Leadership & Communication Speaker | WSJ & USA Today Bestselling Author of ‘Quick Confidence’ and ‘Quick Leadership’ | Fast Co Top Career Creator | Rated by Forbes “the premier expert on advocating for yourself at work”
Greater Philadelphia
77K followers
500+ connections
About
Selena Rezvani helps people show up, speak up, and shake up the way work gets done. A Wall Street Journal bestselling author and LinkedIn Learning instructor, Forbes named her "the premier expert on advocating for yourself at work." She equips leaders to build confidence and cultures that lift everyone’s voice.
She’s partnered with organizations like The World Bank, Microsoft, Under Armour, Pfizer, and Nestlé to help emerging leaders grow their influence, presence, and voice. Selena’s advice has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, The Today Show, The LA Times, and ABC and NBC television. Selena’s latest book, Quick Confidence, an instant WSJ bestseller, is the culmination of a viral newsletter she started on LinkedIn, where she shares bite-sized, everyday tips on boosting confidence. On November 10th, her forthcoming book "Quick Leadership: Build Trust, Navigate Change, and Cultivate Unstoppable Teams" (Wiley, November 10, 2025) releases.
Having amassed a following of over 500k followers and subscribers across platforms, Selena was honored as a Fast Company Top Content Creator in 2021. In addition to coaching and consulting emerging leaders, Selena offers workshops to teams and conferences including her sought-after "Quick Confidence: Own Your Power" workshop. Today, she writes a column for MSNBC's Know Your Value on the most pressing leadership and career issues.
Selena has a BS and MSW from New York University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. To learn more about Selena and to book her for your next event, visit SelenaRezvani.com
Courses by Selena
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Nano Tips for Communicating with Confidence with Selena Rezvani11m
Nano Tips for Communicating with Confidence with Selena Rezvani
By: Selena Rezvani
Articles by Selena
Activity
77K followers
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Selena Rezvani shared thisEver take a career detour that felt like a mistake… until it made total sense later? 🌟 After getting my degrees in social work, I thought my path was set. But once I started working in counseling roles... something felt off. I felt out of sync with the work—and myself—and it took a real toll on my physical and mental well-being. (When a role is the wrong fit, your body usually knows before your mind is ready to understand or admit it!) That discomfort pushed me toward something unexpected: a consulting job I found on Craigslist (remember Craigslist!?). That pivot taught me something I still carry: Career detours aren’t "wasted time". They teach you what fits, what doesn’t, and teach you plenty of skills along the way. In my case, it was the combination of social work and consulting that later made me stand out for the work I really wanted! Turns out, the “wrong” door was actually on the right path. 🚪 What’s a career "detour" that ended up teaching you something important? I’d love to hear it Image alt text: An orange pedestrian "detour" sign. Image by Sean Foster via Unsplash.
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Selena Rezvani shared thisOne of the healthiest things you can do this week? Nothing. 😌 Not optimize your weekend, schedule a “catch-up,” or turn connection into another calendar event. What if you just… hung out!? I know, I know. It sounds impossible (especially if you have kids). Maybe even pointless. But the research is clear: our relationships shape our wellbeing more than almost anything else. In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that 60% of Americans feel lonely, and Vivek Murthy has called loneliness an epidemic. And honestly? I think part of the problem is that even friendship has become productive—planned, optimized, efficient. But true connection rarely happens on a tight agenda. It happens while sitting at a café, taking a walk, talking about nothing. As Sheila Liming, author of Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time, puts it: being in a room doing nothing with someone else is a sincere form of intimacy. This reminds me of a women’s retreat I went on earlier this year. Yes, we did things—but the unscripted time was kind of the best part! Curious: when was the last time you spent time with someone else with absolutely no plan? Article from The Female Quotient is in the comments, with insights from Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Susan Weinschenk, Vic Paterson and Alexandra G. Stratyner, Ph.D. 👇 Image alt text: Tell me more; Think nothing of it, with an image of the four women from Sex and the City
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Selena Rezvani shared thisRecently, I used AI to help me rehearse for a keynote. I prompted it by requesting a rehearsal schedule, different (and fun) ways to practice, and tips for managing nerves. Honestly, it was pretty great! But it couldn't give me the one thing I needed most when I stepped on stage: Self-belief. I love using AI but it has limitations, and it CAN'T build the confidence that comes from surviving discomfort, making mistakes, recovering, and realizing you're still standing. Confidence is only built through experience. As AI becomes a bigger part of how we work, that distinction matters more and more! That's what I'm exploring in #QuickConfidence newsletter, including three ways to hone your confidence in the age of AI — without outsourcing your instincts, voice, or resilience. If you've ever caught yourself asking AI "What do you think?" — before asking yourself — this one's for you.🤖 AI can help you prepare, but it can’t do this for you🤖 AI can help you prepare, but it can’t do this for you
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Selena Rezvani shared thisWhen you get a frustratingly low raise, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause… Save this for your next salary conversation. 👀 #salarynegotiation #gettingaraise #joboffernegotations #corporatelife #corporatetips
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Selena Rezvani reposted thisSelena Rezvani reposted thisA lot of people want to be the most important person in the room. Great leaders want other people to feel important in the room. That's why this lesson from Selena Rezvani was so spot on... The best leaders I’ve met don’t hoard attention, opportunities, or credit. They create space. They amplify people. They make everyone around them better. We talked about power sharing, leadership, and why confidence doesn’t have to look loud on the podcast. Listen to her episode here: https://lnkd.in/gPgFdE_y
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Selena Rezvani shared thisOne of the biggest performance review mistakes? Assuming your boss is more informed about your work than they actually are. You *live* your projects every day. They don’t. So when you say: “You probably already know…” or “I’ve just been helping wherever needed…”, you miss the chance to show your value. Specifically, your leadership, judgment, results, and influence. Your boss is busy. Don’t assume they’re automatically connecting all the dots about your value for you! #quickleadership #quickconfidence #leadershipdevelopment
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Selena Rezvani reposted thisSelena Rezvani reposted thisSalary negotiation is hard. Most people are scared of it. I am. But not having the conversation could be costing you a lot more than you think. This week's Well-Spent piece is a bible to bridge that gap - looking at why women don't ask (hint: it isn't a confidence problem), the five myths costing us the most, the four moments where pay is actually set, and the exact scripts to use in each of them. Plus, what to do when the answer is no. With thanks to all my contributors, particularly Selena Rezvani for her fantastic insights and practical advice on how to get the answer you want. Read it here ⬇️ and don't forget to like, comment, share and subscribe! #WellSpent #women #career #salary #finance #personalfinance #negotiation #
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Selena Rezvani shared thisHow you respond to feedback is E V E R Y T H I N G. But usually, when someone’s giving you feedback, you don’t have a lot of time in the moment to absorb or examine it! In today's 👄“How to Say It!” 👄, I'm offering some simple phrases that I’ve shared with coaching clients so they can show up as the thoughtful, reflective leaders they are. Oh, and by the way, none require that you always have to agree with the feedback! (Sometimes, feedback is more about the person giving it...) 1️⃣ Show them you’re willing to try it their way: "Huh, I never thought about it like that. I’d like to give your idea a shot next time." 2️⃣ Present a different POV: "I see things a bit differently. Would you like to hear my take?" 3️⃣ Ask for concrete examples: "Just to make sure I'm tracking, could you give me a specific example of what you mean?" 4️⃣ Balance negative behaviors with desired behaviors: "Could you paint a picture of what awesome performance would be in that scenario?" What would you add? Image alt text: Two women talk at a work table. Image by Amy Hirschi via Unsplash.
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Selena Rezvani shared thisNoooo! Quietly cutting parental leave? It sends a loud message, and it's not a good one. 😞 I just learned that companies like Deloitte and Zoom Communications are reducing parental leave and other benefits—with experts warning it could open the door for others to follow. I am so disappointed and disheartened. Personal leave (for any kind of caregiving) should NOT be a luxury or perk. It’s fundamental infrastructure for families, retention, and equitable advancement at work. And let’s be honest: when caregiving support shrinks, the burden doesn’t disappear. It just gets pushed back onto employees—especially women. Laszlo Bock put it plainly: when major employers make these cuts, it legitimizes them for everyone else. Ugh! Why do you think "benefits" (I hate that we call them that!) like parental leave are getting rolled back? A link to the short article by Ella Chakarian is in the comments, if you'd like more detail. 👇 Image alt text: Deloitte and Zoom trim parental leave and other benefits, with a gray-scale image of a mother feeding an infant.
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Selena Rezvani reacted on thisSelena Rezvani reacted on thisI'm so EXCITED to share my new speaking reel — and I couldn't be more proud of what it captures. My talk on How to Find Belonging has taken me to companies, conferences, churches, and schools across San Diego, Dallas, Chicago... even Romania. While doing this, I've seen: Strangers becoming friends at the same table Attendees spending the rest of a conference with someone they just met at my keynote A parent telling me their kid finally has a path to making friends I love what I do and I hope it shows. Thank you so much to the team at Outspeak + Marc Bjerring) for creating this video. And thank you also to the bureaus that represent me Keppler Speakers Bureau, GDA Speakers, and OUTSpokenSpeakers and to the many speakers who have been resources and cheerleaders Danielle Bayard Jackson Adam Smiley Poswolsky Dr. Miriam Kirmayer and Shasta Nelson. If you're looking for a science-backed, engaging, interactive keynote speaker, reach out! #Belonging #KeynoteSpeaker #SpeakingReel #Connection #Leadership
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Selena Rezvani liked thisSelena Rezvani liked thisYou don't need a sabbatical to restore yourself. You need a system. After working with leaders across 55+ countries and 2,500+ organizations, I've found that the most resilient ones share three simple moves, practices so practical you can start today. No spa. No subscription. No perfect conditions. Just three non-negotiables that keep you grounded no matter how turbulent the week gets. Swipe to see all three. And if one of them hits home, save this post. You'll want it on a hard day. #Wellness #LeadershipTools #StopAndBreathe #PlugIn #AnchorDaily #SimonTBailey #AmplifyHope #ResilienceAtWork
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Selena Rezvani liked thisSelena Rezvani liked thisIn a past job I joined the daily office smoke break; and I don’t even smoke. 🚭 Being new meant being on the outside of every side conversation, inside joke, and informal decision happening during those breaks. So I showed up anyway. Here’s what turns outsiders into insiders: ✅ Show curiosity — ask questions, learn about the people around you ✅ Build rapport — find common ground through open-ended conversations ✅ Be visible — speak up and bring value to the room ✅ Stay consistent — show up until people expect you and accept you. It takes humility. It takes effort. But eventually, you become a voice in the room regardless of your smoking habits. #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerGrowth
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Selena Rezvani liked thisThis looks like a great opportunity to hear from two thought-leaders on AI in enterprise. May 26.Selena Rezvani liked this⏰ Kotter's AI Leadership webinar starts tomorrow, and if your organization is still struggling to turn AI activity into real business impact, you’ll want to join this conversation. Kotter’s Head of R+D Gaurav Gupta and AI leadership expert Geoff Woods will share practical ways leaders can move beyond experimentation and start using AI to drive better decisions, stronger execution, and more meaningful results. 📅 May 26 | 1 PM PT | 4 PM ET Even if you can’t attend live, register and we’ll send the recording directly to your inbox. 👇 Registration link in the comments.
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Selena Rezvani liked thisSelena Rezvani liked thisThis week, I've been in Los Angeles with LinkedIn Learning, speaking at the Association for Talent Development (ATD) conference. I shared the stage with Kevin Bishop, talking about this year's Talent Velocity Advantage Report and some soon-to-be-released features in Microsoft Copilot. Now I'm back home and waiting for the jetlag to kick me in the pants. But for now, I'll have another cup of tea and go through my emails to see what I've missed while I've been traveling. cc. Miriam Staley Helena McAleer The Gen AI Academy
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Selena Rezvani liked thisSelena Rezvani liked thisCalling all Cedar Rapids women! 🧡 The Elevate Leadership Program is one of the most special programs we offer at Women Lead Change. Each year, we welcome 25 Corridor women into a six-month experience focused on growth, leadership, and connection. What makes Elevate so powerful isn’t just the curriculum, it’s the community. Over the years, we’ve watched relationships formed in this program transcend industries and last long after graduatiojn. We’ve also seen Elevate alumni become some of the leaders shaping our region today. We created this program because we believed women needed a space to grow together, learn from one another, and step more confidently into their potential. One participant shared this after last year’s program: “I sometimes feel that because I am not in a leadership role, learning about how to be a leader is not for me. However, I realized there are many ways I can lead without being in that position and it meant a lot to me.” That is exactly what Elevate is about. Leadership is not defined by a title. It’s how you show up, support others, communicate, influence, and grow. Whether someone is already leading a team or simply stepping into what’s next, Elevate helps women build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, expand their network, and invest in themselves personally and professionally. If someone comes to mind while reading this, encourage them to apply or send them our way. Because leadership starts long before the title does. Learn more about Elevate: https://lnkd.in/g4ZM5JS2 Applications are due June 19!
Experience
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Author / Speaker / Consultant on Leadership
NextGenWomen, LLC
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Book Author
ABC-CLIO
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Education
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The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School
MBA Business Administration and Management, General
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★ Recipient, 2008 AXA Achievement Scholarship
★ Recipient, 2009 Edward Stegman CPA Memorial Award for Academic Excellence
★ 4.0 GPA -
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Volunteer Experience
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Parent Mentor
Graham's Foundation
- Present 12 years 10 months
Children
Volunteer Parent Mentors at Graham's Foundation provide practical and emotional support to the parents of premature babies by giving preemie moms and dads the opportunity to talk with other parents who have had similar experiences in the NICU. Contact happens through email and/or phone conversations--where Mentors provide peer to peer encouragement and practical help to parents (and even grandparents) on making it through the sometimes long and difficult road of premature birth.
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Regional Vice President
NAWMBA National Association of Women MBAs
- 3 years 1 month
Education
As a Regional Vice President with the National Association of MBAs, I provided daily oversight and leadership for nearly 20 university chapters. I advised chapters at many top business schools including Stanford, UCLA, Pepperdine, and UC Berkeley. I helped chapter presidents to enhance programming targeted at their membership and increase their membership numbers.
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Volunteer
Be My Eyes
- Present 7 years 3 months
Health
Be My Eyes is an app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers for visual assistance through a live video call.
Skills
Publications
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Out of the Comfort Zone: How women and men size up stretch assignments — and why leaders should care.
Be Leaderly
Stretch opportunities are all the rage in the workplace. But as popular as they are, it’s unclear why some people decide to accept a stretch assignment or role – and others step aside. It’s also unclear why women haven’t benefited from stretches as much as men. This report shares our original research on how both genders decide if they are ready for a stretch, and how they make that decision. We also explore how employers can create a workplace that supports employees who step out of their…
Stretch opportunities are all the rage in the workplace. But as popular as they are, it’s unclear why some people decide to accept a stretch assignment or role – and others step aside. It’s also unclear why women haven’t benefited from stretches as much as men. This report shares our original research on how both genders decide if they are ready for a stretch, and how they make that decision. We also explore how employers can create a workplace that supports employees who step out of their comfort zones. For individuals – and women in particular – we offer advice for getting the most out of these career-making opportunities.
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The Millennial Mindset: Aspirations of the Most Misunderstood Worker
Deloitte
Never mind how old millennials are. The idea of them is 30 years old. It was 1987 when William Strauss and Neil Howe hung that name on the people who would start to graduate from high school at the turn of the coming century.
And ever since, we've heard the same stereotypes: They're self-centered. Entitled. They value passion over performance. Fulfillment over a full day's work. And they don’t understand why no one's given them a corner office yet. Now that millennials are deep into the…Never mind how old millennials are. The idea of them is 30 years old. It was 1987 when William Strauss and Neil Howe hung that name on the people who would start to graduate from high school at the turn of the coming century.
And ever since, we've heard the same stereotypes: They're self-centered. Entitled. They value passion over performance. Fulfillment over a full day's work. And they don’t understand why no one's given them a corner office yet. Now that millennials are deep into the workforce, how well do these stereotypes really hold up?Other authors -
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Pushback: How Smart Women Ask--and Stand Up--for What They Want
Jossey Bass
See publicationIn the award-winning book Pushback, top leadership consultant Selena Rezvani argues that self-advocacy is critical to success. Yet women initiate negotiations four times less often than men, resulting in getting less of what they want—promotion opportunities, plum assignments, and higher pay. This book shines a light on the real rules of holding your own and pushing back for what is rightfully yours. Drawing on interviews with high-level leaders, Rezvani offers readers in the first half of…
In the award-winning book Pushback, top leadership consultant Selena Rezvani argues that self-advocacy is critical to success. Yet women initiate negotiations four times less often than men, resulting in getting less of what they want—promotion opportunities, plum assignments, and higher pay. This book shines a light on the real rules of holding your own and pushing back for what is rightfully yours. Drawing on interviews with high-level leaders, Rezvani offers readers in the first half of their career the unedited truth about how women have asked their way to the top and triumphed—and how you can too.
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The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School
Praeger
See publicationWhile the leadership landscape may be shifting in women's favor, women are nowhere near an equal presence in leadership roles when compared to men. Selena Rezvani's achievement was to engage some extraordinarily accomplished women as mentors, each of whom provided tools and information that young women can use to shape their own careers. "The Next Generation of Women Leaders" encourages younger women to be their own advocates when it comes to professional growth and advancement, and it provides…
While the leadership landscape may be shifting in women's favor, women are nowhere near an equal presence in leadership roles when compared to men. Selena Rezvani's achievement was to engage some extraordinarily accomplished women as mentors, each of whom provided tools and information that young women can use to shape their own careers. "The Next Generation of Women Leaders" encourages younger women to be their own advocates when it comes to professional growth and advancement, and it provides tangible how-to's on negotiating the workplace as a woman.
Over the course of a year, Selena Rezvani interviewed women executives in various industries, roles, and job functions, including Denise Incandela, president at Saks Fifth Avenue, Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Katharine Weymouth, CEO of The Washington Post among many others. The result is "The Next Generation of Women Leaders," a penetrating, eye-opening, and ultimately empowering narrative, filled with stories of remarkable women who navigated the leadership maze and triumphed.
Honors & Awards
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LinkedIn Top Voice
LinkedIn
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Thinkers 50 Radar Award
Thinkers 50
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Recipient, 2019 Jane Cunningham Croly Award for Excellence in Journalism Covering Issues of Concern to Women
The General Federation of Women's Clubs
Journalism Award recognizing my TEDx talk "Interrupting Gender Bias in Meeting Culture"
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Awardee, 2014 Woman of Distinction
Philadelphia Business Journal
In 2014, The Philadelphia Business Journal selected 30 women--including entrepreneurs and high-ranking executives--who are leading the way in banking, health care, real estate and other fields. Awardees are chosen as the most influential businesswomen in the region, at the forefront of taking business in Philadelphia to the next level.
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Judge, The 2014 American Business Awards
Stevie Awards
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Recipient, 2013 Axiom Business Book Award for PUSHBACK
The Independent Publisher/Jenkins Group
The Axiom Business Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary business books and their creators. PUSHBACK won a "Silver" level award within the "Women/Minorities in Business" category.
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Recipient, 2012 Jane Cunningham Croly Award for Excellence in Journalism Covering Issues of Concern to Women
The General Federation of Women's Clubs
'The Jane Cunningham Croly Award for Excellence in Journalism Covering Issues of Concern to Women' recognizes journalists who best capture the courage, vision, and spirit of pioneering journalist Jane Cunningham Croly. Croly Award winners demonstrate a concern for the rights and advancement of women in our society; an awareness of women’s strength and courage; and/or an attempt to counteract sexism. . A judging panel of prominent journalists, editors, and leaders from national women’s…
'The Jane Cunningham Croly Award for Excellence in Journalism Covering Issues of Concern to Women' recognizes journalists who best capture the courage, vision, and spirit of pioneering journalist Jane Cunningham Croly. Croly Award winners demonstrate a concern for the rights and advancement of women in our society; an awareness of women’s strength and courage; and/or an attempt to counteract sexism. . A judging panel of prominent journalists, editors, and leaders from national women’s organizations reviews and judges entries.
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