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Most founders are more capable than they are visible. And that gap is costing them.
In the very first episode of Return on Reputation, I sit down with Laurie Schloff - founder of Partners in Communication, author of Smart Speaking, and one of the most respected executive communication coaches in the country - to talk about the one thing holding smart, qualified founders back from growing their authority: the fear of being seen.
Laurie has coached executives at Fidelity Investments, State Street, Allstate, Michelin, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She's appeared on Oprah and The Today Show. And she's spent decades helping leaders close the gap between how good they actually are and how they come across in the room, on camera, and in the market.
This conversation is for every founder who knows they have something valuable to say but hesitates anyway.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Laurie Schloff is the founder of Partners in Communication and the author of Smart Speaking, widely recognized as one of the best books ever written on the subject. She has coached founders, executives, and public figures across some of the world's most respected organizations and has spent her career helping leaders turn communication into a competitive advantage. She also runs a 20-hour Presence 26 Certificate Program for trainers, coaches, and learning & development professionals who want to bring these frameworks into their own organizations.
Stats Mentioned in This Episode:
About Return on Reputation:
Return on Reputation is the show for founder-led brands that are done flying under the radar. Every episode, host Justin Obey, founder of Obey Creative, sits down with experts, founders, and dealmakers to unpack how personal brand, trust, and authority compound into real business leverage. We talk strategy over shortcuts, substance over viral moments, and real frameworks for turning your reputation into revenue.
Connect with Laurie Schloff:
Connect with Justin Obey:
00:00 – Introduction & Welcome
01:37 – How Laurie Got Into Executive Communication
02:10 – The Speech Improvement Company & Partners in Communication
03:00 – Why Communication Is a Competitive Advantage for Founders
04:08 – The Data Behind Effective Communication (Stanford Study & Key Stats)
05:06 – Being Good at Your Job Isn't Enough — What Separates Leaders
06:40 – The 4 Pillars of Presence: Messaging, Oral Image, Nonverbal & Interaction
07:55 – Style Words: Defining How You Want to Come Across
11:25 – The Real Cost of Staying Silent as a Founder
13:53 – Why Great Leaders Want Pushback (Not Yes Men)
14:20 – How to Run Better, More Engaging Meetings
16:00 – Is It Ego or Lack of Training? What's Really Holding Leaders Back
17:25 – Listening vs. Speaking: What Leadership Actually Requires
19:11 – Perfectionism Is the Enemy of Visibility
20:00 – The Mindset Shift That Separates Visible Founders From Those Who Stay Hidden 22:15 – The Fear of Being Judged by Peers (and Why It's Overblown)
24:35 – First Impressions & Making Virtual Meetings Count
26:31 – The Presence 26 Method Explained
28:50 – Vocal Variety: The Secret to Keeping Your Audience Engaged
29:25 – Practical Tips for Founders Terrified to Hit Record
30:48 – Rapid Fire Q&A
32:17 – Where to Find Laurie & Final Thoughts
Keywords: personal brand for founders, executive communication, visibility strategy, leadership presence, fear of public speaking, founder brand building, how to show up on camera, communication coaching, Laurie Schloff, Presence 26 Method, Return on Reputation podcast, Obey Creative, business authority, executive presence
