Member since May 2019
I help leaders become master influencers by becoming confident, persuasive speakers, whether on stage, on camera, or just on the phone. Through 1:1 coaching, team training or speaking engagements, I enable clients to see how their current communication style is either strengthening or undermining their desired goals and reputation, and empower them to make small changes that make a big difference, and get better results.
As a linguist, I "reverse engineer" clients' communication styles to figure out which micro-behaviors are projecting the wrong image. Then I show them how to change the their message content, to make it more relevant and digestible, and their delivery, so they become more personally relatable and inspiring to their audience, all while being 100% authentic.
In my talks, I combine:
- a FRAMEWORK for how to speak in order to establish CREDIBILITY as the cornerstone of Leadership
- Simple ACTIVITIES to let participants (even in big groups) EXPERIENCE for themselves how small changes make a big difference
- personal anecdotes, client stories and HUMOR
- and a LIVE ACTION COACHING DEMO.
In the Live Action Coaching Demo, I bringing volunteers from the audience up on stage with me to share a leadership image/communication challenge they're having, and allow me to coach them right there on stage in front of everyone else. We'll make tiny adjustments to message framing and delivery, and in a matter of minutes, two things happen:
1. The audience sees undeniable evidence of how the right small changes can INSTANTLY make an enormous difference in the speakers effectiveness, relatability and power; and
2. The speaker gets IMMEDIATE validation of the value of those changes, because when it happens, the audience ALWAYS bursts into spontaneous applause and cheers.
What could be more powerful proof than that?
#AUTHOR - "SPEAKING TO INFLUENCE: MASTERING YOUR LEADERSHIP VOICE"
I love giving people that "A-Ha" moment, when they suddenly realize where they've been getting in their own way, and that they have the power to take control of their image, reputation, and impact by becoming more charismatic, effective speakers and leaders. They get over their fears of public speaking. They make peace among teams where there is conflict. They inspire others. They find themselves and their authentic voice. They get promoted, land big clients, feel newly inspired and inspire others. They master my Three C's of Vocal Executive Presence, and Command the room, Connect with the audience and Close the deal.
In 2013 I was invited to speak at TEDxPenn. My topic was "Want to Sound Like a Leader? Start By Saying Your Name Right," focusing on leadership, speech and credibility. To my surprise, it went viral, and has over 7,ooo,ooo Views! People have contacted me from all over the world, wanting to learn to speak more confidently and effectively, to have greater impact. Of all the things I teach in my workshops and other programs, by far the most cited and requested piece is teaching people how to say their own names! (see the YouTube link below.)
I was a university professor in education and linguistics. Then one day I read "Lean In," by Sheryl Sandberg, and was surprised to learn that there was still such a gender gap in corporate America. So at networking events I started polling women to see if their experience reflected the data in the book -- and it did. Since my research was related to speech and voice, I asked, "Do you think there would be an interest in a workshop on something like 'Vocal Empowerment for Women in Leadership'?" The response was overwhelming. A few weeks later I held the first workshop, and nearly 100 women showed up from all different industries and positions -- women I had never met before, but who heard of the event through simple word of mouth, and came because they believed this skill set was the missing link to their professional empowerment. Although now I work with men and women equally, that day, my company, Vocal Impact Productions was born.
In 2013 I was invited to speak at TEDxPenn. My topic was "Want to Sound Like a Leader? Start By Saying Your Name Right," focusing on leadership, speech and credibility. To my surprise, it went viral, and has over 7,ooo,ooo Views! People have contacted me from all over the world, wanting to learn to speak more confidently and effectively, to have greater impact. Of all the things I teach in my workshops and other programs, by far the most cited and requested piece is teaching people how to say their own names! (see the YouTube link below.)
I was a university professor in education and linguistics. Then one day I read "Lean In," by Sheryl Sandberg, and was surprised to learn that there was still such a gender gap in corporate America. So at networking events I started polling women to see if their experience reflected the data in the book -- and it did. Since my research was related to speech and voice, I asked, "Do you think there would be an interest in a workshop on something like 'Vocal Empowerment for Women in Leadership'?" The response was overwhelming. A few weeks later I held the first workshop, and nearly 100 women showed up from all different industries and positions -- women I had never met before, but who heard of the event through simple word of mouth, and came because they believed this skill set was the missing link to their professional empowerment. Although now I work with men and women equally, that day, my company, Vocal Impact Productions was born.
