A Conversation with Tessa Desatnik at the Board Academy Bootcamp
It’s just after lunch, and I’m walking from Grand Central to the Penn Club on West 44th. The air is crisp, and the energy on the sidewalks is unmistakably Manhattan. I’m heading to the Ellig Group Board Academy Bootcamp, where about twenty aspiring board directors are gathered for a full afternoon of learning.
Inside the meeting room, I slip into a seat in the back. At the front, Tessa Desatnik is about to begin her session.
She opens with a question: “How do you show up, before you say a word?”
For the next 30 minutes, Tessa takes us through the nuances of executive presence; voice, posture, pauses, eye contact. But it’s not a lecture. It’s a conversation. She invites the audience in, gently prompting them to reflect on how they connect, what messages they send without realizing it, and how authenticity becomes a leader’s most powerful tool.
She doesn’t focus on performance. She focuses on presence. And that’s what makes her message land.
After the session, we find a quiet corner and sit down with two coffees.
I ask her, “What drives you to do this work?”
She smiles. “I’ve met so many brilliant professionals over the years. People with letters after their names, deep expertise, and impressive roles. But many still hesitate when it comes to speaking with impact. They doubt their delivery. Or they don’t see themselves as strong communicators, even when they have something important to say. I want to help them shift that story.”
“Where do you think that hesitation comes from?” I ask.
“Some of it is delivery, of course,” she says. “But more often, it’s internal. It’s mindset. The stories people tell themselves. I call it the mask. When we remove it, we can really get to the heart of how someone wants to lead.”
“How did you start doing this kind of work?”
“I started with one-on-one coaching. At first, it was individuals of all ages. Some were professionals already, and others were still students. Over time, I created a program for schools because I saw how early these patterns begin. Eventually, I moved into corporate coaching full time and now work with leaders across industries.”
“Who do you work with most often now?”
“I coach people at many levels, from directors to C-suite executives. Some come to me because they’ve been told to speak up or be more confident. Others are already confident and want to sharpen their presence. I love helping both groups. Once someone connects with their voice and learns how to use it well, their influence grows naturally.”
As we wrap up, I glance back into the room we just left. A few attendees are still there, talking, reflecting. Tessa’s session clearly made an impression.
What she offers isn’t just communication coaching. It’s a deeper kind of work. She helps people show up with clarity, own their space, and create impact with every word.
Maarten Schaefer
Chief Storyteller, CoolBrands people.
Connect with Tessa on LinkedIn.
