How to Break Through Promotion for Non-Native Speaking IC/Manager
Mike Li
Ex-Amazon Director/General Manager
This course is popular
6 people enrolled last week.
Build Executive Presence Into Your Muscle Memory
You've done the work. Hit the metrics. And yet every review, your manager tells you to "Improve your communication" without ever saying what that actually means. The promotion went to someone louder. Senior meetings feel like a game where everyone else read the rulebook.
If you've ever thought "I'm clearly competent. why isn't this translating...?" You're in the right place.
There's a gap between technical competence and the unwritten rules of how Western workplaces decide who gets seen, heard, and trusted. In the AI era, execution is commoditizing, closing that gap is the job.
This course compresses that 10+ year learning curve into two intensive weekends. We shift your trajectory from an overlooked contributor to a respected, confident leader.
What students say:
100+ students from Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, plus banking, consulting, and traditional industries.
Real-time feedback from a former Amazon Director — the small moves that change how you show up.
Half the course is real-case simulation; students apply within days.
Most common feedback: "I wish I'd taken this earlier."
The work is the easy part. Letting it be seen is the harder one.
What you’ll learn
Master the psychological triggers and strategic alignment frameworks used by VPs and Directors to assess leadership potential.
Learning through simulation of establishing foundational relationship with your leadership
How to understand your manager's perspective and tailor your strategy accordingly
How to create a roadmap to identify and strategically influence key stakeholders outside your direct team.
Learning through simulation of how to reframe conflict-driven discussion into productive
How to master the preparation framework for crucial meetings, including handling the worst-case scenarion
How to prepare and execute influence before, during, and after crucial discussions
Learning through simulation of how to own the room and ensure your presence is perceived as leadership
Exact steps on how to prep for, facilitate, recap, and follow up on all meetings (cadence, ad-hoc, etc.)
How to master the skill of handling disagreement and playing the room with grace to show leadership.
Learn directly from Mike
See all products from Mike
Who this course is for
This course is designed for high-performing leaders who realize that technical excellence is no longer enough to move the needle.
You should enroll if you feel your contributions are overlooked or underestimated in high-stakes meetings or email chains.
ICs/managers who are ready to start mastering strategic communication to build credibility and influence your career trajectory
Prerequisites
English Proficiency:
Students must have proficiency in Business English. This course will focus on communication strategy, not basic grammar or vocabulary.
Professional Experience:
Students should be currently working in or seeking roles that require regular interaction with international or English-speaking teams.
Mindset:
A willingness to shift focus from mere language fluency (grammar, accent) to strategic impact (structure, delivery, and cultural decoding).
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Mike Li in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.
Course syllabus
8 live sessions • 53 lessons
Week 1
Jun
27
Day 1 - Non-Native Speaker Communication & Promotion with Mike & Amanda
Sat 6/274:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)Jun
27
Day 1 - Simulation & Deep Dive of Students' Personal Scenarios
Sat 6/275:30 PM—7:00 PM (UTC)Jun
28
Day 2 - Non-Native Speaker Communication & Promotion with Mike & Amanda
Sun 6/284:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)Jun
28
Day 2 - Simulation & Deep Dive of Students' Personal Scenarios
Sun 6/284:30 PM—6:00 PM (UTC)
Self-paced study module 1 - Managing up & stakeholder management frameworks
Self-paced study module 2 - Friction & Conflict Handling and Reframing
Self-paced study module 3 - Influence without Authority case study and framework
Class 1 - Intro, Managing Up, Building Personal Brand & Engineering Promotion
Class 2 - Saying "No", Handling Friction/Conflicts & Navigating through Hireachy
Week 2
Jul
4
Day 3 - Non-Native Speaker Communication & Promotion with Mike
Sat 7/44:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)Jul
4
Day 3 - Simulation & Deep Dive of Students' Personal Scenarios
Sat 7/45:00 PM—6:00 PM (UTC)Jul
5
Day 4 - Non-Native Speaker Communication & Promotion with Mike
Sun 7/54:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)Jul
5
Day 4 - Simulation & Deep Dive of Students' Personal Scenarios
Sun 7/55:00 PM—6:00 PM (UTC)
Class 3 - How to Read Your Leadership in Cross-Cultural Contexts
Class 4 - How to Influence Behind-the-Curtain Decisions
Free resources
Schedule
Live sessions
5-6 hrs / week
Sat, Jun 27
4:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)
Sat, Jun 27
5:30 PM—7:00 PM (UTC)
Sun, Jun 28
4:00 PM—5:30 PM (UTC)
Pre-recording contents
4 hrs / week
Alumni Network
Frequently asked questions
Mike's experience as a non-native speaker promoted to Director
Lecture+Live Q&A+Role Play simulations to maximize student gain
Three role-play simulation and real time feedback sessions
$797
USD