The Power of Presence
My Journey from Technical Expert to Communication Coach
I still remember the moment everything changed. Standing before an audience of nearly a thousand AI researchers and industry leaders, my hands trembled despite years of preparation. My Ph.D. work in electronic engineering had prepared me for the content—but not for the human element of communication.
As I fielded questions after my presentation, a powerful realization settled in: my groundbreaking research had made only a fraction of the impact it could have.
This wasn't just disappointing—it was a puzzle that needed solving. As an engineer, I approached it methodically. The breakthrough came unexpectedly when I connected two seemingly disparate parts of my life: my technical expertise and my hobby as an amateur magician.
I discovered that the principles making magic performances captivating were precisely what technical presentations often lacked: emotional storytelling, strategic attention direction, confident body language, and vocal techniques that emphasize key points.
This realization launched me into a different kind of research. I analyzed countless presentations, studied performance psychology, and developed a methodology that transformed how I communicated complex ideas. Later, I enhanced this foundation by studying negotiation at the University of Notre Dame, where I gained invaluable insights into persuasion, conflict resolution, and the psychology of influence.
The integration of these different disciplines—technical expertise, performance techniques, and negotiation principles—created a powerful synergy. Audiences weren't just understanding my research—they were connecting with it. Questions became more engaged, collaborations more frequent, and implementation of my ideas more widespread.
When colleagues began asking what had changed, I shared my approach. What began as personal growth evolved into workshops for fellow researchers, then expanded to helping professionals across disciplines. Today, I apply my unique blend of technical knowledge, performance skills, and negotiation expertise to help experts ensure their brilliant ideas achieve the impact they deserve.
I bridge these seemingly disparate worlds—rigorous technical understanding, compelling performance techniques, and strategic negotiation—helping organizations master the principles that transform information into influence and data into decisions.