Podcast Summary: The Conscious Entrepreneur – EP 118 Leadership Communication In A Virtual World: Build Executive Presence, Speak With Confidence, And Lead Better Zoom & Hybrid Meetings
Host: Sarah Lockwood | Guest: Karen Reed
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the evolving landscape of executive presence and leadership communication in a world where so much of our work happens virtually and in hybrid environments. Host Sarah Lockwood interviews on-camera communication expert Karen Reed (former NBC journalist, author, and founder of Speaker Dynamics), who delivers practical, research-backed advice on showing up with confidence, authenticity, and impact on camera—whether it’s for your team, your board, or your next big pitch.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Karen Reed’s Journey & Why Virtual Communication Skills Matter

[01:47 – 04:54]

• Karen started as an NBC broadcast journalist, then leveraged her media skills to help corporate leaders communicate effectively on camera.
• Her company, Speaker Dynamics, expanded rapidly in 2020 with the shift to virtual work, providing workshops and an online platform for enterprise-wide communication training.
• Virtual executive presence is now a mission-critical skill for leaders and teams at all levels.

Quote:
"I saw a business opportunity to teach business professionals how to be better on camera communicators. That quickly expanded though to helping people speak with ease across all platforms."
— Karen Reed [02:38]

2. The Link Between Communication & Leadership Effectiveness

[06:09 – 09:38]

• Effective leaders are, overwhelmingly, strong communicators; communication ranks consistently as a top professional development need.
• Training fresh graduates in communication "sets you up for success," with leaders often wishing they’d learned these skills earlier.
• Virtual communication requires a mindset shift—treating the camera not as a piece of glass, but as the eyes of your audience.

Quote:
"The best speakers are steeped in authenticity. And in this environment, authenticity is very difficult to capture because we have all these barriers due to the different mode that we are forced to communicate in."
— Karen Reed [08:18]

3. Making Eye Contact on Camera: Where Do You Look?

[09:38 – 15:02]

• Eye contact is a consistent virtual challenge due to the camera's position relative to the screen.
• Karen recommends directing your energy primarily to the camera lens (your "portal to your people"), but also allowing natural glances away, as you would in person.
• When you're listening, look at the screen; when speaking, bias toward the camera.

Quote:
"The camera is your portal to your people. So you want to direct your energy into that portal, which is the camera. It’s the de facto version of your conversation partner’s eyes."
— Karen Reed [12:23]

4. Gestures & Framing: How to Use Your Hands on Zoom

[15:02 – 19:22]

• Don’t obsess about keeping hands in frame; natural, free movement communicates comfort and authenticity.
• Adjust gestures to fit the camera's framing: Big gestures fit wide shots; tighter shots require smaller, subtler movements.
• Overly close framing or large gestures can feel invasive to viewers (the "close talker" effect).

Quote:
"The less you’re thinking about what your hands are doing, the better off you are... Because as your body moves, your words will flow more smoothly."
— Karen Reed [15:47]

5. Opening Meetings: How to Feel Natural, Not Stiff

[19:22 – 23:36]

• Virtual meetings are physically distant but conversationally intimate—formality often comes off as stiffness.
• Always begin unmuted, greet people by name, and encourage "non-business small talk".
• Small talk is necessary, not optional—it primes participation and improves business outcomes (backed by meeting science).

Quote:
"Small talk is not just a nice to have, it’s a need to have... it kind of primes the participation pump."
— Karen Reed [21:41]

6. The "MVPs" of On-Camera Presence

[23:53 – 31:09]

Karen’s framework for virtual presence:

• Mental Mindset: Imagine every virtual interaction as a one-to-one conversation—this fosters authenticity and intimacy.
• Vocal Variety: Keep your audience’s attention by varying pitch, pace, and pausing. Virtual settings tend to flatten vocal energy, so lean into deliberate modulation.
• Physical Factors: Let your body move naturally—don’t freeze your gestures.

Research Highlight:
Poor audio quality damages credibility and perceived intelligence (Yale Study).

Technical Tips:

• Pay close attention to lighting, framing, and audio quality.
• To frame yourself well, use the "three-finger test": Place three fingers above your head on the screen—the space between your head and the top of the frame should match.

Quote:
"Audio is a huge component of how effective you will be as a communicator in this space."
— Karen Reed [28:25]

7. Tools & Resources for Continuous Improvement

[32:10 – 34:20]

• Speaker Dynamics offers a resource hub, training platform (Speaker Dynamics University), and books to build communication muscle.
• The courses include opportunities to practice skills, not just watch lessons.

8. Executive Presence, Confidence & Authenticity

[34:20 – 38:00]

• Top Tip: Seek authenticity over perfection—it’s the most prized aspect of executive presence.
• Vulnerability, admitting what you don’t know, and connecting the big picture for your team are critical.
• Avoid "over-talking" or oversharing details. Authority comes from clarity, not verbosity.

Quote:
"Seek authenticity over perfection. One of the most prized characteristics of those who possess strong executive presence is authenticity."
— Karen Reed [35:12]

9. Gender, Presence & Superpowers

[38:06 – 40:45]

• Karen rejects the advice that women need to "be more like a guy" in executive settings; connection, emotion, and authenticity are leadership superpowers.
• Leveraging traditionally "female" strengths, like empathy and openness, builds respect and stronger teams.

Memorable Anecdote:
Comparing interview styles in TV: A more open, heartfelt approach drew far more genuine responses, proving the value of authentic connection.

10. Final Takeaways & Practical Next Steps

[40:45 – End]

• Communicate with presence by:

  • Showing up as your authentic self
  • Focusing on clarity over quantity
  • Treating every virtual interaction as a real, one-to-one connection
  • Optimizing your technical setup for credibility (audio, video, background)

• Find more tips, resources, and training at speakerdynamics.com.

Quote:
"Because as your body moves, your words will flow more smoothly. We communicate not just with our words, not just with their tone of voice. We communicate with our whole bodies."
— Karen Reed [15:50]

Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• On camera as a communication tool:
  "The camera is your portal to your people... It’s the de facto version of your conversation partner’s eyes." (Karen, [12:23])

• On the power of authenticity:
  "Seek authenticity over perfection. One of the most prized characteristics of those who possess strong executive presence is authenticity." (Karen, [35:12])

• Small talk and group engagement:
  "Small talk is not just a nice to have, it’s a need to have... it kind of primes the participation pump." (Karen, [21:41])

• Audio quality matters:
  "If you have poor audio quality, people will automatically have a negative opinion of what you’re presenting. They'll consider you to be less intelligent and consider you to be less credible." (Karen, [28:25])

• Gestures and authenticity:
  "The less you're thinking about what your hands are doing, the better off you are." (Karen, [15:47])

Recommended Next Steps

• Audit your current virtual setup: framing, lighting, and sound.
• Try the three-finger framing test ([31:09]) before your next call.
• Experiment with vocal variety (pitch, pace, pausing) in your next presentation.
• Prioritize small talk to foster connection and collaboration on your next team call.
• Visit speakerdynamics.com for further resources, tools, and training (individual and team discounts available).

In Summary:
This conversation is a timely, practical masterclass for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone looking to elevate their virtual executive presence. Karen Reed’s advice is grounded in research and rich professional experience, delivering quick wins and deeper mindset shifts for thriving in our increasingly virtual world.