Hanging Rock

Brag Anyway. How to Defy Our Cultural Norms.

Caterpillar

Google

American Express

BlackRock

The Walt Disney Company

Coach D G McCullough

Trusted communications coach for military and business leaders

Air the cultural lessons we learned around self-promotion. Permit ourselves to speak proudly and clearly about our work.

Feel more comfortable owning your successes

Shift the focus from you to the outcome. Include who helped your efforts. See the emotional shift—and  clearer language.

Learn to ground your brag in facts

Practice applying all you've just learned by describing a recent win in five sentences. Share and celebrate.

Practice bragging with a new take and reframe on the act

What would it mean if you had significantly more presence, if you felt truly understood, if you had powerfully-influential skills, and if you could effortlessly tailor those skills to different types of people and situations? This course is about finding clarity and enabling all of these things, all built upon the foundation of how the human brain actually works. If you saw me on Lenny's Podcast, you know that my work is based on science, not theory. Selling yourself and your ideas, being understood, gaining trust, and being more fully appreciated doesn't have to be a mystery, and you don't have to trust someone's personal theories and experience. Science holds the answers, and they are crystal clear, extremely effective, and they start helping you become more influential immediately. Here's what most people miss...There are two distinct levels to influence. Every idea you will ever try to sell at the micro level depends on how well you've sold yourself at the macro level. Most people's struggles aren't just a lack of technique in selling ideas...they're even bigger. They haven't properly sold themselves, first. The Macro LevelWhen you're explaining who you are, why you are effective, giving your elevator speech, sharing a presentation about your team's capabilities and value, meeting people for the first time, or interviewing, these are all examples of selling yourself at the macro level. Success at the macro level is how you create relationships, build trust, and teach people whether or not to listen to your ideas. Done well, it gets you opportunities, jobs, promotions, establishes your leadership identity, and establishes a clearer understanding of what you can really do, so you are valued and people feel you are always worth listening to. If you've ever felt misunderstood, that you or your team are under-appreciated, or if you've been unable to stand out in interviews or sales, it's because of these bigger challenges with your macro positioning. It's something this course will teach you to do masterfully, using simple and comfortable ideas that get through to people. The Micro LevelWhen you're in meetings, debates, pitching ideas, trying to warn people of issues, pushing on prioritization, and more, you're selling your ideas at the micro level. Success at the micro level is how you get people saying yes to ideas, approval to move ahead with plans, it's how you influence decisions, and it's how you effectively warn people so we avoid mistakes. Success at the micro level is where every bullet on your resume comes from. It's how your projects get approved and funded, how your requests for budget and team get fulfilled, and even how basic things like feedback and warnings are taken seriously and acted upon. If you've ever felt like your ideas, warnings, or points aren't getting through, that you aren't taken seriously as a presence in the room, and that you were unable to influence decisions and help the team avoid mistakes, it's because of this micro influence. These are skills this course will you show you how to master. Why is selling yourself so hard? Everything starts with this simple question. The first step in moving forward is realizing that this is not "easy." You are not missing a few tips and tricks. You are not missing a basic presentation template or flow. Selling yourself and your ideas requires an actual competence and skillset, and this course builds that competence in a uniquely-clear and efficient way, cutting through the noise of everyone's theories and getting right down to the real challenge you face: how to truly connect with people's minds. Brains are not designed to be sold to. They are designed to go through a series of steps that evaluate whether or not to pay attention and how to evaluate you and your ideas. To be effective, you need to truly understand these steps because they reveal how to put the brain on your side. You will then be working "with the grain" of the human mind instead of working against it And on top of that, others people's brains work very differently than yours. You are going to work with a range of different types of people, and you must understand how they think and what makes their mind unique before you can be successful with them. What works for one type of person doesn't work for another, so you need to learn how to change gears and adapt your style to different types of thinkers. What's different about this course? What makes this course different than anything else out there is we are going to explore what is actually happening in the human mind, giving you a crystal clear blueprint and genuine mastery instead of just tips and tricks.

A science-based, hyper-effective toolkit


Course syllabus

Feel free to type out dates as your title as a way to communicate information about specific live sessions or other events.

Friday, November 8th


Schedule items can also be used to convey commitments outside of specific time slots (like weekly projects or daily office hours).

Weekly projects

Course schedule

People whose jobs and careers depend on influence and being understood: - Leaders &amp; Managers- Product Managers- Analytics, BI, &amp; Insights

People who feel they have a lot to offer, but struggle to get through, want greater presence, and want to learn how to 10x their confidence.

People who are actively interviewing or who want to excel the next time they do. ﻿Stand out from the crowd.

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

This course will continue helping you through the journey of maximizing your professional potential.

A resource you can keep revisiting


You will understand other people's minds, find the best ways to connect with them, and become more confident in your interactions. You won't feel so confused and frustrated by people's reactions and behavior. You'll know what to do.

No more confusion


You'll know how to get others to actually understand what you do and why it matters. Learn how to position yourself properly in people's minds so they value you and what you have to contribute. Put an end to people questioning what you do or questioning your value.

Be understood, and valued


If you are in product, engineering, design, analytics, customer success, or a number of other fields that are influence-based, it's hard for your team to thrive if the broader business misunderstands you and the value you produce. We will clear that up with powerful branding.

Position your craft, your team, and its brand properly


Once you are properly positioned and understood, you'll have a platform to make your ideas more compelling, your warnings more convincing, and your everyday interactions cultivate a reputation that works as an asset instead of a liability.

Find success in ideas, warnings, and everyday interactions


I coach many people who are high-impact professionals, but their humility comes across as uncertainty, causing a number of issues with their influence. You'll learn how to convey authentic confidence instead of artificial bravado.

Gain confidence and presence in front of executives (or anyone)


Master positioning yourself, your team, and your ideas. Be understood, trusted, believed, and appreciated.


Evan LaPointe

I founded several companies. Sold the last one to Adobe. Now, I help people win.

June 28

July 27

This is a weekend-immersive course with ~7 hrs of live sessions spread across 2 days in a single weekend. Course outcomes:🎯 Develop critical career skills that enables you to get rewarded for the value you add🎯 Practice by applying frameworks that help you land a promotion, negotiate compensation, and optimize for happiness at work🎯 Build your customized plan to ensure advocating for your career success never takes a back-seat🎯 Evaluate the challenges you face with self-advocacy. Connect with Shailvi and peers in the course to come up with practical solutions The course includes:✔️ Frameworks (List coming soon)✔️ Templates (List coming soon)✔️ Sample scripts with specific words and phrases you can use/adapt to advocate for yourself✔️ Case studies of successful and unsuccessful attempts at self-advocacy✔️ Group discussions✔️ Self-reflection exercises✔️ Projects that draft your next key career outcome✔️ Access to 1-1 time with Shailvi✔️ An author-signed copy of the 'Self-Advocacy' book by Shailvi This course is based on:⭐ Conversations and the interactions I have had with 500+ students / mentees in the last 5 years⭐ Almost 100 speaking engagements that reached 6000+ attendees⭐ My best-selling book on Self-Advocacy that reached #6 in the Business and Negotiation Category on Amazon Testimonials from past learners: "..not only imparts practical strategies but also offers a profound shift in perspective, encouraging us to shed the cultural shyness that may hold us back from advocating for ourselves" - F Zhang "Useful especially as you oscillate between fighting the imposter syndrome and practicing humility as well as finding your balance of mental health in corporate &amp; professional settings." - Piyush M "My favorite part of it is that it gives a very actionable framework and set of tools to learn and improve on self advocacy" - Anna "[Shailvi] lays out such a clear path to identify what those needs are and how to reach a level of personal belief in your skills and worth that it seems impossible to fail at getting what you want and deserve." - Christine B "Shailvi doesn't just preach; she shows you how this newfound skill can transform your career and life." - Jun "Shailvi, thanks for the amazing session [..] on navigating job promotions! I've been reaching out to my school's alumni network [..] trying to hear some semblance to the advice you presented today" - Serena L "It was eye opening and something I needed to hear at this point. The flow in content was just perfect and it was so impactful." - Ritika "Self-advocacy is a topic that is not openly discussed and it should be. [..] The steps were also assertive but realistic at the same time." - LTP

Take the reins of your career into your own hands. Let's go get what you deserve

The course opens for pre-reads and a self-reflection homework assignment.

4 days before 1st session

The required live sessions will be held across two days in a single weekend. Both days will cover 3-4 modules on each day, with breaks in between. Each day will end with a Q&amp;A session.

Both days of live sessions

Both days of live sessions will include a project. While it is not required for the projects to be completed before the next class, completing them will greatly improve the value you can get out of our live time together.

Daily projects

Each learner can sign up for a 15-minute slot with the instructor to get personalized suggestions at the end of the course.

Office Hours w/ Shailvi

Mid-career tech professionals looking to own their career growth, including members of underrepresented groups that lack supportive mentors

Anyone ready to create a plan to get promoted, be acknowledged for their work, get better work opportunities, or prioritize job satisfaction

Those who struggle to position themselves for success at work, due to underconfidence, introversion, shyness, fear, anxiety, or ineloquence

Who will benefit from this course

Success depends on your ability to articulate your impact clearly and consistently. By the end of the course, you will learn frameworks and apply the formula to choose the most effective language to position your accomplishments in a way that can help land the desired outcomes.

Develop critical career skills that enable you to get rewarded for the value you add

Specific career milestones benefit from an intentional plan. Master the step-by-step frameworks that you can use for big career moments. Develop a plan tailored to your situation, and practice in live sessions by role-playing scenarios, and exploring case studies.

Practice by applying playbooks that help you land a promotion, negotiate compensation, and optimize for happiness at work

Committing to being intentional about self-advocacy is a gift to yourself and an investment in your betterment. Design a plan to consistently improve your self-advocacy muscle until it becomes 2nd nature. Learn how to measure success on your journey to hold yourself accountable.

Build your customized plan to ensure advocating for your career success never takes a back-seat

Improve your awareness of your challenges in advocating for yourself through group discussions and self-reflection. Prioritize building a supportive network that holds you accountable to relentless self-advocacy, starting with your co-learners in this course.

Evaluate the challenges you face with self-advocacy and brainstorm with peers on practical solutions

Master self-advocacy to authentically communicate your value. Confidently plan for the promotions, money, and job satisfaction you deserve!

Shailvi Wakhlu

Best-Selling Author | International Keynote Speaker | Ex-Head of Data

Winter cohort

Fall cohort

(Sep 10-Oct 10 2025)The core function of leadership is to inspire cooperation through shared purpose and goals. Belonging is the key to enabling cooperation at scale—an essential competitive advantage for any group. In this course, you’ll discover that belonging isn’t just a feeling; it has a structure. When intentionally cultivated and sustained, it leads to remarkable outcomes—both in the “soft” dimensions of trust and honesty at work and in measurable improvements in efficiency, productivity, and creativity. We belong not only to each other but also to the future we build together. This is the fifth of six fluencies in the Lead Like a Futurist program:Leading Self: Reinvention and Purpose (TBD – join the waitlist at leadlikeafuturist.com)Leading Strategy: Foresight and Innovation (Spring 2025)Leading Culture: Belonging and Wisdom (Fall 2025)Learn more at leadlikeafuturist.com.___________________________________DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!Register for two or more fluencies within a 24-hour period and save big. Indicate your interest on the application to receive your discount code: - Two Fluencies: $100 off each course- Three Fluencies: $125 off each course- Four Fluencies: $150 off each course That's 4 for the price of 3! BONUS:Registering for two or more fluencies grants you access to continued Workroom coaching sessions between courses. This high-value opportunity is exclusively available to those who make this commitment. CERTIFICATION:Students who complete the full Lead Like a Futurist six-fluency leadership program will be awarded a certificate that verifies their achievement and training. This certificate is suitable for framing, adding to your resume, and showcasing on your LinkedIn profile to highlight your leadership development.

The Future is Where We Belong

<ul><li>Prework Videos and Readings:&nbsp;Access anytime!</li><li>Recorded Live Sessions:&nbsp;Can’t make it live? Catch up with session recordings.</li><li>Workroom Time on Fridays:&nbsp;A time to dive deeper into the material.</li><li>1:1 Support Calls:&nbsp;Personalized guidance to keep you aligned and moving forward.</li></ul>

If your schedule blows up, we've got you

There are five 90-min live sessions that occur on Wednesdays at 9am CST. This time is suited to a variety of timezones, making it friendly to students across the Americas and Europe.These are the people you've been waiting to meet: thoughtful and passionate—just like you!

A 5-part series

<ul><li>The Prework will generally be 30 minutes of time or less.</li><li>Expect Homework to take 30-60 minutes each week.</li></ul>Additionally, we offer two Workrooms (Optional) for group coaching and project work on Fridays, 9am and 3pm

Prework and Homework

Let the lessons take root with real-life coaching between course, where you'll tackle pressures, politics, and decisions in a supportive community.Available for those registered in 2+ fluencies in 2025.

The Workroom Continues

This course is built for busy professionals

You care deeply about the people in your work world and want to help them thrive.

You’re driven to address low trust and engagement in your environment.

You’re committed to fostering connection, even amid the challenges of hybrid work, reorgs, and constant change.

<ul><li>Feel the profound shift that comes from recognizing that we already—and always—belong to this world, this time, and this life on a grand scale.</li><li>Embody this awareness as you cultivate a deep sense of belonging within yourself, becoming a source of connection that radiates to other</li></ul>

Discover the Experience of One

<ul><li>Learn to recognize and reflect signals of safety, vulnerability, trust, and joy in those around you.</li><li>Celebrate the ease of cooperation supported by mutual respect and appropriate boundaries.</li></ul>

Harness the Power of Mutuality

<ul><li>Strengthen your voice—and guide group direction—with clear, direct communication.</li><li>Honor individual contributions while fostering collective success.</li></ul>

Use Belonging Cues to Ignite Focus and Enthusiasm

<ul><li>Use the structure of the Gates of Belonging to guide inclusive practices in all activities.</li><li>Trust that every person’s unique style and energy has a place—including your own.</li></ul>

Belonging Doesn’t Depend on Extroverts

Belonging creates order from chaos—at every level, from individual to organization to society. Our growth and evolution depend on it.

Cecily Sommers 

One of the World's Top 50 Female Futurists

Chris Everett

Experience Designer, Facilitator, Coach

Fall Belonging Cohort 2025

In four 90-minute sessions, we'll explore a range of storytelling frameworks and learn the tools to build influence and create impact in settings of all kinds. Whether in a high-stakes presentation, all-hands meeting, or everyday conversation, you’ll learn how to connect more personally, powerfully, and effectively in a one-on-one conversation or in front of a room full of people. This is not a writing workshop (though we’ll do some writing—and lots of brainstorming). This is not about optimizing AI to tell stories for you (though we’ll dive into how to use AI thoughtfully and effectively). This practical, human-centered course helps you sharpen your storytelling skills and expand your influence and impact across your organization. You'll learn how to more effectively: • Turn high-stakes presentations—from all-hands meetings to campaign pitches—into compelling narratives that capture attention, build credibility, and persuade audiences to stay engaged from start to finish.• Simplify the message you're trying to deliver to drive more understanding and alignment in any situation.• Create a company culture where everyone is aligned on mission, vision, and values. Bonus: The same tools apply far beyond work—toasts, job interviews, first dates, even eulogies. More than anything, this workshop isn’t just about your next speech, deck, or all-hands. It’s about seeing storytelling as a powerful part of leadership—and life. We'll learn tools, yes, but also build the confidence needed to share stories that make people lean in, trust you, and say those three magic words: tell me more.

Great Storytelling Is a Tool for Influence, Shaping Culture, and Team Connection

We'll meet for 90-minutes live sessions for four consecutive Thursday from September 4th — September 25th.

Thursdays

Each student will spend time working on a story or presentation between sessions and get weekly feedback from me and the other students.

Leaders in start-up and early stage companies who want to nail their story for team alignment and client pitches.

Founders, comms officers, HR directors, and other leaders navigating transitions such as funding rounds, growth, M&amp;A, hybrid workplaces.

People managers (HR, Marketing, Comms) with a mission to create a clear, compelling story for team focus and connection.

Professionals looking to change jobs or in a career transition who want to refine and reframe their story for interviews, etc.

Anyone who has asked this simple, vital question as they navigate their own path or company journey: How do I become a better storyteller?

Effective and concise storytelling to enhance team leadership, client interactions, sales calls, pitch presentations, and job interviews.

Confidence in storytelling for diverse settings, from high-stakes presentations to casual interactions like dates and dinner parties.

How to communicate the story of your "Why?”—the underlying purpose of your personal brand or your company's. 

How to use AI to enhance storytelling without losing your authentic voice.

Benefits of storytelling as a meta-skill: it doesn't just make you a better communicator—it elevates how you show up in every part of life.

​How to master the craft of great storytelling that prompts these three magic words: tell me more.

Harness the power of storytelling to make your message clear, powerful, and impactful in all parts of work and life

Lightning Lessons

Brag Anyway. How to Defy Our Cultural Norms.