“Now I can pause, think, and respond with clarity instead of fearing that I might not have the answer.”

After more than two decades in the IT industry and extensive experience across automotive and technology organisations, I had spent years developing my technical expertise and leading teams. Over time, I also became increasingly aware that senior leadership required more than domain knowledge and decision-making. It required the ability to communicate with confidence, influence people, and create clarity in situations that were often uncertain.
That was one of the reasons I joined Kapable. I wanted to become more confident in public speaking and high-stakes conversations. I often spoke quickly, and the fear of being asked something I did not know could make me hesitate before taking up opportunities to speak. With more than 20 years of experience, I felt I should have the answers, and that expectation sometimes held me back.
One of the biggest shifts for me was realising that I did not need to know everything.
I had always believed that if I was invited to speak or was asked a question, I needed to have an immediate answer. Through the sessions, I became more comfortable with the idea that it is completely acceptable to say that I do not know something and offer to come back with the answer. That simple shift removed a significant amount of the fear I associated with public speaking.
The sessions also gave me greater clarity around how I structure my thoughts. Earlier, I would sometimes jump directly into an answer without taking enough time to process the question. Now, I am more comfortable taking a pause, asking someone to repeat or clarify a question when necessary, and then responding with a clearer structure.
I have already seen the difference in my workplace.
In one proposal meeting, I was presenting an idea to stakeholders. Earlier, I would have spoken quickly and potentially lost their attention. This time, I consciously slowed down, paused at important points, and gave the key statements enough space. The response was noticeably different. People listened, asked questions, and wanted to understand the idea further. For me, that was a clear indication that how I communicate can influence how people receive the idea itself.
My understanding of leadership has also evolved. Working in the automotive industry today means making decisions in an environment that is constantly changing. The shift towards EVs, hydrogen, fuel cells, and other technologies has created significant uncertainty, and leaders cannot simply wait for the situation to become stable before making decisions.
In this environment, I want to build executive presence by giving my teams clarity on strategy and direction while maintaining their trust. Transparency has always been important to me, and I want to preserve that even when circumstances are difficult.
Kapable has given me the awareness and practical understanding to continue building these skills. I know three months is not enough to completely change habits built over two decades, but I can already see the difference when I consciously apply what I have practised. The next step is to turn that awareness into muscle memory and carry it consistently into every conversation, presentation, and leadership decision.