S2E05: Lorraine K. Lee, Executive Presence Expert, Keynote Speaker, and Author of Unforgettable Presence

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Hard Work Does Not Speak for Itself

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation came when Lorraine reflected on her time at LinkedIn.

On paper, she was doing everything right.

• High-visibility projects
• Strong performance
• Respected by peers
• Global initiatives, including launching features in Hong Kong

And yet she found herself stuck at mid-level.

“I thought the hard work would speak for itself,” she told me.

It didn’t.

That realisation became a turning point. Presence, she discovered, is not just about doing excellent work. It’s about ensuring the right people see that work — and understand its impact.

In hybrid and remote environments especially, invisibility is easy. If leaders cannot see your contribution, they cannot reward it.

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Redefining Executive Presence

Executive presence is often described in vague, intimidating terms. Lorraine reframes it in a far more practical way:

Presence is about how and where you are seen.

That means presence can show up in:

• Meetings
• Presentations
• Slack channels
• Email communication
• LinkedIn posts

It is not about being louder. It is not about pretending to be extroverted. And it is certainly not about fitting into outdated stereotypes of what leadership “looks like.”

For introverts, Lorraine argues, presence is about leaning into strengths — thoughtful preparation, strong writing, deep one-to-one relationships, and powerful structured presentations.

Presence is built in small moments long before the big stage.

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The RAVE Model: A Framework for Influence

To make influence tangible, Lorraine introduces her RAVE framework:

• R — Relationships
• A — Appearance
• V — Visibility
• E — Expertise

Relationships

Even small moments matter. Instead of autopilot small talk (“How was your weekend?”), Lorraine suggests intentional questions that create deeper threads of conversation. For example: “What was the highlight of your weekend?”

Small tweaks. Big difference.

Appearance

In a virtual world, video presence is no longer optional. Camera angle, eye contact, posture, lighting — these shape perception instantly. Lorraine emphasises that how you show up on camera affects credibility before you’ve even spoken.

Visibility

This was her biggest lesson. Do not assume people will notice your impact. Share wins. Share learnings. Use collaborative language. Position your success as team success.

Visibility is not bragging when it is framed as contribution.

Expertise

Building your brand outside the organisation can strengthen your perception inside it. Lorraine’s own journey into public speaking and LinkedIn thought leadership increased how senior she was perceived internally.

Influence compounds.

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Virtual Presence and Emotional Connection

One of my favourite parts of the discussion focused on pitching in virtual environments.

When we meet in person, we shake hands and make eye contact. Both release oxytocin — the social bonding hormone.

Online, eye contact is what we have left.

That means looking into the lens, not at your own image. It means using story before slides. It means opening cold instead of reading the title slide.

“I don’t even introduce myself first anymore,” Lorraine told me. “I launch straight into a story.”

Trust first. Credentials second.

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Introversion, Culture, and Breaking Through

We also explored Lorraine’s experience as an Asian American woman navigating corporate environments.

She reflected on how cultural values such as humility, deference to authority, and staying quiet can sometimes clash with corporate expectations to self-advocate and speak up.

Her insight was powerful:

You can honour your values while also recognising that corporate systems require visibility and voice.

It is not disrespectful to contribute your perspective. It is expected.

And one piece of advice that stood out from her interviews with other leaders?

Be so good they can’t ignore you.

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What This Episode Reinforces

This conversation reinforces something I see repeatedly in pitching and leadership:

• Competence is assumed.
• Visibility is strategic.
• Presence is intentional.
• Influence is built, not granted.

If you feel stuck despite delivering strong work, this episode will challenge you — in the best possible way.

Presence is not reserved for executives. It is a skill available to anyone willing to build it.

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To learn more about Lorraine’s masterclasses, free resources, and LinkedIn Learning courses, visit her website and connect with her on LinkedIn.

And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear that hard work alone is not the strategy.