2026 - Episode 1 - Leadership Communication Trends

2026 Update | What's New at Speak by Design

This episode is an update for our active clients, not a place to start. New here? Begin with Episode 1 and follow the sequence 1–50, designed as a private coaching journey.

Stephanie Bickel is back with an exciting update on everything happening at Speak by Design in 2026 and there's a lot to share.

What's covered in this episode:

➤ Sharpen and Elevate in Chicago on July 15th, 2026.
Join us for a full day of live development: sharpen your executive presence, body language, voice, leadership brand, and on-your-feet thinking. (Companies: ask us about bringing this to your team!)

➤ Speak by Design Coaching Certification
Do you want to coach leadership communication inside your organization? Certification kicks off in July. Perfect for HR leaders, internal comms, and executive coaches.

➤ Speak by Design University
Now an annual, start-anytime program with 1:1 private coaching, a guided skill development path, and a portfolio of communication assets you'll actually use.

Plus, Stephanie shares 5 trends she's hearing from clients right now:

 • Being told you're "too rude" — and what feedback to actually take seriously
 • Tech & AI storytelling challenges for coders and developers
 • Reigniting energy in multi-year transformations
 • Team building after reductions and reorgs
 • How to think (and speak) like a CEO

Next episode: A deep dive into studying Bob Iger. Bob is one of the most compelling speakers for investor audiences. Search him on YouTube and come ready.

Links:

Start the program: https://speakbydesign.com/join
Chicago event info: https://speakbydesignuniversity.com/se2026
Certification inquiries: https://speakbydesignuniversity.com/certification/join

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