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On Friday, March 6th, I stepped on stage in front of nearly 150 women at a beautiful venue in NYC for the Business of WE Leadership Conference & Dinner in celebration of International Women’s Day. I was the first of seven speakers to go on stage, so I knew I had some pressure on me to kick things off strong. Being a professional speaker, and someone who teaches public speaking skills to others, there is always an added layer of pressure to show up and crush it. Especially wh

There’s a moment that happens before someone decides to speak. Maybe it’s before raising a hand in a meeting. Maybe it’s before sharing an idea that feels a little risky. Maybe it’s before introducing yourself to someone new, or stepping onto a stage. In that small pause before the words come out, a familiar question often shows up: Is what I have to say really worth sharing? If you’ve ever felt that hesitation, you’re not alone. Many of us hold back because we think our stor

Given what I do, I see a lot of slide decks. Some good, most fair and some just awful. Every now and then I see one that makes me smile and think, “Yes, this is how it’s meant to be done!” Sadly, that’s rare. Most decks I see are riddled with text, most of which is too small to read from the third row let alone the back of the room. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a presenter squint at their own slide and say, “You probably can’t read this.” And they were right.

Connection is the outcome of SPEAC’ing Success. When you’ve done the work - when you’ve Strategized, Prepared, Elevated, and Articulated with intention and authenticity… true connection becomes inevitable. This final step is where everything clicks. With my role at SPEAC being Connection Coordinator, it would be pretty awkward if this wasn’t my favorite part of the framework… right :) ? But, all jokes aside, this is where everything you’ve prepared finally meets the people

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve shared public speaking tips, and if you’ve been wondering where they went, don’t worry…they’re not going anywhere. Over the past several blogs, we’ve been focusing on interpersonal communication skills. Because how we communicate one-on-one and how we show up on a stage or in a meeting room are more connected than most people realize. This week, we’re bringing public speaking back into the conversation. We’re also going back to fundamentals,

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a heaviness that I can’t quite shake. If you’ve been paying attention to what’s happening in our country, you may feel it too. There is a lot of fear and anger right now. A lot of “us versus them.” Entire groups of people are being reduced to labels, soundbites and stereotypes. And when that happens, something deeply human gets lost. None of this happens in a vacuum. In recent blogs, we’ve talked about perception, perspective and listening. How

Last week, I taught a workshop for an association. The audience included a wide range of experience levels, from new college graduates just getting started in their careers to seasoned professionals with decades of experience under their belts. The client wanted the content to resonate with everyone in the room, regardless of career level, and they wanted every participant to walk away with something they could actually use. At the end of every workshop, I like to ask two que

Have you ever felt like you should communicate a certain way, even when it didn’t feel natural? Maybe you’ve watched other speakers and found yourself trying to copy them… only to feel drained or even, dare I say it… inauthentic afterward. You’re not alone - and it’s exactly why authentic communication is one of the most powerful skills you can cultivate as a speaker. A thoughtful piece in Toastmasters International Magazine explored this experience by highlighting real st

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “How did that go so sideways?,” chances are perception and perspective were at play. They’re closely related, often confused, and at the root of many everyday communication breakdowns. The good news is that once you understand the difference, small shifts can lead to big changes in how you connect with others. Let’s start with a simple breakdown of the difference between perception and perspective. Perception is what y

Communication is often described as a skill, but connection is an experience. It is the point where all the work you put into crafting your message finally meets the people who need to hear it. In the SPEAC Framewor k™ , Connect is the outcome of showing up with clarity, confidence and authenticity. It is the final phase, and in many ways, it is the most powerful one. When you reach this point, you have already done the deep work. You've shaped your strategy, prepared with in