Fluency, Not Erasure: Executive Presence in a System Not Built for Us
You've been told to just be your authentic self at work.
And also — soften your tone in that meeting. And also — maybe pull your hair back for the board presentation. And also — you're "a lot," so dial it down a little. And also — congratulations, you clearly have executive presence.
If that sounds like a contradiction, it's because it is one. Research on what makes leaders "read" as credible has genuinely shifted — authenticity is now valued almost as much as polish, for the first time ever. That's real, and it's good news. But "polish" was never neutral to begin with. For a long time, the people who got to decide what counted as professional were the same people who already looked the part — and that definition was quietly built to leave out your hair, your accent, your name, your laugh, your "too much."
So when the advice is just be yourself, it can land less like permission and more like a test nobody explained the rules to.
Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey's research made a similar point about imposter syndrome: the problem was never that women of color needed to be fixed. It's that we were handed a system built without us in mind, then blamed for feeling like outsiders in it. Executive presence deserves the same honest look.
This workshop is where we actually break it down — what executive presence has meant, what's genuinely changed, and what still hasn't — so you can stop guessing at a moving target and start choosing, on purpose, how you show up.
What You’ll Walk Away With
✅ A real, working model of executive presence — not the mystique, the actual mechanics: what's rewarded, what's shifted, and what the research quietly leaves out for leaders like us
✅ Your Translator check-in — an honest look at where you've been converting yourself into something a room will accept, and what that's actually been costing you
✅ Your Anchors & Dials map — a start on naming which parts of you are non-negotiable, and which parts genuinely flex without costing you anything real
✅ One move for your next high-stakes room — small enough to actually happen in the next two weeks, not a personality overhaul
What We’ll Do Together
Intro & Welcome - 15 min
Who Maya is, what Fearless is, and how this workshop fits into the year. A grounding exercise. A playful icebreaker. Community agreements. You're in the right room.
What Executive Presence Actually Means - 20 min
The official version, what's genuinely shifted, and who got to define "polish" in the first place. Short solo reflection to close.
The Translator Pattern - 15 min
The version of you that converts yourself into something a room will accept — and what that's cost you. Breakout rooms.
Anchors and Dials - 25 min
A framework for telling your non-negotiables (Anchors) from what genuinely flexes by context (Dials), working from your Authenticity Anchors workbook. Breakout rooms.
What’s Next - 15 min
One Anchor to bring back into a room this month. Q&A. Flourish Fellowship and 1:1 coaching.
This Workshop Is For You If…
You're a woman of color or underrepresented leader in social impact (Everyone is welcome)
You've gotten "executive presence" feedback you couldn't quite act on — be more polished, be more confident, be a little more... something
You're tired of guessing whether a room wants your full self or a curated version of it
You want language for what code-switching actually costs you — and a way to choose it on purpose instead of by default
You attended a previous Fearless workshop this year, or you're new and want to see what this is before committing
About Your Facilitator
Maya Hasan | Founder & CEO, Fearless
Maya has spent 20+ years supporting women of color and underrepresented leaders across the global social impact sector. Her approach integrates nervous system science with decolonial and feminist frameworks — because you can't lead from your values when your body is still in survival mode.
Details
Platform: Zoom
Duration: 90 minutes
Cost: Free and open to all
Workbook: Sent in advance via email before workshop
Recording: Available for 7 days after the session
What Happens Next?
This workshop is designed to give you immediate value and introduce you to ways we can continue working together:
Flourish Fellowship — A low-cost membership community for mid-senior women of color leaders in social impact (and allies!). Live weekly sessions including workshops, guest speakers, peer learning, and accountability circles with peers who get it. Plus 24/7 community platform access.
Cohort 4 starts November 1. Join today for early platform access and an intimate welcome from Maya before the cohort officially opens.
💝 BONUS: Enrollment is open now! Attend live and you'll get an early-bird discount code for 10% OFF — but it's only valid through October 15 and there are limited spots, so don't sit on it. Cohort 4 officially starts November 1.
1:1 Coaching — Highly personalized 1:1 leadership, executive, and career coaching with Maya. Most packages include Flourish Fellowship access. (Free 30-min strategy session to see if it’s right for you.)
Learn more: fearlessproject.co
Accessibility
Live captions · Recording with transcript · Breakout room accommodations available · AI notetakers by request only
Questions or accessibility needs? Email: hello@fearlessproject.co
Limited to 300 Participants
This is an intimate, interactive workshop. When spots fill, registration closes.
You may choose either of two ticket types:
Free
Pay What You Can (Note: Your donation supports scholarships for women of color to grow their leadership!)
Register now to secure your spot!