influence is with guest Erik Ryan, Senior Vice President and CFO of Iron Mountain, in a conversation that focuses on the power of ‘no’. In this episode you will learn: About a time Erik found himself in a conversation with Prince Edward where he tried to prove...

  45. Mary Ellen Harris of Kreischer Miller: Shifting Paradigms in Corporate Culture Through Respect, Vulnerability, and Integrity

    Laura sits down with Mary Ellen Harris, Chief Human Resources Officer at Kreischer Miller, to discuss how she is shifting the paradigm on aspects of corporate culture to one valuing vulnerability and integrity in the workplace to champion employees with a culture of respect. In this episode you...

  46. Laura Liotta of Sam Brown Healthcare and Communications Agency: Unveiling Truths in Healthcare PR: Celebrity Myths, Client Collaboration, and Patient Voices

    Laura is joined this week by Laura Liotta, President of Sam Brown Healthcare and Communications Agency, where they discuss misconceptions of healthcare PR and the importance of authenticity in communication with clients, patients, and the team. In this episode you will learn: About misconceptions...

  47. Chris Hall of Stacuity: Silencing the Skeptics

    This week,Chris Hall, Chairman and Co-Founder of Stacuity Ltd. describes the challenges of being a small startup grappling with geographical bias in the tech industry, and the need to convince others of their credibility in spite of these biases. In this episode you will learn: How they are…

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  48. Matt Kraft of Mosaic Learning: Whether Human or AI - It’s All About Connection

    This week, Matt Kraft, COO of Mosaic Learning, discusses how he rallied his team through a 17-hour marathon to overcome a total system collapse in the 11th hour before the very first earnings call for their new CEO. In this episode you will learn: The challenges of e-learning platforms and the…

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  49. Dr. Richard Santiago from the U.S. Army: Being a Change Agent When the Odds are Against You

    On this week’s episode we are honored to have Dr. Richard Santiago, CFO of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) who shares how he had to become a change agent in order to implement massive digital transformation across more than one hundred locations around the world that...

  50. Smitha Murthy of Beagle Security: A Leader Who Lifts Up

    Joining Laura this week is Smitha Murthy, CEO of Beagle Security. Smitha shares the steps she took to build rapport with key decision makers early in her career in order to be recognized as someone truly ready for a leadership role. In this episode you will learn: How Smitha helped build a...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

When you speak, do you want to inspire others and be recognized as a true leader? Do you want to feel more confident, have greater influence, and get bigger results? This is the show for executives, business owners and leaders who need to command the room, connect with their audience and close the deal.Join host Dr. Laura Sicola, communication and influence expert, as she interviews world-class business and industry leaders, who reveal the importance of strong communication skills in their success and the (sometimes hard) lessons they learned along the way. You’ll gain insights into confident public speaking, conflict management, executive presence, and more!For more information, visit https://www.speakingtoinfluence.com To book Laura as a guest or speaker email [email protected]

HOSTED BY

Dr. Laura Sicola

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Speaking to Influence have?

Speaking to Influence currently has 221 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Speaking to Influence about?

When you speak, do you want to inspire others and be recognized as a true leader? Do you want to feel more confident, have greater influence, and get bigger results? This is the show for executives, business owners and leaders who need to command the room, connect with their audience and close the...

How often does Speaking to Influence release new episodes?

Speaking to Influence publishes regularly with 221 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Speaking to Influence?

You can listen to Speaking to Influence on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Speaking to Influence?

Speaking to Influence is created and hosted by Dr. Laura Sicola.
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