Leadership in Heels
(and Other Shoes)
Presence, posture and power signals beyond the theatre, toward credible leadership
This entertaining and thought-provoking keynote starts at the very bottom: the feet. With self-irony and a touch of dark humour, communication expert Katja Schleicher works her way upward to reveal a surprising truth: how we stand and how we move shapes how we think, decide, and exercise power.
Shoes are far more than fashion. They influence posture, confidence, presence, and the subtle signals we send in professional environments. Through the seemingly simple example of footwear, Katja exposes the hidden mechanisms behind authority, self-confidence, and leadership behaviour — and challenges the myths that have built an entire industry around them.
What
This
Keynote Explores
Act 1: The Case for Signals
Before someone says a single word, the room has already noticed their posture, movement, and confidence signals. Research in psychology and behavioural science confirms that first impressions and physical presence shape how messages are received. Often, the room decides whether you sound convincing before you even begin speaking.
Act 2: The Case Against Signals
Entire industries promise that leadership can be mastered through posture tricks, power poses, and wardrobe choices. The reality is far more complicated. True authority rarely comes from appearance alone. Confidence without competence quickly becomes leadership theatre — and audiences are surprisingly good at sensing the difference.
Act 3: Signals, Sound & Substance
Leadership does not start at the feet. But it does not ignore them either. Signals influence perception. Substance determines credibility. When presence, communication, and competence align, leadership becomes believable. When they don't, people notice.
Feminine and Masculine Communication Patterns
Women and men are often taught different ways of expressing authority and presence. Recognising these dynamics allows individuals to navigate power more consciously and confidently — and to step into leadership rather than step away from it.
What You Will Learn
Participants learn to understand the subtle signals that communicate authority and confidence, recognise how posture and presence influence perception and decision-making, navigate gender dynamics in communication and leadership, strengthen personal presence in meetings and negotiations, and step into leadership roles with clarity and authenticity.
Who This Is For
This keynote is ideal for organisations exploring leadership, diversity and inclusion. It's equally suitable for conferences focused on leadership presence and communication and companies supporting female leadership. Professionals navigating visibility and influence in their careers will also find it valuable, as will teams interested in understanding subtle power dynamics in the workplace.
Key Takeaways
Participants gain a fresh perspective on how physical presence influences communication and leadership, practical insights into subtle power dynamics, tools to project stability, credibility, and flexibility in professional situations, and the inspiration to step more consciously and confidently into leadership moments.
Leadership is often discussed as strategy, expertise, or intelligence. But sometimes it starts with something much simpler: how we stand, how we move, and the confidence with which we take the next step.
Leadership is often discussed as strategy, expertise, or intelligence. But sometimes it starts with something much simpler: how we stand, how we move, and the confidence with which we take the next step.
