Author
Leopold Ajami
Cialdini Certified Coach
Founding Member of the Cialdini Institute
Servicing the middle east and internationally
If you’re an ethical, future-driven leader but feel your voice is overshadowed and unheard, this isn’t just frustrating—it’s an injustice. You and your team deserve to command the stage, to hear ‘YES’ to your proposals, and to drive meaningful change. Leopold combines public speaking, thought leadership, and ethical persuasion to help you design an influential voice that amplifies your worth.
✓ Aligned with Dr. Cialdini’s principles
✓ Trusted by Google, Meta, and Booz Allen
✓ Certified world-class speaking coach
“Leopold is a valued coach of the Cialdini Institute.“
Dr. Robert Cialdini – NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Testimonials
His training provided me with practical insights that helped me secure a promotion in a highly competitive environment. Leopold’s technique is magic that turns the improbable into the achievable.
Vida Hamd, Ph.D
Public Policy Lead at Meta
I recommend working with him to anyone interested in influencing people and crafting well-thought messages.
Marie De Ducla
MENA Sales Lead at Google
Testimonials
His training provided me with practical insights that helped me secure a promotion in a highly competitive environment. Leopold’s technique is magic that turns the improbable into the achievable.
Vida Hamd, Ph.D
Public Policy Lead at Meta
I recommend working with him to anyone interested in influencing people and crafting well-thought messages.
Marie De Ducla
MENA Sales Lead at Google
About the Author
Leopold Ajami
You’re here because influence matters to you.
And you likely have incredible ideas. But are they heard? Are you valued?
How often do you hear ‘YES’ after your presentations, pitches, or proposals?
Your success hinges on your ability to persuade – both yourself and others.
But how can you influence people to move in your direction?
You have to ‘Give Them a Piece of You’ that bridges your ideas to their minds.
That bridge is Your Voice.
Leopold Ajami is committed to helping you design a voice that amplifies your worth. Recognizing the gap between brilliant ideas and effective communication, Leopold created the Ph.C System, blending philosophy, creativity, and communication. In 2019, he founded the Novel Philosophy Academy to empower ambitious leaders to sharpen their thinking, amplify their influence, and build thought leadership.
This is the formula for becoming future-proof.
Leopold also specializes in training professionals and corporations to master ethical persuasion. With two decades of experience in creative strategy, design thinking, behavior science, and public speaking, he turns training into actionable plans and frameworks to tackle current and future problems that could shape your business.
One client, refusing to call him ‘coach,’ affectionately named him ‘Gandalf’ – a guide on a mission to help the hero in you.
One client, refusing to call him ‘coach,’ affectionately named him ‘Gandalf’! Though he’s not fully grey, he’s passionate about being on a mission to guide the hero in you.
Whether you aim to command the stage, position yourself as a thought leader, or transform your influence with ethical persuasion, Leopold is here to support you.
Based in Dubai, Leopold speaks at international conferences and offers global coaching, training, and consulting services. His greatest teacher is his 5-year-old daughter, and his life philosophy is simple: What you do backstage puts you on stage.
A Personal Message
Last year, I coached a high-achiever who had endured unimaginable struggles yet felt powerless to share his story. Despite his success, he feared that revealing his vulnerability on stage would undermine his leadership.
I told him: You’ve got to give your audience a piece of you.
That simple phrase—‘Give Them a Piece of You’—changed everything. It became a blog post, a story, a framework, and now it’s the heart of my chapter.
Right now, you’re giving me a piece of you—your time and attention. In return, you’ll receive a piece of every author in this book—their hard-earned experiences, techniques, and insights to elevate your influence.
I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this group of authors who are not just persuasion specialists but individuals with an unshakable ethical code.
I hope you enjoy the book, and I’d be delighted to help you and your team sharpen your message, amplify your impact, and build your thought leadership.
Leopold
My favourite Research
There is so much powerful research that ethical persuasion is based on. Each author of ‘How to Hear YES More Often‘ has their favourites. We’d like to share with you just one that we find inspiring.
%
Survey Requests Completed with no handwritten message
%
Survey Requests Completed Handwriting on Cover Letter
%
Survey Requests Completed Handwritten Post-It Note
One of my favourite research stories:
Handwritten messages
A simple, handwritten Post-it note could be the difference between being ignored and getting a resounding “YES.”
Social scientist Randy Garner conducted an intriguing study to explore this idea, tapping into Dr. Cialdini’s principle of Reciprocity.
In his experiment, Garner sent out surveys under three conditions:
• A handwritten sticky note requesting completion.
• A handwritten message on a cover letter.
• Or just the survey and cover letter alone.
The results? Over 75% of those who received the survey with the Post-it note completed it, compared to 48% with the handwritten note on the cover letter and just 36% with no note at all.
But Garner didn’t stop there.
He tested if the sticky note’s attention-grabbing color was the key. He found that a blank sticky note garnered a 43% response rate, while the handwritten sticky note still outperformed at 69%.
The reason? It’s not just the sticky note itself; it’s the personalized effort behind it.
The principle of Reciprocity plays a crucial role here. People respond to the human touch, feeling compelled to reciprocate when they sense someone has put in extra effort just for them.
Your handwriting is a piece of you!
This research is a powerful reminder: when you make your requests personal, you amplify your influence. Whether in the office or in life, a small gesture like a personalized Post-it note can make your ideas stick and your influence grow.
Ready to Persuade?
Never compete for YES—design it instead.
Many believe that to hear YES more often, you must compete—better products, more demand, and constant hustle. Big mistake.
Influential leaders don’t compete; they differentiate. They don’t just offer solutions and hope for agreement; they frame new problems and pave the way to solve them. They know persuasion isn’t just about words—it’s about creating a world where people feel visible and valuable.
Let me help you build your ecosystem of Influence
Think of yourself as a bridge designer. A well-crafted bridge doesn’t push people across; it invites them to walk, step by step, toward you.
By combining public speaking, thought leadership, and ethical persuasion, I’ll help you design an ecosystem of Influence that guides people to say YES because it genuinely benefits them. Together, we’ll make your voice not just heard, but the one people are eager to follow.
Ready to see if we’re a fit? Book a strategy call, and let’s plan the way forward.
Services
Influence Certification Courses with Coaching
Become a Certified Ethical Influence Practitioner. Through on-demand training by Dr. Robert Cialdini and 8 weeks of personalized coaching, you’ll move from theory to practice, carving out a niche where your influence is unmatched. This isn’t just a certification—it’s a launchpad for becoming the authority in your space.
Public Speaking and Presentations Coaching
Your voice is your ultimate differentiator. This coaching isn’t about following a script—it’s about creating a new category of influence where your voice leads. Whether you’re preparing for a major presentation, leading a panel, or crafting a story that resonates, you will learn to command the room, captivate your audience, and become unforgettable.
Speaking
Break through the noise with talks that redefine perspectives. My presentations on Ethical Persuasion, Communication, and Leadership are designed to disrupt conventional thinking and help you amplify your worth. Whether it’s a keynote, podcast, or team session, these talks will leave your audience with actionable insights that drive real change.
Personalized Workshops
Your challenges are unique, and so are these workshops. Tailored to your team’s specific needs, these sessions are designed to deliver immediate, influence-defining results. Learn the principles of persuasion and communication in a way that applies directly to your work, with actionable insights you can implement right away to drive transformative change.
Influence Business Audit
You can’t dominate a problem you can’t see. With an Influence Business Audit, we’ll uncover the hidden opportunities within your business through the lens of ethical persuasion and thought leadership. This isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about creating a category where you lead. Together, we’ll design strategies that not only solve your challenges but position your business as the leader in a new space.
Consultant on Retainer
Influence is a continuous process, not a one-time effort. With my retainer service, you’ll have ongoing access to strategic, creative guidance that helps you continuously refine and expand your influence. Whether navigating new challenges or refining existing strategies, I’ll be there to ensure you’re not just part of the conversation—you’re leading it.
Company
Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE
Leopold@novelphilosophy.academy
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