Elevate Executive Presence

by Samira Gupta

440 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2025

Reviews

[Komal Kumari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Elevate Executive Presence by Samira Gupta


I recently read Elevate Executive Presence by Samira Gupta, and I must say it’s one of the most practical and inspiring leadership books I’ve come across. The way Gupta explains the 3Ps—Poise, Power, and Performance—made me reflect deeply on my own presence as a leader.


I really liked how she talks about professional dressing. It reminded me that the way I dress isn’t just about me—it creates first impressions, builds trust, and even reflects the brand of the organisation I represent.


Another part that stayed with me was her mantra: “It is okay to be imperfect, it is okay to learn and evolve.” I felt so connected to this because, as a leader, I often pressure myself to have all the answers. This line gave me permission to grow without guilt.


The section on shadow work was powerful. It made me think about my own hidden biases and insecurities, and how accepting them could make me a more authentic and grounded leader One of my favourite lines from the book was:

“Do you want to command the room without raising your voice? Inspire trust without saying a word? Lead with authority, authenticity, and grace?” Reading that made me pause—it’s exactly the kind of presence I want to build.


What I loved most about this book is that it’s not just theory. I could actually see how to apply the tools, coaching tips, and strategies in real-life situations. It gave me confidence that I can project calm under pressure, reframe self-doubt, and build stronger trust with my team.


For me, the biggest takeaway was this simple truth: Poise gives credibility, Power gives influence, and Performance earns respect.


This book felt like a personal leadership coach guiding me at every step. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to grow, lead with empathy, and truly make an impact


Rating: 5/5

Happy Reading 📚

[Varma Shagun · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞:
"In today’s business world, where leadership roles are highly sought after and closely examined, understanding ‘executive presence’ has become essential."

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?
I occasionally turn to non fiction, as I firmly believe these books hold a wealth of wisdom that we can incorporate into our lives.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
The cover and title align seamlessly with the book’s theme, capturing its essence with clarity. The inclusion of illustrations enriched the overall reading experience, improving retention.

𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧:
✓ As the title suggests, the book delves into achieving corporate success through the mastery of executive presence, structured around the 3Ps — Poise, Power, and Performance.
✓ The content is systematically organised, ensuring readers can absorb insights with ease and efficiency.
✓ The author unpacks the nuances of each P in simple, lucid prose, making the subject approachable for all.
✓ Concise explanations, bullet point formatting, and tabular structures enhanced readability and kept the learning engaging.
✓ Frequent references to quotes from eminent personalities elevated the motivational spirit of the book and kept the reader inspired.
✓ I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone determined to carve a distinct identity in the corporate sphere and aspiring to reach the pinnacle of professional growth.

[Readandfun · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Do you want to command the room without raising your voice " this line was enough for me to pick up this book and dive into this realm of confidence . And I found it somewhat calming. It's not the kind of book you just skim; it's a practical and honest guide to something that's always felt a bit mysterious to me: professional presence. It makes you realize that what looks like natural confidence is actually a set of skills you can learn.The book's best part is the simple idea of the 3Ps: Poise, Power, and Performance. This is a clear and memorable way to think about how you act at work. It aso focuses on small, everyday habits and how they add up in creating our reputation . It's a great reminder to be more intentional with how I present myself, not just hope for the best. Reading this book made me realize I need to stop just reacting and start building better habits that show I am confident and capable. I also thought the chapters dedicated to self-awareness and emotional intelligence were wonderfully done. It painted a leadership picture far beyond titles and reinforced the chronological and emotional impact you leave on others in your presence.This book has given me a new, clearer path for my career, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to feel more in charge of their professional journey.

[Madiha Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book felt less like a heavy leadership manual and more like a calm conversation that slowly reshaped the way I look at presence in professional life. It explained something I always assumed people were just born with—confidence—as a set of habits and practices that anyone can build. That realization was strangely comforting.

The structure of the book is clear, divided into three parts: Poise, Power, and Performance. Each section builds on the last, and what I appreciated most was how practical it is. Instead of abstract theories, I found case studies, flowcharts, and even exercises that I could connect to my own workday. The chapter on shadow work stood out to me in particular—it pushed me to confront my own blind spots and insecurities, which made the message of authentic leadership feel very real.

My biggest takeaway was simple but powerful: poise earns trust, power shapes influence, and performance sustains respect. I walked away not just with ideas but with strategies I could actually apply to meetings, presentations, and team interactions. For me, this book worked like a personal coach—nudging me to slow down, reflect, and then act with more clarity. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to grow into a leader that people trust and respect, without needing to be the loudest in the room.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a practical and inspiring guide to one of the most underrated leadership skills: presence. It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room or having the fanciest title—it’s about how you show up, communicate, and inspire trust.

What I loved most is how the book makes confidence feel learnable. Gupta explains that presence isn’t an innate gift but a set of habits anyone can develop—through emotional intelligence, self-awareness, communication, and even something as simple as professional dressing.

The chapters on shadow work and reframing self-doubt stood out to me. They made me realize that true presence starts within, by owning both strengths and imperfections.

At times, the book feels dense, but that’s because it’s packed with tools, reflections, and real-world strategies.

[Shreya Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently, I came across to this beautiful book. The book is great to work through the priciples of leadership.
It is divided into three parts- Poise, Power and Performance.
Each chapter leaves a deeper and intriguing impact on the readers. There are case studies in the book and the author has beautifully used flow chats for a better understanding of the readers.
The book offers very practical and easy to adapt advices to follow on daily routine which makes it highly recommendable.
Great book on all levels.