Communicate to Align: How Project Managers Gain Influence Beyond Their Authority with Nejat Abdurahman

You can’t lead what you can’t align. In this session, leadership strategist Nejat Abdurahman reveals how project managers can leverage communication as their most powerful leadership tool—especially when authority alone isn’t enough. Learn how to influence upward, secure stakeholder buy-in, and drive results through intentional, high-impact communication.

Discover the art of speaking the language of alignment, where clarity, context, and credibility create real momentum. Whether you’re managing cross-functional teams, navigating executive expectations, or striving to strengthen collaboration, this session will equip you with practical tools to lead with confidence and influence across every level of your organization.

About the Speaker:

Nejat Abdurahman is the founder of N-BAC, a leadership advisory firm helping professionals lead with impact—managing up, across, and down. A certified coach in emotional intelligence and DISC, she partners with global organizations to transform workplace dynamics, elevate leadership effectiveness, and build high-performing teams.

She is also the author of The Art of Managing Up: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help Professionals Become the CEO of Their Career, a trusted resource for those seeking to expand their influence, add value to their organizations, and accelerate career growth with clarity, confidence, and credibility.

Nejat holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a B.A. in Economics from Addis Ababa University.