OM DENNE EPISODE
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What if the fastest way to become a stronger leader isn’t getting a bigger title—but becoming the kind of leader others already want to follow?
You don’t need formal authority to create influence, solve meaningful problems, or demonstrate that you’re ready for greater responsibility. In this episode, Stanford basketball coach Eric Reveno shares how he stepped outside his traditional role as a coach to launch All Vote No Play—an initiative that ultimately helped change NCAA policy around civic engagement.
Eric and Laura unpack what that experience taught him about finding unconventional paths to create change, building relationships with the people who can move an idea forward, and recognizing the power you already have within an organization.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
🔑How to build influence and create change even when you don’t have formal authority or the “right” title
🪝Why being a great teammate or colleague can become the foundation for becoming a leader people genuinely want to follow
🔥How to use the STORM framework—Show Up, Take Care of Relationships, Own Your Power, Raise Up Others, and Maintain Mission Focus—to increase your impact at work
Play the episode to learn how to stop waiting for permission, start using the influence you already have, and show up as the kind of teammate who’s ready to lead.
To learn more visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. New Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning.
About our guest:
Head Coach for Men’s Basketball, at Brown University (moving there from Stanford) Eric Reveno brings more than 28 years of Division I coaching experience and a reputation for transforming teams from the inside out.
A Stanford alumnus, Reveno most recently served as the James C. Gaither Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach at his alma mater. His second coaching stint at Stanford began in 2024, and he added General Manager responsibilities ahead of the 2025-26 season. In the dual role, Reveno helped lead every aspect of the Cardinal men’s basketball program.
“Brown University represents a rare opportunity where academic excellence, athletic excellence, and personal development are truly aligned,” Reveno said. “My family and I are honored to join the Brown community. We will build a championship program by developing exceptional teammates, exceptional students, and exceptional competitors. Our goal is to pursue Ivy League championships while preparing young men to lead meaningful lives long after basketball. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Reveno previously served on Stanford’s staff from 1997-2006, helping guide the program to national success. He was an assistant coach from 1997-04, before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2004. His Cardinal teams reached the 1998 NCAA Tournament Final Four, made seven NCAA Tournaments, won four Pac-10 Championships, achieved three No. 1 national rankings, and produced a number of future NBA players including Brook and Robin Lopez, Jason and Jarron Collins, and Mark Madsen.
The Speak Up Podcast helps high-performing professionals develop executive presence through strategic communication, executive confidence, and leadership influence. Each episode provides practical strategies to help you speak up in meetings, communicate with senior leaders, present ideas with clarity, build executive visibility, strengthen your leadership presence, influence without authority, stop overexplaining, answer difficult questions with confidence, and become a trusted executive leader.
Whether you're preparing for your next Vice President promotion or looking to communicate with greater credibility and gravitas, you'll learn actionable executive communication skills that accelerate career growth.
Topics covered in this episode:
- How to speak up in executive meetings
- Executive Influence
- How to communicate with senior leadership
- How to develop executive presence
- How to be seen as VP material
- How to influence executives
- How to stop overexplaining at work
- How to answer executive questions concisely
- How to handle pushback from senior leaders
- How to increase visibility with leadership
- Director-to-VP transition
