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The Quiet Power of Professional Presence

In a recent talk in Charlotte, the author highlighted the often‑overlooked power of professional presence, arguing that how one shows up matters more than credentials. A joint Harvard‑Carnegie‑Stanford study found that 85% of professional success derives from soft skills such as communication, likability, and emotional intelligence, while technical ability accounts for only 15%. The presentation covered the science of likability, surprising confidence findings, trust‑building behaviors, and a practical exercise to improve both virtual and in‑person communication.