"Amy Joy Casselberry Cuddy is an American social psychologist known for her research on stereotyping and discrimination, emotions, power, nonverbal behavior, and the effects of social stimuli on hormone levels. She is Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit at Harvard Business School. Her TEDTalk, delivered at TEDGlobal 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and posted in October 2012, has been viewed more than 5 million times and ranks among the top 15 most-viewed TEDTalks."

I am one of the people who have watched her TEDTalks and been impacted by her research. I use her material every time I present or facilitate a session.

"Cuddy studies the origins and outcomes of how people judge and influence each other. She has conducted experimental and correlational research on stereotyping and discrimination against various groups (e.g., Asian Americans, elderly people, Latinos, working mothers), the causes and consequences of feeling ambivalent emotions (e.g., envy and pity), nonverbal behavior and communication, and hormonal responses to social stimuli. Amy Cuddy was listed #1 in Time Magazine's list of "Game Changers, ...innovators and problem-solvers that are inspiring change in America"."

She often speaks on the psychology of power, influence, nonverbal communication, and prejudice.

"Amy Cuddy grew up in a very small Pennsylvania Dutch town, Robesonia, Pennsylvania. She is a classically trained ballet dancer and worked as a roller-skating waitress when she was an undergraduate at the University of Colorado at Boulder. When she was a sophomore in college she sustained a serious head injury in a car accident. Her doctors told her she was not likely to fully recover and should anticipate significant challenges finishing her undergraduate degree. Her IQ decreased two standard deviations. She eventually completed her undergraduate studies and went on to earn a PhD at Princeton."

The first talk I saw about body language was the one where she said “Fake it, until you become it”. Not fake it until you make it, become it. Compelling thought. It struck a chord. Who has not felt like they are faking it at some point or other? This should be shared with anyone who feels the fear of presenting in any environment.