Rodna Ntabeni: Leadership Speaker
Rodna Ntabeni is a leadership keynote speaker and communication strategist who helps professionals build influence, close the visibility gap, and lead with authority.
Quick Facts:
- International keynote speaker on leadership presence and influence
- Creator of the Leadership Presence Framework
- Founder of The Influential Woman
- Speaker and moderator at the Forty Under 40 Africa Awards
- Formats:
Keynote Speaker and Leadership Communication Expert
- Audiences:
Corporate leaders, emerging professionals, diversity and leadership initiatives, public sector organizations, and companies seeking stronger leadership presence across their teams.
- Outcomes:
- Tools to build confidence, clarity, and authority in high-stakes conversations
- Strategies to close the visibility gap for high-potential leaders
- Communication frameworks that strengthen leadership influence and trust
- Travels from: London, UK
- **Fee range: $5,001 - $10,000
Keynote Topics
THE VISIBILITY GAP: Why Talent Alone Isn't Enough
Synopsis: Every organisation has capable professionals whose ideas never quite land in the rooms where decisions are made. This signature keynote addresses the critical gap between competence and influence -why talented leaders remain overlooked despite their capabilities, and the practical framework needed to bridge that divide. Using real-world examples and cross-cultural insights, Rodna shows audiences how to move from overlooked to in-demand.
Key Takeaway Messages:
- Understand why capability alone does not guarantee influence or recognition in leadership spaces • Identify the invisible barriers that keep talented professionals from being heard and taken seriously
- Learn the difference between performance, perception, and presence in high-stakes environments
- Apply practical strategies for positioning yourself so your contributions land with impact • Build an immediate action plan to start closing your own visibility gap
THE LEADERSHIP PRESENCE FRAMEWORK: Clarity, Confidence, and Conviction
Synopsis: Leadership presence is not about charisma or personality – it is a learnable skill built on three essential pillars. This keynote introduces Rodna’s signature Leadership Presence Framework, providing audiences with a practical methodology they can apply immediately to command authority in any room. Participants learn how to know who they are in any environment, communicate without hesitation, and hold their position under pressure.
Key Takeaway Messages:
- Master the three pillars of leadership presence: Clarity, Confidence, and Conviction • Develop unshakeable clarity about your value and right to speak in high-stakes environments
- Build confidence that allows you to communicate ideas with authority and without second-guessing
- Strengthen conviction to maintain your ground when challenged or operating in unfamiliar territory
- Apply simple daily practices to grow your leadership presence consistently over time
INFLUENCE WITHOUT AUTHORITY: How Leaders Shape Decisions
Synopsis: In today’s matrix organisations, the ability to influence without formal authority has become critical for success. This keynote explores how professionals shape conversations, earn trust, and drive outcomes when they do not hold the most senior position in the room. Rodna provides strategies for building credibility, navigating power structures, and leading effectively across organisational hierarchies.
Key Takeaway Messages:
- Understand how decisions are really shaped in organisations, beyond formal hierarchy and position
- Build credibility and trust quickly in environments where you may not have established relationships
- Learn to lead conversations and drive outcomes through presence, preparation, and positioning • Navigate organisational power dynamics and position ideas to gain traction with decision-makers
- Apply practical approaches for managing upwards, sideways, and across cultural contexts
BUILDING INFLUENCE ACROSS CULTURES: Be Seen, Heard, and Taken Seriously
Synopsis: For global organisations and professionals operating across borders, building influence requires cultural intelligence and adaptability. This keynote addresses the unique challenges of establishing credibility in cross-cultural business environments, particularly for leaders navigating spaces that were not necessarily designed with them in mind. Drawing on international experience across the UK, Africa, and beyond, Rodna provides practical frameworks for leading with authority in diverse global settings.
Key Takeaway Messages:
- Navigate cross-cultural leadership complexities and understand how presence is perceived differently across cultures
- Build credibility quickly in international and multicultural business environments
- Adapt communication and leadership style to different cultural contexts whilst maintaining authentic authority
- Overcome specific challenges faced by leaders in environments not designed with their background in mind
- Establish yourself as a trusted, influential voice in global organisations and international forums
Talent Short Bio
Rodna Ntabeni is an international keynote speaker and leadership expert who helps organizations close what she calls the “visibility gap” — the space between capability and influence that often prevents talented professionals from being heard in critical decision-making environments. Her work focuses on equipping leaders with the communication skills and leadership presence needed to ensure their ideas are trusted, respected, and acted upon.
Through her signature Leadership Presence Framework, Rodna teaches professionals how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and conviction. This practical methodology helps leaders articulate their ideas effectively, maintain authority in high-pressure situations, and contribute meaningfully to strategic conversations. Her sessions provide actionable tools that empower individuals to strengthen their influence and lead with credibility, regardless of their title or position.
Rodna brings extensive experience in leadership development across corporate, public sector, and nonprofit organizations in the United Kingdom and internationally. She has also served as a speaker and moderator at the Forty Under 40 Africa Awards in Accra, where she engaged senior leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs on the topics of authority, influence, and cross-cultural leadership.
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Do speakers charge a flat fee or by the hour?
Speaker fees can vary depending on factors such as expertise, demand, and event specifics. While some speakers may charge a flat fee for their services, others may have hourly rates. It’s best to discuss fee structures directly with the speaker or their representative to understand the pricing model.
What is the typical duration of a keynote speech and what is included?
Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.
Does the scale of the event and audience size affect a speaker’s fee?
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Additional tips and takeaways
- Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
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