In a Gartner survey of CIOs, executive presence ranked second on the list of top 20 leadership skills. And yet, there’s something elusive about presence. We know it when we see it, but can we define it? And more important, is it attainable to anyone? The misconception about presence is that it’s something natural leaders are born with. In truth, it’s something that must be curated and practiced. It’s an understanding of verbal and non-verbal behaviors, an exercise in personal branding, and an ongoing practice of honest self-assessment. Tatiana Kolovou is a senior lecturer at the IU Kelley School of Business and a three-time Trustees Teaching Award recipient. She teaches business communication and cross-cultural communication classes to undergraduates, MBA students, Kelley Direct MBA students (AGILE Burma and both Athens, Greece classes), and participants of the Kelley Executive Partners programs. As a professional speaker and trainer, Kolovou has presented in numerous US conferences and in 15 countries around the world. Her topic emphasis is on interpersonal and cross-cultural communication, lifestyle balance and workplace effectiveness. She has authored 11 courses in the Lynda.com/LinkedIn Learning library, including best-selling Communication Tips with over 2 million views. Tatiana holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis and lives with her family in Bloomington, Indiana. She was born and raised in Athens, Greece.
