About
She runs a human behavior lab, has trained over 50,000 professionals worldwide, and her book Cues became a go-to reference for anyone serious about charisma and influence.
Signature moves
Warmth + competence
Charisma is signaling both at once — most people pick one and lose.
Read micro-expressions
The face leaks what words hide. Catch it in real time.
Position over pickup line
Where you stand at an event matters more than what you say.
Videos
Ditch the Default Questions
Vanessa Van Edwards
Main idea
"What do you do?" and "How are you?" put people on autopilot. Replace them with questions that invite excitement — "Working on anything interesting?" or "What's been the highlight of your week?" — and you immediately create a richer, more memorable exchange.
Read the Room Before It's Too Late
Vanessa Van Edwards
Main idea
The face reveals what words hide. Learning to spot micro-expressions — fear in widened eyes, disgust in a nose crinkle, contempt in a one-sided smirk — lets you catch misalignment or resistance in real time and course-correct before it becomes a problem.
Warmth + Competence = Charisma
Vanessa Van Edwards
Main idea
Charisma isn't about being funny or extroverted — it's about simultaneously signaling warmth and competence. Most people over-index on one. Too much competence reads as cold. Too much warmth reads as unserious. The rare combination of both is what makes someone magnetic.
Where You Stand Changes Everything
Vanessa Van Edwards
Main idea
At any social event, position matters more than your opening line. Standing near the exit, in the host's eyeline, or next to the most connected person in the room gives others a natural reason to approach or introduce you — without forcing it.
