Opens in a new tab
11 min 30 sec
Available in:English

Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career

Shows capable professionals why strong results alone rarely lead to advancement, and how to shape the signals they send in meetings, presentations, video calls and conversations with leaders so their real value gets noticed.

Table of Content

Doing excellent work and getting credit for it are two separate skills, and many capable professionals master only the first. In Unforgettable Presence, Lorraine K. Lee, a former founding editor at LinkedIn and Prezi, argues that colleagues are already forming a story about you from every email, meeting and video call, so the only real choice is whether you shape that story on purpose. Her definition of presence goes beyond confidence or polish. It means deciding how and where your work and your potential get noticed.

That idea carries the whole book: a reputation is built signal by signal, and each signal can be designed. Lee turns it into specific tools, from a one-page exercise that exposes the gap in how you are seen, to a four-part model of influence, to a recipe for coming across well on camera. The payoff is a reputation that matches the value you already deliver.

A senior analyst produces consistently sharp research, and her career still stalls. The reason has nothing to do with the quality of her work, and a single sheet of paper can reveal whether the same thing is happening to you.

A product manager with no special rank makes people lean in whenever she speaks. Her pull is not luck or charisma, and Lee breaks it into four habits that anyone can practice, starting with the one most people skip.

Executives decide within moments whether your update deserves their attention. Most people lose them by starting in the wrong place, and the fix is a simple reordering that also changes how leaders see you afterward.

Most advice tells anxious speakers to calm down or memorize every word. Lee suggests something different about preparation, a breathing count you can use in the hallway, and one question that changes how the whole talk feels.

On a screen, small technical choices shape whether colleagues see you as polished or careless. Lee’s three-part method starts somewhere most people never think to look, and it asks for more energy than feels natural.

Lee’s book rests on a plain observation: people judge your work through the signals around it, and those signals can be designed. The analyst who stays silent, the manager who buries the recommendation under background and the speaker on a laptop microphone may all be excellent at what they do. What they send out is simply weaker than what they deliver. Presence, in Lee’s account, means closing that gap on purpose, one email, meeting and call at a time, through relationships, visibility and expertise rather than luck.

The work can start small. Fill in the two columns this week, and ask two trusted colleagues whether your left side is accurate. Write your next update for a senior leader with the recommendation in the first sentence. Before your next video call, raise the camera to eye level and bring your energy up a little more than feels natural.

None of this asks you to become someone else. It asks the people around you to finally see the person who was already doing the work.

About this book

What is this book about?

Many professionals deliver strong results and hear that they are doing great, yet the bigger opportunities keep going to someone else. Lorraine K. Lee argues that the problem is often how their work is seen, not their skill or effort. Every email, meeting and video call sends a signal, and colleagues build a story about you from those signals whether you shape them or not. Lee defines presence as deciding how and where your work and potential get noticed. She turns that into specific tools: a two-column exercise that compares how you are seen with how you want to be seen, the RAVE model of relationships, appearance, visibility and expertise, the bottom-line-up-front approach for senior leaders, a calmer way to prepare for presentations, and the TEA method for technology, energy and aesthetics on camera. Readers get practical steps for making their contributions visible, speaking to executives so they listen, handling nerves before a talk and coming across as credible on screen, so that their reputation finally reflects what they deliver.

Book Information

Rating:

Genre:

Career & Success, Communication & Social Skills

Topics:

Personal Branding, Public Speaking, Workplace Communication

Publisher:

Wiley

Language:

English

Narrator:

Emily

First published:

April 22, 2025

Pages:

272

Length:

11 min 30 sec

Get the book:

Amazon

Who it's for

  • Praised but passed over

    Strong performers who get praise for their work but keep missing promotions and bigger projects.

  • Quiet specialists wanting visibility

    Analysts, engineers and specialists who rarely speak up and want leaders to see their strategic value.

  • Remote and hybrid staff

    Remote and hybrid workers who want to come across as credible on video calls.

Listen to Preview

About the Author

Lorraine K Lee

Lorraine K. Lee spent more than ten years in the tech industry, where she was a founding editor at LinkedIn and Prezi, before starting her own company. She has spoken for organizations including Zoom, Cisco and McKinsey and Company, and has taught at MasterClass, Stanford Continuing Studies and LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice in workplace communication and presence. She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings at a glance

4.3

Overall score based on 10 ratings.

What people think

Listeners find this guide brimming with functional expertise and hands-on suggestions, making it a vital resource for driven professionals. The work is motivating, aiding others in developing their sway and visibility, with one listener observing that it offers a methodical path to follow. Listeners admire the conversational tactics, specifically one who emphasizes the structures for video-based communication, as well as the private stories that lend a down-to-earth quality. They also prize its sincerity, as one listener describes how the book helps cultivate influence without ever feeling disingenuous.

Top reviews

Chan

This book is a game-changer for anyone trying to navigate the modern hybrid workplace without losing their soul. Lorraine Lee manages to strip away the fluff that usually bogs down professional development guides, offering instead a roadmap of tactical maneuvers. I particularly appreciated the frameworks for video communication, which often feels like a performance rather than a genuine connection. To be fair, some of the networking tips might feel familiar to veterans, but the way they are packaged into concrete 'to-do' lists makes them feel fresh and achievable. It’s less about being the loudest person in the room and more about intentionality in how you position your career. I walked away with a dozen sticky notes and a much clearer sense of how to build my brand without feeling like a fraud.

Show more
Kamol

Ever wonder why some people just seem to command attention the moment they log into a Zoom call? Unforgettable Presence answers that question with surgical precision through relatable anecdotes and hard-hitting research. Lorraine’s writing style is incredibly approachable, making it feel like you’re getting a private coaching session from a mentor who actually wants you to succeed. Personally, I loved the step-by-step guidance on creating a personal brand that feels authentic rather than manufactured. It’s a rare find to see a leadership book that doesn't just cater to the loudest extroverts in the room. Even as someone who prefers the quiet work, I found strategies here that allowed me to increase my visibility without compromising my personality. It is an essential manual for the modern professional.

Show more
Bam

As someone who struggles with the 'fakeness' of traditional networking, this book was a breath of fresh air. Lorraine Lee shows that leadership isn't just a trait for the chosen few; it’s a set of skills that anyone can cultivate through intentional practice. The book is packed with personal anecdotes that make the advice feel grounded in reality rather than just theory. Look, we’ve all read books that tell us to 'just be confident,' but this one actually gives you the tools to build that presence from the ground up. I specifically appreciated how it empowers those of us who thrive in quieter settings to still make a significant impact. It’s a simple but powerful guide that helped me understand that my voice matters, even if I’m not the most energetic person in the office.

Show more
Sumalee

The section on frameworks for virtual presenting is worth the price of the book alone. I wish I had access to these tools when I was first starting out in tech because they would have saved me years of trial and error. Lorraine combines engaging stories with solid research to create a guide that feels both authoritative and accessible. Not gonna lie, I was worried it would be another 'hustle culture' manual, but it’s actually about being more visible in a way that feels true to yourself. It’s rare to find a book that is this practical while also being genuinely inspiring. I’ve already started applying the tactics to my weekly meetings, and the shift in how I’m perceived by my peers is already noticeable. Highly recommend for any ambitious professional.

Show more
Kom

Finally, a professional development book that understands the nuances of the modern, hybrid work environment. Lorraine Lee has written something that empowers you to advance your career on your own terms, without feeling like you're wearing a mask. The book is incredibly well-rounded, covering everything from offline networking to the intricacies of building an online brand. I found the step-by-step guidance on navigating professional spaces with intentionality to be the most helpful part of the entire read. It’s filled with so many great ideas and challenges that keep you engaged from cover to cover. If your goal is to stand out and attract exciting opportunities, this is the manual you’ve been looking for. It’s practical, insightful, and most importantly, it feels authentic.

Show more
Pete

Wow, this exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I’ve followed the author’s work for a while, but seeing all of her wisdom distilled into one book is truly impressive. It’s a simple but powerful guide to becoming unforgettable and making a real difference in your organization. The concrete frameworks for becoming more visible and influential are so easy to follow that you can start using them the same day you read them. Gotta say, the way she tackles the fear of being 'fake' while building a brand is handled with such grace and honesty. This book makes leadership feel attainable for everyone, regardless of where they are in their career ladder. It’s a must-read for any ambitious professional looking to level up their presence and influence.

Show more
Samira

Picked this up after a colleague mentioned the chapter on virtual presenting, and it did not disappoint. While I’ve encountered some of these concepts in other leadership seminars, the specific frameworks provided here are much easier to implement on a daily basis. The truth is, most books tell you what to do, but Lorraine explains exactly how to do it through actionable career positioning strategies. I did feel that a few sections towards the middle dragged a bit with repetitive stories, but the sheer volume of practical tools makes up for the occasional slow patch. If you are looking to cultivate confidence and attract new opportunities, the ROI on this read is quite high. It’s definitely a solid addition to my shelf of career development resources.

Show more
Yuki

After hearing Lorraine speak on a podcast, I knew I had to get my hands on this book, and it lived up to the hype. The focus on concrete tactics you can apply immediately is what sets this apart from other leadership titles. I’ve already shared several of the communication strategies with my friends and colleagues because they are just that useful. My only minor gripe is that some of the personal anecdotes felt a bit long-winded, but the takeaways at the end of each chapter kept me focused. It’s a very practical and insightful read that helps you nail your presence in both virtual and physical rooms. This is definitely the kind of book I’ll be revisiting whenever I have a big presentation or a high-stakes networking event.

Show more
Kiattisak

Frankly, the first half of the book was a bit of a struggle for me because it touched on themes I’ve read a dozen times before. However, once I reached the chapters on digital presence and specific communication frameworks, the value skyrocketed. There is a lot of practical knowledge tucked away in the second half that makes it worth sticking through the more generic parts. To be fair, the author’s tone is very relatable and she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the nuances of online influence. I just wish there was a bit more 'new' research instead of relying so heavily on existing personal branding tropes. It’s a good foundational book, but it might not blow your mind if you’re a seasoned reader of the genre.

Show more
Rome

Not what I expected given the high praise I’ve seen on LinkedIn lately. I’m a huge fan of personal development and I read a lot in this genre, but frankly, this felt like a compilation of ideas from other major authors. There were moments where the advice felt too basic, like a summary of a few blog posts rather than a deep dive into new territory. I found it hard to stay engaged when the 'concrete tactics' were things I had already seen elsewhere multiple times. For a book titled Unforgettable Presence, the content itself was ironically quite forgettable for someone who is already well-versed in professional branding. It might be helpful for someone completely new to the workforce, but for mid-career professionals, it lacks the depth needed to really move the needle.

Show more
Show all reviews

Questions about this book

The book argues that hard work and good results are often not enough to advance, because colleagues judge you through the signals you send in emails, meetings and video calls. For Lee, presence means purposefully steering the ways and places in which people notice your work and your potential. She offers tools for assessing your reputation, building influence, talking to executives, handling presentation nerves and coming across well on camera.

RAVE is Lee’s model of professional influence: relationships, appearance, visibility and expertise. Relationships come first, built through small habits like regular coffee with colleagues. Appearance shows you read the situation. Visibility means being known for the right things, for example through a monthly digest of insights. Expertise is the foundation. Lee says the four reinforce each other, so strength in one creates chances in the others.

Lee recommends learning each leader’s preferred style first, since some want technical detail and others only strategy. Then think about the pressures that shape their decisions. In the meeting, use the BLUF method: open with your recommendation and its expected benefit, such as moving a marketing budget to digital channels for a possible 40 percent return gain, and add details only afterward.

TEA stands for technology, energy and aesthetics. For technology, Lee puts audio first, recommending a dedicated microphone, then an external webcam at eye level with head-and-shoulders framing. For energy, she suggests raising your natural expressiveness by about 10 to 15 percent. For aesthetics, she advises a ring light or desk lamp and a simple background, such as a bookshelf or a plant.

It suits professionals who deliver good work but feel overlooked for advancement, such as specialists seen as tactical rather than strategic. It also helps people who dread presentations, struggle to hold an executive’s attention or work mostly over video. Its tools are practical, from a two-column self-assessment to a breathing count before a talk and a habit of opening with your recommendation.

AUDIO SUMMARY AVAILABLE

Listen to Unforgettable Presence in 15 minutes

Get the key ideas from Unforgettable Presence by Lorraine K Lee, plus 5,000+ more nonfiction titles.

  • 5,000+ titles
  • Listen as much as you want
  • 7-day free trial
  • Cancel anytime

Unforgettable Presence

Preview · Full summary 11 min 30 sec
Home

Discover

Open app

Log in