Earning a seat at the table: Becoming a trusted adviser.

2.10pm – 2.40pm GMT, 25 November 2026 ‐ 30 mins

As AI and rapid change disrupt the executive suite, strategic communication is more vital than ever; yet communication leaders still struggle to secure a seat at the table.

Drawing on her experience coaching leaders at top global organisations, executive adviser Laura Gates shares candid, field-tested insights on how to earn trusted-adviser status and deliver maximum value when it counts most. Learn how to build genuine stakeholder partnerships, take a firm strategic stance and speak truth to power through uncertainty. 

What you'll learn:

• The trust equation: Building immediate credibility with leadership. 
• Stakeholder mapping & EQ: Navigating executive dynamics effectively. 
• Strategic positioning: Moving from tactical executor to trusted voice. 
• AI adoption: Using tech to your advantage  

Speakers

Laura Gates

President, Gates Group Consulting

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Laura Gates

President, Gates Group Consulting

Laura Gates is the President of Gates Group Consulting, coaching executives and leadership teams at premier organisations – from NASA, LinkedIn, Shell and Visa to fast-scaling Silicon Valley AI, semiconductor and space tech start-ups. 

A featured contributor in Forbes, First Round Review and Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game, Laura speaks globally on leading in chaotic times for corporate events and organisations such as MIT’s Pegasus Systems Thinking Conference, The Female Quotient and the Global WIN Conference. 

She holds a Master’s in Organisational Leadership, and is an ICF PCC and EMCC certified coach. Laura is dedicated to helping executives lead authentically and empowering teams to unlock their collective genius.