Magda Petryniak · Strategic Communication Advisor

Lead with influence. Move people who matter.

Twenty years guiding C-level leaders to communicate so it translates into decisions, trust, and lasting impact.

Est. 2004
Based in Warsaw · Working globally
Languages EN · PL
Pathways · Choose your shape of work

Programs that build influence.

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The Premise

Real influence isn't louder, faster, or smoother. It's deliberate.

I work at the intersection of business strategy, leadership identity, communication, and personal brand — because influence that lasts is never accidental. It is built.

Six Inflection Points

Is this you?

Six recurring moments that bring leaders to me. If any of these feels familiar, the work I do is built for exactly this.

If any of these resonate — let's talk.

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Trusted by leaders

Real influence speaks for itself.

01 / 04
“Magda doesn't just teach communication — she works on how you build influence as a leader. At a certain point in your career, what makes the difference isn't how much you know. It's how you can convey it.”
Aleks Friedel CEO Unilink S.A.
02 / 04
“Magda moves you from 'correct communication' to real influence — the kind that builds relationships, shifts perception, and translates into decisions among key stakeholders.”
Łukasz Maliczenko Electromobility Market Leader former VP Electromobility Poland
03 / 04
“130 nonprofits across 5 cohorts. Within days of Matching Day, every single organization had secured a tech partner. Magda built the storytelling capability that made it happen.”
Magdalena Wasilewska-Michalska Head of AI for Changemakers Program Director, Tech to the Rescue
04 / 04
“Her real strength is engaging demanding senior leaders in work on intangibles — values, beliefs, behaviors — and translating them into measurable change. With demanding senior leaders, that's a rare capability.”
Katarzyna Bieńkowska Chief People Officer The Company
Read more leaders
Featured in Forbes Harvard Business Review Polityka Forbes Women Wprost
A question

Do you sense more is possible — and the way you communicate is what's holding it back?

I believe the difference between leaders who plateau and leaders who break through isn't talent, ambition, or even strategy. It's whether they know how to influence on purpose.

For two decades I've worked with C-level leaders and high-potential executives across IT, banking, consulting, and beyond — building the strategic communication, identity, persuasion, and visibility that turn capability into lasting influence.

Results · Real Stories

Twenty years. Real influence.

From global keynotes to one-on-one work with CEOs — these are the patterns that show up again and again.

20+
Years of executive practice
10K+
Leaders coached and trained
27
Countries reached
130
Pitches prepared in one program
My Method · Four Pillars

The framework I use in every engagement.

Most leaders come to me wanting to communicate better. What they actually need is to influence differently — across four dimensions that, together, build influence that lasts.

Pillar 01

Strategy

Where and how you play

Influence without direction is noise. Strategy defines where you focus your energy, who matters, and what you are driving toward — so your influence is targeted, not scattered.

  • Defining your arena: business outcomes, social impact, or stakeholder dynamics
  • Mapping your zone of influence: where you have leverage and where you need to build it
  • Identifying key stakeholders: decision-makers, allies, blockers, hidden influencers
  • Aligning personal ambitions with organizational objectives

Strategy ensures your influence is not accidental. It is deliberate, targeted, and outcome-driven.

Pillar 02

Identity

Who you are as a leader

Before you can lead others, you need internal clarity. Identity is your anchor — it defines who you are when you show up, and why people should trust, follow, or listen to you.

  • Beliefs and blockers: the internal narratives that limit or expand your influence
  • Values: what you stand for and what you won't compromise
  • Voice: how you think, speak, and express ideas in a way that is distinctly yours
  • Story: the experiences and perspectives that shape your leadership

When your identity is clear — inside and out — your influence becomes authentic, consistent, and recognizable. Instead of reactive or performative.

Pillar 03

Persuasion

How you move people

Persuasion is the mechanism of influence. It is how you translate ideas, strategies, and vision into understanding, buy-in, and action.

  • Narrative building: crafting clear, compelling stories that make ideas resonate
  • Argumentation: using logic, evidence, and framing to strengthen your case
  • Rhetorical skill: adapting tone, language, and messaging to your audience
  • Emotional intelligence: reading the room and responding strategically

Persuasion turns intention into impact — by making your ideas understood, felt, and adopted.

Pillar 04

Visibility

How you build your presence and reach

Visibility is the amplifier of influence. It determines whether your leadership is noticed, trusted, and remembered — in the rooms and spaces that matter to your growth.

  • Personal brand: the consistent, strategic perception others form about you
  • Executive presence: how you show up in high-stakes rooms and conversations
  • Platform selection: choosing the right stages — conferences, advisory boards, media
  • Thought leadership: visibility through ideas — panels, keynotes, articles, podcasts

Visibility ensures that the right people see, recognize, and remember your influence.

From framework to practice

This is how I work. Influence by Design is where it becomes your reality.

The Four Pillars are the foundation. In the Influence by Design program, we work through each pillar together — in the context of your business, your goals, and the arenas where you want to lead.

Flagship · 1:1

Expert guidance for your path.

3–9 months

Engagement length, fully designed around you

1:1 format

Sessions plus WhatsApp support between

DISC included

Assessment integrated into the program

Flagship Program

Influence by Design

A leadership transformation path

It's not coaching, not consulting. It's a comprehensive, individually designed leadership transformation program — built around you, your business, and the influence you want to create.

We work together 1:1 across all four dimensions: where you play strategically, who you are as a leader, how you move people, and how you build your presence in the forums that matter. Everything we do is grounded in real business scenarios, real stakes, and real results.

This program is for you if

  • You've been promoted or are stepping into a more visible role
  • Your expertise is strong — but your influence isn't matching it
  • You need to lead change, build buy-in, or shift how you're perceived
  • You want a thinking partner who understands business, technology, geopolitics — not just communication

What we work on

  • Strategic positioning and stakeholder influence, locally and globally
  • Leadership identity and belief work
  • Board-level communication and persuasion
  • Personal brand and visibility in the right arenas
  • High-stakes preparation: presentations, negotiations, media

Format: 1:1 sessions · 3–9 months · DISC assessment included · WhatsApp support between sessions

Resources · Take it further

Resources & programs.

Tools, programs, and writing for leaders who want to keep building influence — at any level of engagement.

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Impact Space

Learning Letters on communication and influence — every month.

A unique combination of monthly notes and a WhatsApp community. Insights you can use the same week.

Writing · Recent insights

Insights & writing.

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Now is your time

Ready to lead with real influence?

Whether you're stepping into a more visible role, leading a transformation, or preparing for the moment that defines what's next — let's build the influence to match.

Now booking · Q3 2026
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