Maintain your authority in English
— even under pressure,
in 60 days
Discreet, high-touch coaching for non-native executives who lead confidently in their own language, but feel their authority drop as soon as the conversation switches to English.
If you’re sharp and respected in your mother tongue, but in English you suddenly feel slower, less precise, less convincing, the problem is rarely “your English”.
It’s the gap between who you are… and how you sound when the stakes are high.
My role is simple: To help you protect your authority in English, especially when everyone is watching.
In 60 days, you will:
– Speak in English without losing your leadership presence.
– Handle interruptions, challenges and tough questions without freezing.
– Sound calm, clear and decisive, even when you’re thinking in two languages at once.
This is not about your English.
It’s about your authority.
In your own language, you’re recognised for your clarity, your judgment, your way of holding the room.
But when everything moves into English:
- Your sentences feel heavier or less precise than in your head
- You hesitate just long enough to lose the moment
- You avoid speaking up in global meetings unless you’re fully prepared
- You dread investor calls, board updates or analyst Q&As in English
- You leave meetings thinking: “I didn’t sound like myself. Not at this level.”
Most public speaking advice focuses on performing a speech. Your reality is different: you’re navigating live, high-stakes dialogue — often off-script, under pressure, in a second or third language.
You don’t need tricks. You need a way to stabilise your presence in English so that your authority doesn’t fluctuate with the language.
Where leadership, language
and performance meet.
I don’t teach grammar.
I don’t prepare you for exams.
We work exactly where your authority is at risk:
- Executive committees and board meetings
- Investor and analyst calls
- Media interviews and keynote Q&A
- Delicate negotiations and difficult conversations
- High-visibility internal presentations in English
Together, we refine three things:
- Your message – what you say when the spotlight turns to you
- Your delivery – how you sound, move and respond in real time
- Your inner state – what happens inside you when the pressure rises
The result: You stop “surviving in English” and start leading in English — with the same presence you have in your own language.
About Richard Doust
Public speaking & presence coach
for non-native leaders in international roles.
for non-native leaders in international roles.
I’m a coach, actor and musician with a PhD in storytelling.
I work in English, French, German, and also speak Italian and Russian. I have spent over a decade coaching leaders, experts and entrepreneurs across Europe.
My background:
- 10+ years coaching senior professionals and executives in international environments
- PhD on narrative and suspense — how attention and emotion are held over time
- Professional experience as an actor and performance coach, specialising in live simulations and high-stakes dialogue
- Voice and text work for ARTE and other European cultural institutions
THE 60-DAY INTENSIVE
A focused, high-touch programme to stabilise your authority in English.
Who it’s for
- CEOs and founders in international or investor-facing roles
- Partners and senior leaders in consulting, finance, tech and industry
- Senior public sector or EU leaders managing international portfolios
- Coaches, experts and thought leaders speaking regularly to global audiences
What we work on in 60 days
Over roughly 8 weeks, we will:
- Clarify your strategic situations – where your authority is at stake (investor calls, board updates, key negotiations, media, town halls, etc.)
- Design your key messages and signature moves – the phrases, rhythms and gestures that anchor your presence
- Run tailored simulations – we rehearse realistic, uncomfortable scenarios, not “perfect speeches”
- Train your response under pressure – interruptions, objections, bad connections, hostile questions
- Refine your voice and body language – subtle adjustments that change how people experience you.
You will leave with:
- A clear, repeatable speaking structure for high-stakes situations
- A stable, reliable way of grounding yourself under pressure
- Specific phrases and language you can rely on in English, without sounding generic
- A sense of: “This is me. In English. At my real level.”
Discreet, tailored, 1:1
All work is entirely confidential, tailored to your role, your sector and your personality. Sessions are held online, with the option of occasional in-person intensives by arrangement.
THE SVCF METHOD:
SPACE · VOICE · CHARACTER · FLOW
Behind The Speaking Flow is a simple, robust framework developed at the crossroads of theatre, multilingualism and leadership psychology.
SPACE – Own the room
- Enter the room with quiet authority
- Use camera, table, slides and room layout to your advantage
- Project calm and clarity before you say a word
VOICE – Find your leadership sound
- Stabilise your pace, rhythm and pauses in English
- Use intonation deliberately, without feeling artificial
- Keep your voice grounded when you are challenged
CHARACTER – Stand in who you are
Define an authentic speaking persona that matches your role
Align your body language, tone and message
Stay yourself in English, instead of trying to “perform” a native accent
FLOW – Stay present under pressure
Get into The Speaking FLOW and:
- Keep your thread in complex, multi-party conversations
- Recover gracefully after interruptions or mistakes
- Navigate Q&A, objections and spontaneous exchanges without losing the room
This is not performance for performance’s sake. It’s presence in service of your decisions, your strategy, and your people.
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CLIENT VOICES
“Richard’s strategies have transformed my audience engagement, both in person and online. His mastery of the virtual stage is exceptional. “
– Krisztina L., CEO Leadership Accelerators – (Hungary)
“Richard’s approach brought impactful, specific improvements. His patience, adaptability, and language skills are extraordinary.”
– Florence H., Founder, FUCHS Transformation Method (France)
“Richard’s mix of psychological and technical expertise transformed my video presentations, teaching me how to authentically captivate my audience.”
– Paul L., Marketing Automation Specialist (USA)
“Working with Richard was a blend of professionalism and enjoyment. His adaptable method offered a personalised, holistic experience.”
– Fanny D., CEO and Art-Therapy Coach (France)
Your free guide:
"Why your authority drops in English — and how to restore it"
Before we work together, you might want a clearer picture of what’s actually happening when you “lose” yourself in English. In this concise guide, you’ll discover:
- The 3 reasons executives feel less sharp in English, even at C1 level
- Why working harder on grammar rarely changes your authority
- The small shifts in SPACE, VOICE, CHARACTER and FLOW that make an immediate difference
Imagine yourself in 60 days…
- You walk into English meetings without rehearsing every sentence.
- You respond to unexpected questions without panic in your chest.
- You hear your own voice in English and think: “Yes. That sounds like me.”
- You stop avoiding visibility because of the language.
- Colleagues and stakeholders start turning to you not only for your expertise, but for your way of holding the room.
- The idea is not to become “perfect” in English.
It’s more about restoring the authority you already have.
Next step
You don’t need another course or app. You need 60 days of focused, intelligent work on how you show up in English when it really matters.
Two ways to start:
➡️ Book a confidential call – We’ll map your critical situations, your current challenges, and see whether the 60-Day Intensive is the right fit.
➡️ Get the free guide – “Why your authority drops in English — and how to restore it.”
Either way, you don’t have to keep losing presence the moment the language changes.