MasterClass Targets Mid-Career Growth With New Influence Course

Led by Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer Matt Abrahams, the new program, Strategic Communication: Build Trust. Drive Decisions. Lead With Influence., aims to bridge the gap between technical expertise and executive presence. The curriculum is built around three pillars—Engage, Align, and Advance—designed to move learners beyond basic public speaking into the mechanics of persuasion. The course draws on case studies from figures like Satya Nadella and Oprah Winfrey to illustrate how to manage pushback and structure narratives that secure buy-in.

Beyond Abrahams, the instructional roster includes Fortune 500 executive Stacey Tank, behavioral expert Vanessa Van Edwards, author Daniel Pink, and LinkedIn Top Voice Lorraine K. Lee. Over a 14 to 16-hour period, participants work through a framework culminating in a reusable "Strategic Influence Playbook." This toolkit is intended to serve as a real-time preparation guide for high-stakes interactions, such as asking for promotions or presenting to boards. The course is priced at $299, with a promotional discount offered through late June, further expanding the platform’s growing catalog of career-focused certificate programs.