You’ve earned your seat at the table.

But even with years of experience and an impressive title, there are moments when the decision doesn’t rest with you. That’s when influence matters more than authority.

Early in my career at Expedia, I walked into a high-stakes negotiation with a major hotel chain. I wasn’t the most senior person in the room, but the success of the deal rested on my shoulders. The only way forward was to align stakeholders — marketing, distribution, pricing, PR, legal and the hotel’s executives — all with competing priorities.

So, I built alignment before the meeting even started. I talked to people one-on-one. I understood what mattered to them. I connected the dots between their priorities and ours.

By the time the meeting began, trust was already there. The deal closed faster — and on better terms for both sides — because influence had been earned long before the discussion started.

For senior women leaders, this is the reality. We’re often expected to deliver big results without always having direct authority — balancing stakeholders, managing competing agendas, and inspiring action in rooms where power dynamics aren’t always in our favor.

Influence isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential. And it’s a skill you can build.

Here are three pillars to help you speak up, stand out and own the room – no title required.

Pillar 1: Build Strategic Credibility

People follow leaders they trust. And trust starts with credibility — showing that your perspective connects insight, strategy and impact.

Executives don’t need more data. They want clarity. They want context. They want to know why it matters.

Before you walk into a meeting, ask yourself:

  • What’s the bigger picture here?

  • How does this tie to our organization’s priorities?

  • Why should they care?

Three ways to elevate your credibility:

  • Lead with insights, not updates. Don’t just report what’s happening — explain the “so what” and link it to business goals.

  • Know your audience. Speak their language. Show how your ideas solve their problems.

  • Humanize your data. Numbers matter, but stories make them stick.

When you consistently connect your expertise to the bigger picture, you shift from someone who shares information to someone who drives outcomes. That’s where influence begins.

Pillar 2: Own the Room Through Executive Presence

You can have the smartest idea in the room, but if you don’t deliver it with presence, it can get lost.

Executive presence is that mix of confidence, clarity and connection that makes people lean in and listen.

People decide whether they trust you in the first few seconds (sometimes in as little as one-tenth of a second). Presence is your amplifier.

Start with your voice:

  • Tone: Speak with calm confidence, even when the stakes are high.

  • Pace: Slow down. If it feels too slow, you’re probably just right.

  • Volume: Use it with intention. Sometimes lowering your voice lands harder than raising it.

Your body language speaks first.

Over 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. Stand tall. Make steady eye contact. Use gestures with purpose. And don’t underestimate the power pause — silence can be just as commanding as words.

Lead with the “so what.”

Senior leaders want outcomes first. Instead of saying, “We launched a new program,” try: “This program boosted conversion rates by 15 percent, unlocking significant revenue.”

When your voice, body language and message work together, you don’t just join the conversation — you guide it.

Pillar 3: Leverage Your Network and Advocates

Influence doesn’t happen in isolation. The strongest leaders I’ve coached are surrounded by advocates — people who champion their ideas, open doors, and amplify their voices when they’re not in the room.

And here’s the secret: strong networks are built intentionally.

Invest in relationships before you need them.

Reach out to peers and cross-functional leaders. Grab coffee. Learn what they’re working on. Understand their challenges. Those connections build trust long before you need support.

Find your champions.

Advocates don’t just cheer for you privately — they speak your name when it matters most. Identify leaders who share your vision and invite them into your story.

Use strategic storytelling.

Facts inform, but stories inspire. When people see themselves in your narrative, they’re far more likely to back your ideas and help move them forward.

Your network isn’t about collecting names — it’s about building a posse that works as hard for you as you do for them.

The Speak-Up Strategy: Anchor, Align, Amplify

When you need to influence without authority, intention matters. Use this framework to help your message land — and stick:

  • Anchor: Tie your idea to the organization’s bigger “why.”

  • Align: Show how it supports your audience’s goals and priorities.

  • Amplify: Build advocates who reinforce your message when you’re not in the room.

It’s simple, strategic and collaborative — exactly what today’s senior leaders need.

Influence Without Authority Is a Leadership Superpower

Titles may open doors, but influence keeps them open.

Mastering influence without authority isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about clarity, credibility and connection.

When you speak up with purpose, stand out with presence, and strategically amplify your voice, you stop waiting for permission to lead — and start shaping outcomes that matter.

Because real influence isn’t given. It’s earned.