2026 - Studying Great Speakers Episode 9: The Authenticity Trap with Dominique Murray

Why Bringing Your Whole Self to Work Is a Trap: Authenticity and Executive PresenceAuthenticity is everywhere in leadership advice. Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Bring your whole self to work. But almost no one tells you where that advice quietly backfires, or how oversharing can cost a strong performer their credibility.In this episode, Stephanie Bickel sits down with Dominique Murray, a marketing and technology leader, author, and longtime Speak by Design University member whose first impression is so strong Stephanie calls her a northbound train. Together they unpack the difference between authenticity that builds trust and authenticity that becomes a liability, why adapting how you show up is not the same as being fake, and how the best leaders use vulnerability with precision instead of spilling everything.You will also hear the small set of changes that completely shifted how a room responded to Stephanie, and why none of them cost her a thing.You'll learn:→ The difference between good vulnerability and bad vulnerability→ Why "that's just not me" is usually resistance, not authenticity→ How to adapt to a room without feeling like you are performing→ Where transparency helps a team and where it quietly erodes trust→ The one reframe that changes how you walk into any roomWhether you are leading a town hall, navigating a new team, or deciding how much of your personal life belongs at work, this episode gives you a clear way to stay genuine without giving everything away. Authenticity is not the goal. Trust is.Dominique's debut novel, Dominion Ascension, is out now.LINKS:Start your coaching journey: https://speakbydesignuniversity.com/joinGet Speak by Design Certified: https://speakbydesignuniversity.com/certificationDominion Ascension: https://www.amazon.com/Dominion-Ascension-D-Murray/dp/B0F7T5W74THosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.