Vivian Wesson of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church: The Power of Small Gestures

Vivian Wesson of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church: The Power of Small Gestures

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola January 16, 2024 Duration: 33:24

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola and guest Vivian Wesson explore the importance of curiosity over judgment in inclusive conversations, emphasizing the transformative power of small gestures and acts of kindness in creating an inclusive society and highlighting the positive impact of smiles.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The surprising relevance of improv skills in leadership
  • The importance of replacing judgment with curiosity
  • The impact of silence on DEI efforts
  • The power of greeting and acknowledging others

24 Hour Challenge:

Stop apologizing! Distinguish when situations require a ‘pardon me’ rather than a true ‘I’m sorry’.  Empower yourself by changing your language around the situation, and pass it on!

Mentioned in the Episode:

“Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It” - Chris Voss

About Vivian:

A Fordham law school graduate, Vivian currently serves as Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel for The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Board of Pensions offers a broad range of benefits to congregations, agencies, and affiliated institutions, serving more than 65,000 members nationally.

Prior to joining the Board of Pensions, Vivian held the position of Chief Intellectual Property Counsel of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., for which she worked for over 16 years. Her areas of expertise include intellectual property, software licensing, mergers & acquisitions, strategic investments, benefits, corporate governance, reinsurance regulation, records retention, and business entity management.

Vivian has authored several articles on social justice issues, including “How AI and Facial Recognition Can Chill Access to Justice,” “Why Facial Recognition Technology is Flawed,” and “Environmental Racism: How Lawyers Can Help Close the Climate Gap.” Aside from her work with the Board of Pensions, Vivian chairs the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and is a member of the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate. In June 2021, Vivian was appointed as a delegate to NYSBA’s House of Delegates. Vivian also serves as a Director of Phillips Exeter Academy’s General Alumni Association.

 

You can connect with Vivian in the following ways:

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
  • Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @drlaurasicola
  • Website: https://laurasicola.com
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking to Influence
Podcast Episodes
Charlie Saffro of CS Recruiting: Asking the Right Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
Our newest episode of Speaking to Influence features Charlie Saffro, CEO and Founder of CS Recruiting, who talks about the importance of resourcefulness and curiosity in a job interview, and how to do it by doing your re…
Ossa Fisher of Aurora Tech: Listen First [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
Joining Laura on this week’s episode is Ossa Fisher, President of Aurora Innovation, where Ossa shares the multi-faceted pow rapport-building techniques to uncover the real problem and get people on board, resulting in e…
Erik Ryan of Iron Mountain: The Power of ‘No’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
This week’s episode of Speaking to Influence is with guest Erik Ryan, Senior Vice President and CFO of Iron Mountain, in a conversation that focuses on the power of ‘no’. In this episode you will learn: About a time Erik…
Chris Hall of Stacuity: Silencing the Skeptics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
This week,Chris Hall, Chairman and Co-Founder of Stacuity Ltd. describes thechallenges of being a small startup grappling with geographical bias in the tech industry,and the need to convince others of their credibility i…
Smitha Murthy of Beagle Security: A Leader Who Lifts Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Joining Laura this week is Smitha Murthy, CEO of Beagle Security. Smitha shares the steps she took to build rapport with key decision makers early in her career in order to be recognized as someone truly ready for a lead…
Chris Hood of CH Digital: Lessons Learned from Google Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:12
This week, Chris Hood of CH Digital and former Head of Digital Strategy at Google discusses the lessons he learned from the communication culture at Google, and how they can be implemented in any business. In this episod…