August 14, 2026
Communication, Presence, & Personal Branding
Session 3 of the 2026 Advance program was nothing short of inspiring. Through three dynamic speakers, the cohort learned about a whole new side of leadership: embracing vulnerability, accepting who you are, and using your life experiences to shape your leadership.
The Advance program is hosted at the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business, and we’re extremely grateful to our partners, National University and the Port of San Diego, for their support of women leaders and the Advance program.
LEAD’s Executive Director Veronica Perondi welcomed back the cohort, thanking them for their ongoing engagement and dedication to the program. She then introduced our first speaker of the day, Managing Partner of the Shipyard, Tammy Haughey (16 & 23). Tammy’s presentation centered on the idea of “brass balls in a velvet pouch,” a combination of boldness, confidence, and assertiveness, presented in a sophisticated and refined manner that implies strength and determination hidden under a polished exterior. She went into family dynamics, discussing the importance of finding the balance between brass balls and the velvet pouch, and how embodying too much of either can hold you back. She left the cohort feeling inspired, engaged, and raw, showing that vulnerability can be a strength.
Next, we were joined by Founding Partner of Intesa Communications Group, Margie Newman Tsay (15 &17), whose magnetic energy engaged the cohort throughout her presentation on leading as a human. Her talk centered on the idea that no matter the level of leader, everyone is still a human, and that can’t be left at the office door. She discussed the people and values that define her, and how acknowledging those important aspects of being human lends to your leadership, as well as the importance of having people to talk to outside of your organization. She spoke about embracing the power of YOU and using your professional superpowers to your advantage. She also went into the two types of trust: ethical and reliable, and how both form an important foundation for a business, as well as the idea of “embracing your elephant”: acknowledging the thing that makes you different, and taking ownership of leadership at any level.
Our final presentation of the day was with Amanda Moul (25), the Senior Vice President of Client Engagement at the Shipyard. Amanda led the cohort through multiple exercises to find their personal brand in a world of social media and influencers, centered on the idea that you can brand yourself without constantly posting. Instead, strong headlines, lasting relationships, and a proof archive of the tasks and projects you complete are what make you stand out. She also discussed labels – the ones you’ve received, or even made for yourself, and how to turn those into power, emphasizing that demonstrating passion and value matters more than presenting everything perfectly polished.
Session 3 opened up the cohort to the idea of embracing YOU: as a human, as a woman, and as a person with life experiences. It showed how practicing vulnerability is inherently a strength, and how you can use your uniqueness to shine in your role.