If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I literally said that 20 minutes ago… why did it only land when someone else repeated it?”, this episode is for you.
In today’s conversation, Sonya breaks down one of the most overlooked elements of leadership presence: communication design — the bridge between how you naturally express yourself and how your audience actually processes information.
You’ll learn why capability isn’t your barrier, why confidence isn’t the real gap, and why even highly experienced leaders still feel unheard despite delivering results. Sonya explains the four primary communication processing channels (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, auditory-digital), how they influence perception in high-stakes rooms, and how to translate your message so it lands every time — without changing who you are.
This episode is essential listening for leaders transitioning from expert to executive, from execution to strategy, or anyone tired of feeling overlooked in meetings, boardrooms, and strategic presentations.
Key Takeaways

The real gap isn’t your capability — it’s how you're being experienced. Leaders often get dismissed because their delivery doesn’t match the way their audience processes information.
People absorb information through four channels:


Visual: needs structure, mental imagery, “picture this”
Auditory: tuned to tone, pacing, resonance
Kinesthetic: needs to feel, notice, experience
Auditory-Digital: needs logic, sequence, step-by-step reasoning


You have a natural communication blueprint. It can be precision, storytelling, emotional resonance, vision, simplicity, or real-time insight — and forcing yourself into someone else’s pattern creates disconnect.
The goal isn’t to change who you are. It’s to translate your natural design into the channel your audience is prioritizing — especially in high-stakes moments.
When you don’t translate your message, you risk:


being labeled too in the weeds
being seen as not strategic enough
getting overlooked in critical conversations
walking out feeling unheard

Timestamps
00:00 — Why capability isn’t the gap 01:00 — The experience vs. delivery problem 02:00 — Visual communication vs. verbal communication 03:00 — The 4 communication processing channels 06:00 — Why mismatches cause brilliant ideas to fall flat 09:00 — Why “be more concise” advice fails 10:00 — Your natural communication blueprint 13:00 — Why the expert → executive transition feels uncomfortable 14:00 — How to translate your design into your audience’s channel 17:00 — What happens when the gap is unaddressed 18:00 — Why you’re making yourself smaller in meetings 19:00 — The real definition of leadership presence 20:00 — How to work with Sonya to map your communication design
Links & Resources
➡ A 4 part private podcast to help you reconnect with how you want to be seen—so your leadership presence reflects who you are, not just what you do.
Own The Room
➡ Download the Wardrobe Checklist for Professional Career Women – Get a curated list of must-have wardrobe staples that blend versatility, style, and impact:Checklist
➡ Book Your Strategy Call
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