Charismatic Presence: A few nights ago, my friend Carrie Hensel sent a short text that instantly rearranged my plans:
“I did a story about Morel mushroom hunting on CBS Detroit. It comes out tonight at 6pm. Come to Fraser’s Pub to watch it with me and some other pals.”
When Carrie texts, people show up. And that’s exactly what a dozen of us did—gathered around a pub TV, drinks in hand, to watch her TV feature. But we weren’t just there for mushrooms. We were there because Carrie has that rare, magnetic quality I call Charismatic Presence.
In fact, Charismatic Presence is the title of my upcoming book (out June 19—yay!), and it captures the essence of what I’ve spent over two decades teaching: how to show up in your full, unfiltered self and command a room without pretense.
What Is Charismatic Presence?
I define Charismatic Presence as:
“…your dynamic life force fully activated in the present moment. It’s the kind of all senses-go, ease, aliveness, and authenticity that makes people want to look at you, listen to you, and trust you.”
That’s exactly what Carrie embodies. From the moment I met her years ago—running a powerhouse web design company with her then-partner Catherine Hayes—I was struck by her quirky brilliance and creative fire. She brought energy and originality to everything, including the copy she wrote for my websites.
At one point, she asked if she should tone down her “inner dork” to be taken seriously in business. My answer?
“Heck no. The world needs your juicy and irreverent inner dork. It needs YOU, exactly as you are.”
Because she embraced that, Carrie became a beloved and influential figure in our local business scene. Everyone seemed to know her, follow her, and want more of what she brought into a room.
How Carrie’s Presence Sparked a Movement
Carrie didn’t just charm people—she built things. She co-founded the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW), a vibrant networking group for women that still thrives nearly two decades later. She simply asked people to come—and they did. That’s the power of presence.
What Do Morel Mushrooms Have to Do With This?
These days, Carrie is back to her first love: visual art. She creates luminous nature-inspired paintings, and when she’s not painting, she’s out in the woods mushroom hunting. Her love of nature and Morel mushrooms is what landed her a feature on CBS Detroit.
And that’s how I ended up at Fraser’s Pub, watching her story unfold on screen.
Even with a camera tracking her every move, Carrie was her usual self: relaxed, hilarious, wise, and utterly real. I nudged my husband and said, “Now that is what I mean when I talk about presence.”
You Have Charismatic Presence, Too
Here’s the truth: We all have a unique Charismatic Presence. The challenge is allowing it to shine—especially when people are watching.
The good news? You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.
In my upcoming book Charismatic Presence, I’ll show you how to access that magnetic quality within yourself—whether you’re leading a team, stepping onto a stage, or simply showing up as your best self.
Meanwhile, want to see Charismatic Presence in action and learn a bit about Morel mushroom hunting?
👉 Here’s the CBS Detroit story featuring Carrie Hensel.
And if you’re curious about expanding your own presence as a leader or speaker, let’s talk.
📘 P.S. My newest book Charismatic Presence: Five Principles for Magnetic Presentations launches on June 19th. Click here to get on the list for updates and the release party!
Follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenikelakos/
Eleni Kelakos, CSP The Speaker Whisperer®