Allison Shapira is an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, where she teaches leadership communication with a focus on helping leaders build trust and influence — particularly during times of complexity and change.
She is the Founder and CEO of Global Public Speaking, an executive communication firm that has advised leaders across government, business, and nonprofit sectors, including heads of state and Fortune 100 executives at companies from Bank of America to Intel.
Her current research explores what she calls believability: what makes leaders believable in an age of AI. Her practical approach integrates real-world experience with research-backed strategies.
A trained opera singer, Shapira draws on her stage experience to help leaders speak with
impact not through performance, but through authenticity and presence. Her work increasingly centers on a core question: in an era of synthetic voices, AI-generated content, and polished talking points, how do leaders earn the right to be believed?
Shapira holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Language and Literature from Boston University, with a minor in Vocal Performance. She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and a past president of the Harvard Kennedy School Washington, DC Alumni Council.
Having studied ten foreign languages and worked across cultures worldwide, Shapira helps leaders from different backgrounds communicate with authenticity and influence.
She is the author of Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others (HarperCollins Leadership), which appeared on The Washington Post bestseller list, and the companion guide Speak with Impact VIRTUALLY.
Her latest book, AI for the Authentic Leader: How to Communicate More Effectively Without Losing Your Humanity (Spa Creek Press), provides leaders with strategies to communicate authentically in the AI era. She has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Forbes, and she is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review.