Oliver Williams

AVTR

AVTR Recruitment Ltd was set up with the mission of matching the best qualified motivated and experienced professionals to the roles that are right for them creating lasting mutually beneficial relationships in the tax, technology, and legal sectors. 

AVTR is a boutique recruitment consultancy servicing all areas of tax, technology, and legal. Delivering with passion along with a personal touch, AVTR doesn't just focus on placing top-tier professionals, its aims to be a strategic partner in helping to hire local and international talent.

Strategic Recruitment Specialist (Tax, Tech & Legal)

Self-Employed

Business Strategy Consultant

LiveGreen

LiveGreen is a global retail brand specializing in eco-aware and sustainable products.

We have one mission in mind; to help build a greener, more sustainable planet. That's why, here at LiveGreen, we strive to be part of the eco-innovation movement. Our focus is on researching and creating forward-thinking products which are designed to prevent or reduce the negative impact of traditional products. We don't just focus on the future. We also focus on what changes we can make right now so that your future looks green.

Be clean. Live Green.

Founder

RobustClaims - R&D Innovation Funding | R&D Tax Credits | R&D Grants | Startup Funding

Led the launch of a UK-based software-led consultancy subsidiary for an Australian Tax Group. In his role as Director, Oliver navigated every facet of the innovation incentives process, from client sourcing and sales negotiations to conducting in-depth technical and financial analyses, generating comprehensive reports, and managing HMRC communications, including submission and dispute resolution. As CTO, Oliver spearheaded the development of a cutting-edge R&D claim processing web application aimed at streamlining the claiming process and improving claim compliance.

Director and Chief Technology Officer

Bourkehood - Tax Credits, Incentives & Cost Recovery

Led the strategy and development of a tailored tax consultancy management platform aimed at streamlining contemporaneous tax record management and claim preparation across diverse Australian and New Zealand tax regimes.

Group Chief Technology Officer

MMP Tax Limited

Managed innovation funding claims for a high-profile client base, including FTSE 100 companies (UK TV broadcasters, Banks and Insurers) and innovative SMEs at various growth stages, advising on IP planning, patent strategy, pitch deck development and tax incentive optimisation.

Technology Consultant

Kene Partners Limited

Senior R&D Tax Consultant

Leyton UK

R&D Consultant

Associate R&D Consultant

Olamalu

Web designer and developer

Graphalix

Founder of a European-based web and marketing design agency. Securing major clients in telecommunications and government sectors, we focused on high-impact consumer outreach and recruitment campaigns. Business acquired in 2014 by a leading European telecommunications operator.

Oliver's passion for innovation fuels his success across a unique career path. As a specialist in innovation funding, Oliver secured over £50m in tax relief for SMEs and FTSE100 companies. He then leveraged his expertise in innovation and tax reliefs in his role as CTO where, with his hands-on experience in software development, Oliver led the development of a platform that bridged a gap between bleeding-edge companies and government authorities. Now he leverages his expertise in business strategy consulting; helping his clients achieve a focused goal mindset, explore IP planning options, and connect themselves with Top Tax, Legal and Technology talent to transform their organisations.

Melanie Lippman

Founder & CEO

Empowering Female Leaders to Redefine Their Style on Their Terms | Imperfectly Polished Style Coach, Public Speaker, & Confidence Curator | Let’s Connect and Build a Fun Positive Network

You’ve built the résumé, earned the title, and command a room with your expertise.

But still — you hesitate.

You’re second-guessing what to wear before a high-stakes meeting, scanning your closet like it’s a pop quiz you forgot to study for.

You’ve been told to “dress the part,” but never shown how to do that without erasing who you are.

You’re smart enough to know this isn’t just about clothes.

It’s about perception. Presence. Power.

And the truth?

The way you show up is either reinforcing your authority — or diminishing it.

I’m Melanie Lippman, and I help high-achieving women use style as a strategic tool to get seen, get respected, and get results.

My clients are powerhouse women in male-dominated spaces:
🧠 Lawyers who want to own the courtroom without hiding behind black blazers
🎤 Speakers who want to take the stage and be unforgettable
🏛️ C-Suite leaders who are done shrinking to fit in

They’ve outgrown dressing to be “appropriate.”
Now, they want to be undeniable.

Inside my work, we:

✔ Unpack the beliefs keeping you stuck playing small
✔ Craft a personal brand that reflects your leadership
✔ Use color psychology and image strategy to spark trust, memorability, and authority
✔ Build a repeatable wardrobe framework that eliminates friction — and fuels confidence

And the best part?

You start hearing things like:
🗣️ “You’re glowing — what changed?”
🧠 “I’ve never forgotten that outfit you wore on stage.”
💼 “We want you for the keynote.”

Because style, when done right, isn’t fluff.
It’s a signal. A shortcut. A silent amplifier of your power.

And when you finally trust yourself to wear what you used to fear was too much?

That’s when the real visibility begins.

Ready to lead with presence — not just performance?

You can work with me through:

The Style Code — where we build your personal brand using psychology-backed image strategy
BE SEEN — my signature program to help you become the obvious choice in your industry
 Or bring me into your organization to equip women leaders with tools for visibility and authority

📩 Message me “BE SEEN” to learn more 

Let’s make you the most respected, complimented, and remembered woman in every room you enter.

Chief Executive Officer

CEO & Founder of AMPLIFY Image Consultancy that empowers women in leadership to shed their dad's blazer and learn how to dress on their own terms.

This is my last week of radiation.
For those of you who don’t know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November. 

I had a lumpectomy in December and have been undergoing treatment ever since.

It’s been a season.

And one of the unexpected things that has gotten me through it?
Getting dressed.

Wearing something that makes me smile to an MRI.

 A jacket that sparks conversation in a waiting room.

 An outfit to my pre-op appointment that reminded me who I am outside of a hospital gown.

Clothes are powerful.

Not because they fix everything.

 But because they remind you that you’re still you.

And as I move into this home stretch, I’ve decided something:
I’m going to have fun getting dressed.

Life is lifey right now. For all of us.

But one thing we have control over every single day is what we put on our bodies.

We have to get dressed anyway.

 So why not make it intentional? Strategic. Even joyful.

That’s exactly why I’m hosting a free 5-day challenge called The Power Outfit Project.

Five days.

 No shopping.

 No pressure.

Just simple nightly outfit prompts that will help you use what you already own in a way that feels powerful and easy.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in your closet…

 If you’ve been wearing the same three outfits on repeat…

 If getting dressed feels like one more decision…

Come do this with me.

Let’s make getting dressed the easiest — and maybe even the most fun — part of your day.

The first prompt goes out tomorrow night.

Join us here:
https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV

I’d love to take you along for the ride.
– Melanie 💋

From selling $100K bracelets to styling $1M salaries — I help high-achieving women in the boardroom, courtroom, and on stages turn their presence into profit and their image into influence.

Female leaders, your closet might be stealing hours of leadership energy from you every week.

 Not because you lack clothes — because no one ever taught you how to build a system for showing up at your level.

You try something on before a big meeting.
It almost works… but not quite.

So you change.
Then you change again.

And suddenly 20 minutes have disappeared before you’ve even opened your laptop.

Not because you don’t have good clothes.
Your closet is full.

But something about the outfit doesn’t quite match the room you’re walking into.

So you carry a small layer of second-guessing into the rest of your day.
That’s the Power Presence Gap.

It happens when your leadership has evolved…
…but the system behind how you show up hasn’t caught up yet.

And the smallest decision of the day becomes the most exhausting one.
Powerful women shouldn’t have to negotiate with their closet every morning.

You should walk into the room already knowing:
“This is exactly how I want to show up today.”

I recorded a short audio explaining what the Power Presence Gap is and how women close it.

If you'd like the audio, comment READY and I’ll send it to you.

I almost didn’t share.
So many of you reached out after I posted about my breast cancer journey.

You called me brave.
 You thanked me for sharing.
 You told me it mattered.

And here’s what’s interesting.

I am someone who shares.

I talk about the patriarchy.

 I call out the way women are judged more harshly than men — all day, every day.

 I teach women how to take up space in rooms that weren’t designed for them.

And yet… this story?
I almost kept it to myself.

Because it was deeply personal.

 Because it felt vulnerable.

 Because there was a part of me that wanted to put up a wall.

Which is fascinating.

Because the work I do with my clients is about the opposite.

I teach women to use their clothes to create connection.

To let people see them.

To communicate:
 I am sharp.
 I am playful.
 I am strategic.
 I am layered.

Not to hide behind “appropriate.”
 Not to blend in with corporate furniture.

 Not to armor up so tightly that no one can get close.

And here I was, about to do exactly that.
Put up the wall.

What this season has reminded me is that connection is powerful.
Being different is powerful.

Emotional intelligence in male-dominated spaces is powerful.

We have been told for so long that we are the odd one out.

But being perceptive, expressive, nuanced — that is not a liability.

It’s leverage.

And that’s exactly why I’m inviting women to join me this week inside The Power Outfit Project.

Because clothes are not shallow.

They are a lens.

A way to explore:
 Who am I right now?
 What do I want to amplify?
 Where have I been shrinking?

This isn’t about trends.
It’s about self-discovery.

 About closing the gap between who you are inside and how you walk into a room.

Five days.

 Simple prompts.

 A deeper conversation with yourself.

If you’re ready to explore your edges instead of hiding them, come along for the ride.

We start tonight... click the link below 

https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV

Let’s stop putting up walls.

Let’s start living our truth... and there's no one better to guide you than someone who lives it!
xo, melanie

Women in the C-suite: your black outfit is not making you look powerful.
It’s quietly diminishing your authority.

Somewhere along the way, women in leadership were taught that the safest way to be taken seriously is to mute themselves.
Black.
 Navy.
 Neutral.
 Minimal.

The logic sounds responsible.
“Don’t distract from the message.”

But here’s the truth no one says out loud:
When you neutralize your presence, you make it easier for people to neutralize your voice.

One of my clients — a CEO in healthcare — came to me wearing all black to nearly every board meeting.

Not because she lacked confidence.

Because she had been trained that professionalism meant restraint.
So we changed one thing.

We stopped dressing for safety.

And started dressing for psychology.

Deep plum when she needed authority without coldness.
 Rich teal when the room required trust and collaboration.
 Intentional prints and texture to hold the room’s attention.

The shift was immediate.

People engaged faster.

 They listened longer.

 They remembered what she said.

Because leadership is not just about your words.
It’s about whether the room is primed to receive them.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Black is often the visual language of defense.

Protection.
 Distance.
 Control.

Sometimes that’s useful.

But if you are leading the room, not protecting yourself from it —
You may be sending the exact opposite message you intend.

So the real question is this:
Are you dressing to blend in…
or dressing to influence the room, move decisions, and drive results?

Because the women I work with aren’t trying to be memorable.

They’re trying to have impact.

And impact is what gets you the bigger mandate, the bigger seat at the table, and yes — the bigger paycheck.

Which outfit would you wear to a board meeting?
A – Green blazer & purple dress
 B – Black & white patterned dress
 C – Floral suit
 D – Plum blazer & teal trousers
👇 Drop the letter in the comments.

Don’t be the woman calling me from the Centurion lounge on your way to speak on stage…telling me packing was torture.

You close deals... big ones.
 You build the companies.
You mange milions.
 You’re leading the panel.
 You’re flying first class.

But deciding what to wear?
Spiraling.

 Second-guessing.
 Trying on five outfits in a hotel room.
 Texting friends photos.
Your husband is sick of all the boxes.

 Panic-overnighting something from Neiman Marcus on to the airport because nothing feels right.

That disconnect is wild.

You’re powerful everywhere…
 except in your closet.

And here’s the truth no one is saying:
If packing for a keynote feels harder than delivering the keynote, your wardrobe is not a strategy.

It’s a stressor.

You should not be walking into a room of 500 people wondering:
 Is this too much?
 Is this not enough?
 Do I look credible?
 Do I look like I belong here?

At your level, getting dressed should feel strategic.
 Like alignment.
 Like amplification.

Not like a costume crisis in a Marriott mirror.

If you are a woman in leadership and packing for high-stakes moments still feels like psychological warfare…
That’s not a confidence issue.

 That’s a system issue.
And it’s fixable.

The question is:
 How many more stages are you going to step onto feeling almost ready instead of fully expressed?

Let’s talk.

You know that moment.
 
It’s 7:42am.

You’re already mentally in your 9:00 meeting.

You put something on… and your body tightens.
 
Not because it’s ugly.
Not because it doesn’t fit.
Because it doesn’t feel like you at this level.
 
So you change.
 
Then you change again.
 
Then you go back to the blazer you’ve worn 200 times because at least it’s safe.
 
And the whole time there’s this low hum running in the background:
“Why is this still hard for me?”

“Clothes shouldn’t matter.”

“Other women just know how to do this.”
 
It’s not dramatic.

It’s micro.
 
Micro second-guessing.

Micro self-doubt.

Micro tug-of-war.
 
But it bleeds into your whole day.
 
You walk into the room already slightly contracted.

Already negotiating your space.
 
And here’s the part no one says out loud:
You actually have good clothes.
 
You just don’t have a system.
 
That’s why I’m running The Power Outfit Project
February 23–27.
 
Five days.

Less than six minutes a day.
 
No shopping.

No weight loss plan.

No closet purge.
 
Just one strategic prompt each evening that shifts how you use what you already own.
 
By the end of the week, getting dressed won’t feel like a character debate.
It’ll feel clean. Decided. Powerful
.
If you’re done starting your day in negotiation mode click below to join:
https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV

You earned a seat at the table.
 Your closet didn’t get the memo.

You manage millions of dollars.
 You lead teams.
 You influence outcomes that shape companies.
And yet…

Some mornings you stand in front of your closet and change three times.
Not because you don’t have clothes.
Because something feels off.

I’ve started calling this the Power–Presence Gap.

It happens when your authority expands faster than your presence recalibrates to match it.

From the outside, everything looks successful.

But inside the morning routine looks like this:
You try the blazer.
 No… too stiff.
You try the dress.
 Maybe too much.

You default to the “safe” outfit.
Black. Navy. Neutral.

Not because you love it.
Because it feels less risky.

On the surface, it looks like a wardrobe issue.
But the psychology goes deeper.

When your presence doesn’t fully match your level of power, your brain goes into threat detection.

You start scanning the room before you even enter it.

Will they take me seriously?
 Do I look like I belong here?
 Am I too much? Too visible? Too different?

Your nervous system starts negotiating.
So you play it safe.

And playing it safe feels responsible… until you realize what it’s actually protecting.

Because underneath that hesitation is a much deeper fear most high-performing women never say out loud:
What if someone realizes I don’t belong here?

What if they notice something I missed?

What if they think I’m not as competent as they believed?

What if the client loses confidence?

What if the board questions the decision?

What if the opportunity disappears?

And suddenly the stakes feel enormous.
Not because of clothes.
Because of what they symbolize.

Belonging.
 Authority.
 Credibility.
 Power.

So you neutralize yourself visually.
Black becomes armor.
 Neutral becomes camouflage.

But here’s the paradox:
When your presence shrinks to avoid judgment, your authority shrinks with it.

Not because you aren’t qualified.

But because humans read visual signals before they process words.
Your brain may know you belong in that room.

But if your presence hasn’t caught up to your power, your nervous system keeps acting like you still need permission to be there.

And that is the Power–Presence Gap.

The moment when your career has expanded…
But your visual identity hasn’t recalibrated to hold that level of influence yet.

I’ve watched this happen to women running companies, leading healthcare systems, managing major law practices, and speaking on global stages.

Which makes me curious:
Have you ever felt the moment when your power outgrew your presence?

If your company polo only fits men well, that’s not team unity.
 That’s patriarchy in cotton form.

You’re told to wear it to show collaboration.

 To show alignment.
 To show you’re part of the team.

But the shirt?

Cut for a male frame.
 Designed around male proportions.
 Sized with a male torso in mind.

Too long.
 Too boxy.
 Pulling in places it shouldn’t.

So you show up representing the company…
 While feeling like your body was never considered in the first place.

And that’s the deeper issue.
Patriarchy isn’t always loud.
 Sometimes it’s subtle.

 Sometimes it’s stitched into the uniform.
Uniforms communicate culture.

They say:
 “This is what leadership looks like.”
 “This is the default.”
 “This is who we built this for.”

If women have to adapt their bodies to the system instead of the system adapting to them, that isn’t inclusion.

It’s assimilation.

And women in male-dominated industries have been assimilating for decades.

Speak like this.

 Dress like this.

 Blend in.

 Don’t be “too much.”

Even something as small as a polo shirt reinforces that message.

And the solution isn’t radical.

There are companies that make women’s cuts.

 Better proportions.
 Better structure.
 Better colors.

You can create cohesion without erasing identity.
But first we have to name what’s happening.

So I’m curious —
If you’ve ever put on a company polo that wasn’t designed for your body…
Did it make you feel like part of the team?

Or like an afterthought?

Let’s talk.

Women in the C-suite: you finally earned the seat in the boardroom… and someone still mistakes you for the associate.

Not because you lack authority.

 Because your presence hasn’t caught up to your power yet.

I see this moment all the time.

You’ve spent the last 17 years becoming exceptional at the work.
Late nights.
 Complex decisions.
 Clients that trust you with millions.
 Teams that rely on your judgment.

Your energy went exactly where it should have gone:
Into competence.
Into mastery.
Into becoming the woman capable of holding the responsibility.

But no one ever tells you something crucial as your career accelerates:
Your presence has to recalibrate as your power grows.

Because the wardrobe that worked when you were:
• trying to prove yourself
 • trying not to be “too much”
 • trying to blend into male-dominated rooms

Is often the same wardrobe you’re wearing when you’re now the one running the room.

And that’s when the Power–Presence Gap appears.

You walk into a room where you objectively hold enormous authority…
…but visually you still read like the version of you from five years ago.

So someone assumes you’re the associate.
Or the assistant.
Or the junior person there to take notes.

And in that moment, the wind quietly leaves your sails.

Not because you’re insecure.

Because humans make visual status assessments in seconds.

Here’s the irony.

The moment you finally earn the seat at the table…
Your presence suddenly matters more than ever.

Because people read your presence before they process your résumé.

So if you are standing at the precipice of your career —
The board seat.
 The partnership track.
 The seven-figure client.

 The leadership role you’ve worked decades to reach —
Your presence, image, and visual signature can no longer be accidental.

I know this moment because I’ve watched it happen hundreds of times.
The question isn’t whether you deserve the seat.

You already proved that.

The real question is:
Has your presence caught up to the woman you’ve become?

Women in the C-suite — this might sting.
If you’re still struggling to get dressed in the morning, that’s not a clothing problem.

That’s a leadership leak.
You manage teams.
 You manage budgets.
 You manage risk.

But you’re letting your closet manage you.

You’re worrying about:

Is this too bold?

 Is this too feminine?

 Is this appropriate?

 Will they judge me?

When the real question is:

Does this reflect my level?

 Does this reinforce my authority?

 Does this make it easier for people to trust my leadership?

If you’re panic shopping before events,
 overthinking what to pack,
 taking 30 minutes to get dressed,
 or defaulting to the same three “safe” outfits…
You are not operating at your edge.

You are operating in protection mode.
High-level women don’t leave messaging to chance.
And make no mistake — your wardrobe is messaging.

If getting dressed takes more than five minutes, you don’t have a busy schedule.

You have a broken system.

Getting dressed should be the easiest part of your day.

Decided. Strategic. Done.

That’s exactly why I’m hosting a free 5-day challenge: The Power Outfit Project.
You sign up.
 You get a prompt.
 You implement.
 You refine.
No shopping.
 No excuses.
 No more “what do I wear?” spirals.

If you’re ready to close the gap between your position and your presence — you need to be in this.

Click the link below to join
https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV

Let’s raise your standard.

I have no idea why I haven’t done this in two years.
Because every single time … women get insane results.

Promotions.

Compliments.

New visibility.

Renewed confidence.

A totally different relationship with their closet.

And here’s the wild part:
They don’t lose weight.

They don’t buy a single new thing.
They don’t overhaul their entire wardrobe.

They use what they already own.

I’m officially bringing back The Power Outfit Project — and if your closet feels overwhelming, uninspiring, or like it belongs to a past version of you… you need this.

This is for the woman who:
• Is busy and doesn’t have 45 minutes to spiral every morning
• Feels like she’s outgrown her clothes — but not sure what to replace them with
• Has a closet bursting at the seams but rotates the same 3 outfits
• Wants to look as accomplished as she actually is
• Is ready for her wardrobe to start working for her, not against her

In just 5 days, you will:
✨ Reset your style without dieting or shopping
✨ Re-energize how you show up at work, conferences, and meetings
✨ Build go-to outfits that feel aligned, powerful, and easy
✨ Stop second-guessing and start walking into rooms with certainty

And this time, I’m not doing it alone.

Linkedin's not just another boring financial advisor Ariel Lee— who’s done this challenge with me before and experienced the transformation firsthand — is co-hosting with me.

We’re combining strategy + experimentation + a little bit of bold energy to help you finally feel like yourself again when you get dressed.

This isn’t about fashion.
It’s about identity.
Momentum.
Visibility.

And stepping into the next version of you.
If your closet needs a reset…
If you’re craving a recharge…

If you’re ready to stop playing small in what you wear…
Come join us.

The Power Outfit Project
February 23–27

Delivered daily to your inbox.

Link to join:
https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV
Let’s make getting dressed the most powerful part of your day again.

Women in leadership — when was the last time you actually had fun getting dressed?

Not “this will do.”
 Not “this is appropriate.”
 Not “at least it’s safe.”

I mean fun.

The kind where you put something on and think,
 “Yes. This feels like me at this level.”

Most high-achieving women I work with don’t struggle because they lack clothes.

Their closets are full.

They struggle because getting dressed has become a risk-management exercise.

Is this too much?
 Is this too feminine?
 Is this authoritative enough?
 Will I be taken seriously?

So they default to predictable.
Black.
 Navy.
 The same three outfits that feel “proven.”

And slowly, getting dressed becomes another decision to manage instead of a tool to leverage.

Here’s what I believe:
Your wardrobe should not be something you tolerate.
 It should reinforce your leadership.

 It should support your confidence before you walk into the room.
 It should feel aligned — not negotiated.

That’s why I’m hosting The Power Outfit Project — a free 5-day experience for women in executive leadership.

No shopping.

 No weight loss plan.

 No closet overhaul.

Just daily prompts and strategy to help you:
• Get crystal clear on what actually works for you
 • Use what you already own more strategically
 • Get dressed in minutes without second-guessing
 • Bring a little energy — and yes, even fun — back into your wardrobe

Because executive presence isn’t just how you speak.
It’s how you show up.

If you’re ready to stop managing your closet and start using it as an asset click below to join

https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV

The most powerful women I know are still changing their outfits five times before a big meeting.

Managing teams.
Running portfolios.
Trying cases.
Presenting to boards.

And still standing in front of their closet thinking:

“Why does nothing feel right?”

This week inside the Power Outfit Project, I’ve watched women realize something in real time:

It’s not a clothing problem.

It’s a decision fatigue problem.
A proportion problem.
A strategy problem.
A hiding problem.

Brilliant women devolve to low-risk outfits.

Black.
Gray.
Safe blazer.
Safe cardigan.
Safe everything.

Not because they lack style.
But because they’ve been conditioned to believe that visibility is dangerous.

Especially if you’re plus-size.
Especially if you’re in law.
Especially if you’re the only woman in the room.

Here’s what’s fascinating:

The second they put on something intentional —
A color that lights them up.
A silhouette that honors their proportions.
A combination they would’ve never tried before.

Their posture changes.

Their tone changes.

Their energy changes.

Clothes are not trivial.
They are behavioral architecture.

If getting dressed still feels harder than leading your team…

It’s not because you’re bad at style.

It’s because no one ever taught you the system.

And once you have the system?
Getting dressed becomes the easiest part of your day.

Tell me —
When was the last time you actually enjoyed getting dressed?

No alternative text description for this image

There might be a way you could win your next case…
 because of the blazer you’re wearing.

Before anyone rolls their eyes — stay with me.

In court, you are perceived before you ever open your mouth.
 And perception shapes credibility. Credibility shapes trust.
 Trust shapes outcomes.

 Law firms hire me to ensure their top litigators use their wardrobe as a strategic tool — one that builds authority, strengthens presence, and supports persuasion in high-stakes environments.

There are a few blazers I immediately remove from a trial attorney’s closet:

• Blazers with zippers – They read dated and distract from your message.

 • Shrunken, too-tight blazers – If you’re fidgeting, adjusting, or feeling restricted, your focus isn’t fully on the case.

 • Double-breasted styles – Often overwhelming and visually bulky, pulling attention to the buttons instead of your argument.

 • Boxy “boyfriend” cuts – They don’t hide anything. They distort proportions and dilute authority.

 • Long, oversized “butt-covering” jackets – They skew frumpy, not formidable.

 • Overly embellished sleeve buttons or dated tailoring details – Subtle signals that you’re not current.

This isn’t about fashion.

It’s about communication.

Your clothes are speaking before you do.

 The question is — are they reinforcing your authority or quietly undermining it?

If you’re a female attorney and you want to learn how to use color, fit, and structure to command the courtroom and influence outcomes…

Comment COMMAND and I’ll send you the details to join us.

Your argument deserves alignment.

You can get dressed in 3 minutes and never second-guess yourself in the boardroom again.


This isn’t about clothes.


It’s about the moment before the meeting.


The one no one sees.


You’re standing in front of the mirror.

You tilt your head.

You adjust the jacket.

You change the shoes.

You try again.


And what’s actually happening isn’t fashion.


Your brain is scanning for safety.


Your nervous system is asking:

Will I be taken seriously?

Am I too much?

Am I not enough?

Will they see me — or judge me?


That micro-second of hesitation?


It doesn’t stay in the bedroom.


It walks into the boardroom with you.


When you second-guess your outfit, your body goes into evaluation mode.


Shoulders tighten.

Breath shortens.

Voice lifts slightly at the end of sentences.

You over-explain.

You soften your authority.

You scan faces for approval.


Not because you’re incapable.



Because you started the day negotiating with yourself.



And every negotiation with yourself chips at self-trust.


Self-trust is quiet.

It’s not loud confidence.

It’s not power posing.


It’s the absence of internal debate.



It’s walking into a room without asking,

“Is this okay?”


It’s not adjusting your sleeve while someone else is speaking.

It’s not wondering if you look “too bold.”

It’s not shrinking to compensate.



When getting dressed is chaotic, your nervous system never fully settles.



But when it’s decided?

When it’s aligned?

When you know — this is me, this works, this supports me —



Your body relaxes.



And a relaxed body is powerful.



You speak slower.

You pause without panic.

You hold eye contact.

You stop filling silence.

You stop performing.

You lead.



This is why I care so much about eliminating second-guessing.



Because it’s not about looking good.



It’s about ending the quiet war you start with yourself before 8am.



You are already qualified.

Already intelligent.

Already powerful.



You don’t need more credentials.



You need mornings that don’t drain you.



You deserve to get dressed in three minutes

and never question yourself in the boardroom again.



Not because you’re trying harder.



Because you finally built a system that supports the woman you already are.



If this resonates — if you felt that tightening in your chest reading this —We should talk.

You worked 20 years to earn your seat at the table.
And one tiny moment of hesitation can change how the room sees you.

Women in the C-suite — read this.

There’s a moment I see happen with powerful women all the time.

Someone says:
“Would you like to lead this meeting?”
Or
“Would you be open to speaking on this panel?”
Or
“We’d love you to present this.”

And for about three seconds, you hesitate.

Not because you don’t know the material.
Not because you aren’t qualified.

But because a thought flashes through your mind:
What would I even wear?

Suddenly your closet feels like friction.

You think about the weight you want to lose.
 The blazer that almost works.
 The outfit that felt slightly off last time.

So instead of saying an immediate hell yes, you say something softer.

“Let me think about it.”
Or
“Maybe next time.”

And what people around you notice isn’t the reason.
They notice the hesitation.
That moment has a name.

The Power–Presence Gap.

It happens when the level you’re operating at has expanded…
…but the system behind how you show up hasn’t caught up yet.

And those tiny moments quietly cost you:
• speaking opportunities
 • leadership visibility
 • influence in the room

And over time, progression in your career.

I recorded a short private audio explaining why this happens and how powerful women close the Power–Presence Gap.

If you want it, comment READY and I’ll send it to you.

Plus-size women in the C-suite: discomfort is not a leadership strategy.

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that to be taken seriously, we had to suffer a little.

Tight blazers.
Stiff fabrics.
Heels we can’t wait to kick off under the conference table.
Clothes that “hold everything in.”

As if physical restriction equals professional credibility.

It doesn’t.

You manage teams.
You oversee millions in revenue.
You make decisions that impact entire organizations.

Why are you tolerating pants that dig into your stomach all day?

Why are you adjusting your jacket before every presentation?

Why are you bracing yourself in your own body before you walk into a room?

Discomfort is not authority.

Restriction is not power.

And squeezing yourself into something that irritates your nervous system all day does not make you more competent.

In fact, it does the opposite.

When you’re physically uncomfortable, part of your energy is always negotiating with your body.

And high-level leadership requires full presence.

The most powerful women in the room are not the most uncomfortable.

They are the most aligned.

There is a way to look polished, strategic, and commanding — without punishing your body.

There is a way to feel expanded instead of restricted.

There is a way to use clothing as a tool for authority instead of armor against judgment.

And for plus-size women in executive leadership, that alignment changes everything.

If this resonates, it may be time to raise the standard for how you show up.

Not by shrinking.

By leading.

…

If this is hitting, it’s because you’re done tolerating low-level standards.

You’re ready for your wardrobe to match your title.
Your presence to match your power.
Your clothes to feel as intelligent as you are.

I work privately with a small number of executive women who are ready to stop negotiating with their closets and start leading fully embodied.

If that’s you, head to the top of my page and apply.

Let’s raise the standard.

If your LinkedIn profile photo was taken in your car… it’s quietly diminishing your authority....And I see this 10+ times a day from incredibly accomplished women.

And I can’t not say it anymore.

I keep seeing incredibly powerful women…
Partners.
 CEOs.
 Executives.
 Women running entire divisions.

And their LinkedIn profile photo is:
• blurry
 • taken in their car
 • cropped from a group photo
 • half their body instead of their face
 • poorly lit
 • or so far away you can barely see them

And every time I see it I think the same thing:
Your photo is quietly diminishing your authority.

Not because image is superficial.

Because humans make credibility assessments in milliseconds.

Before someone reads your headline.

 Before they see your experience.

 Before they even decide whether to connect.

They see your face.

Your LinkedIn profile photo is your digital first impression in the boardroom.

A powerful profile photo does a few very specific things:
• Your face fills about 60–70% of the frame
 • The lighting is clean and natural
 • The background isn’t distracting
 • Your expression is confident and approachable
 • Your clothing aligns with the level you operate at

No sunglasses.
 No car selfies.
 No wedding-crop photos.

Just clear, intentional presence.
This might sound small.

But when you’re operating at senior levels, small signals carry big meaning.
Your expertise may already be unquestionable.
Your image should reinforce it.

Curious:
When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile photo?

Women in male-dominated industries were taught a very specific lie.
You can be pretty.
 Or you can be smart.

But you can’t be both.

So most women choose survival.

They downplay the feminine.
 They neutralize the sparkle.
 They choose the safe blazer, the safe colors, the safe version of themselves.

They become the smartest person in the room.
The most prepared.
 The most analytical.
 The most capable.

And yet…
something inside of them goes quiet.

Because proving is not the same thing as being fully expressed.
I see this over and over again with the women I work with.

Recently I started working with a woman in healthcare — top of her field. Brilliant. Respected. Leading major conversations in her company.

But she had been operating inside the same rule many women in male-dominated industries learn early:
Don’t be too feminine.
 Don’t be too bold.
 Don’t be too visible.

So she wore the safe version of herself.
The neutral blazer.
 The predictable colors.

 The version that said “I belong here because I’m competent.”
But something was missing.

The spark.
 The magnetism.
 The part of her people actually connect with.

When we started working together, we did three things.

First, we built her personal brand — the message she wanted to carry into every room.

Second, we used the psychology of clothing so her wardrobe supported that message.

And third, we dismantled the old stories she had been carrying for years.
Stories like:
“That’s too feminine.”
 “That’s too edgy.”
 “That’s too much for healthcare.”

Once those stories were gone…
Everything changed.

The leopard pants suddenly made sense.
The magenta jacket wasn’t “too bold.”
 It was perfectly aligned with her authority.

And something incredible happened in her meetings.
She stopped performing intelligence.
She started embodying leadership.

Here’s the part no one tells women in male-dominated industries:
The rules you learned were never built for you.

They were built to keep you small.

Your power doesn’t come from choosing between pretty or smart.

It comes from realizing it’s always been yes, and.
When women reclaim that, something shifts.
They stop asking permission to belong in the room.

And that’s when they close what I call the Power–Presence Gap — the distance between the leader you already are and the presence supporting you in the room.

I recorded a short audio explaining this idea in more depth — and what actually helps women close that gap.

If you want to listen, comment READY and I’ll send it to you.

Which one would you wear to your next confenrce?

Vote in the comments:
1️⃣ Magenta + pattern
 2️⃣ Leopard pants
 3️⃣ Burgundy dress
 4️⃣ Pink blazer

Women in leadership...what if there was a way to walk into a huge presentation feeling completely confident… completely empowered… completely yourself?

Not “professional enough.”
 Not “safe.”
 Not “appropriate.”
Your most expressive self.

And then — cherry on top — you get compliment after compliment because people can feel it.

That’s exactly what we’re unlocking inside the Power Outfit Challenge.
We just started.

And this was one of the results:
“I just gave a HUGE presentation and wore a floral sundress with a cropped suede jacket and got 18,363,628 compliments throughout the day.
People notice when you’re being authentically yourself.”

Here’s the truth:
Executive presence isn’t about blending in.

It’s about alignment.

When you finally trust yourself to dress like the woman you actually are, everything shifts — your posture, your voice, the way people receive you.

So my question is…

Why aren’t you in here?

We’re just getting started.

Click the link below and join us.
https://lnkd.in/ey689iVV

Let’s unlock it.

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The Battle

Oliver Williams

Melanie Lippman

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The Battle

Oliver Williams

Melanie Lippman

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Melanie Lippman's LinkedIn Performance

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