Have you ever attended a keynote that truly wowed you—one that stood out, engaged the audience, and provided an unforgettable experience? Let’s face it, most keynotes do the job, but very few deliver that multidimensional magic. In today’s episode, I sit down with Julia Korn, the founder and CEO of The Authenticity Guide and a recent client.  We worked closely together to create her new keynote, from the content to the magic touches that made it a 10 out of 10. How did she do it? That’s...

Have you ever wondered how you can improve your speaking skills and truly connect with your audience? I’m joined by Wendy McManus and Tara Lassiter, who recently attended our 1-day in-person speaking workshop in Orlando, Florida. They share their stories, lessons learned, and the transformations they experienced, all within a single day. We talk about: Why in-person workshops provide a unique opportunity to grow as a speaker. The power of immediate feedback and how it helps you...

Today’s episode it’s all about finding and developing your Big Idea for your thought leadership and public speaking. Ideas are incredibly powerful; they can live on for years, centuries, even millennia. Ideas spark movements for political and social change. Ideas help us as humans understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us Your idea doesn’t have to be something people have never heard of before; that’s unlikely as most things have been talked about before - and that’s ok! As...

In this episode, our lead speaking coach Diane Diaz speaks with Michelle Massman, a longtime entrepreneur and graduate of our Thought Leader Academy, who shares her journey from “stuck” to “unstoppable” through storytelling and public speaking. You’ll hear Michelle’s candid stories—from launching unexpected ventures like The Culinary Studio to her partnership with a music group—that reveal her resilience and passion for following her intuition. As Diane and Michelle discuss the power of...

The election clearly did not go the way many of us wanted. I was on the TV news once again on Election Night and the morning after. The outcome wasn't the shock it was in 2016, but it's profoundly disappointing. Join me and Diane Diaz for this conversation on our thoughts and how we’re moving forward (recorded on Wednesday, November 6 at 11 am EST). We too are sad and frustrated but we also want to remind you of the power of your voice and your community. It's easy to jump to the...

We’re diving into what makes a personal brand truly transformational. If you’re working to build a brand that’s memorable and impactful, whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone looking to expand your influence, this episode is for you. In this episode, I share three essential elements that go into creating a transformational personal brand: being remembered, relevant, and relational  I’ll walk you through how to identify what makes you unique, why staying in tune with trends...

As an entrepreneur or professional, you know the power of having a clear and compelling brand voice that resonates with your audience. You want your message to attract the right clients, opportunities, and partners - but knowing how to express your authentic self can feel like a challenge. Many women struggle with feeling like they need to fit a mold: too professional, not bold enough, or maybe even too much. The fear of sounding "wrong" or "inauthentic" holds many of us back from fully...

If you’ve ever wondered how to land those coveted speaking and panel spots at events, this episode is for you! I’m thrilled to have Johanna (Jo) Murillo join me to share her insider knowledge on how event organizers and producers choose speakers and panelists.  Jo is an event producer extraordinaire based in Orlando, Florida, where I live. She runs Wow Brand Studios, a full-service agency specializing in event production, brand strategy, and helping business owners stand out through...

In your presentations and keynotes, you want to take your audience on a journey of discovery, sharing with them your personal insights and stories along the way. One of the best ways to do this is to frame your content as stages, lessons, or a framework, such as an alliteration or acronym.  Want to see what this looks like in an actual talk? You’ll hear three of our recent Thought Leader Academy grads, Wendy McManus, Nelly Some, and Heather Burright, deliver a 10-minute version of the...

When you facilitate workshops and presentations for visibility and lead generation, we want to make sure you get the results you’re looking for. It’s perfectly fine to do free or low-cost workshops, as long as the audience aligns with the types of clients you work with, you have an offer that would be of interest to them, AND you’re willing to make that offer. So often, we hear from women that they don’t want to sell at these types of workshops or presentations. But, that’s the reason to...

Whether you’re running a nonprofit, leading a business, or building your personal brand, this episode is filled with practical tips and examples on how to use storytelling to make an impact.   We dive deep into the art and impact of storytelling with Ashley Vann, founder of the Victory Cup Initiative.    Ashley shares how her organization empowers nonprofits to tell compelling stories that connect with their audiences, inspire action, and drive meaningful change.    We discuss how...

Is public speaking an elusive talent reserved for a select few, or is it a powerful tool we can all master? In this thought-provoking episode, we challenge the long-held belief that public speaking is only for the “naturally gifted.”  I’m thrilled to have Dr. Karen Corbin back on the podcast, as we dive deep into the art of communication and explore how anyone, from scientists to young professionals, can harness their voice to make a meaningful impact. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious or...

You're going to get so much out of this episode with 7 essential questions to ask yourself as you refresh your brand story. Whether you’re leaving a corporate job to become an entrepreneur, looking to expand your existing brand, aspiring to be a speaker or thought leader, or a corporate professional ready to transition to the next level, this conversation is for you. My guest is Elayne Fluker, who is an experienced coach to executive women and a prolific podcaster (over 700 episodes), with...

What if your personal story could be more than just a story — what if it could spark a movement? In this episode, I’m joined by Allison Walsh, a speaker, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate who has done just that. From her beginnings as Miss Florida to building a platform that empowers women and advocates for mental health, Allison has used her voice to create a ripple effect far beyond herself.  Tune in as we explore how you, too, can transform your story into a powerful movement...

We recently (August 2024) hosted a 90-minute in-person workshop on personal branding for ATHENA NextGen alumni in Orlando, Florida.  It was a lot of fun and the women who attended loved seeing how all their threads connect in their personal brand. We also had them define their brand voice using our Brand Voice Canvas framework and create their personal brand action plan using our Pillars of Your Personal Brand  framework. Along with this workshop we facilitated, we’ve done 9 client VIP Days...

As a speaker, writing a book gives you additional authority and credibility.  Event organizers love speakers who have books because it shows that the speaker understands their material. But, how do you know what's a good idea for an entire book? On the flip side, if you're an author and public speaking isn't something you're jumping up and down to do, how can you build your platform to include speaking, even if you're an introvert? My guest is my book coach Tiffany Hawk, who is a...

The Democratic National Convention is being held in Chicago this week and many Americans will be re-introduced to V.P. Kamala Harris when she delivers her speech on Thursday night. I have a background in local Democratic politics and have always been a strong supporter of women running for office. Earlier this summer, we held in-person workshops for women who are running in the Central Florida area where we helped them with their public speaking and storytelling. It was a lot of fun and it...

If you're a high-performing woman who works in corporate and you’ve struggled to use your voice in an impactful way, this conversation is for you! Our lead speaking coach Diane Diaz sits down with Laura Camacho, PhD, an executive communications strategist and host of the Speak Up podcast. Diane and Laura dive into the realities of climbing the corporate ladder and the common pitfalls that hold many back, particularly women.  Drawing from personal experiences and years of coaching, Laura...

This is going to be a fun episode and hopefully get you thinking differently about the presentations and talks you give, whether you’re speaking to audiences of 20, 50, 100, 500, or more. What does it mean to "break the fourth wall" and should you do that as a speaker? The fourth wall is the imaginary wall at the front of the stage that separates the fictional world (the performance) from real life (the audience). When you attend a play or a movie, you're an outsider watching the...

I’m thrilled to be joined by Maria Flynn, a graduate of our Thought Leader Academy and now the founder and CEO of Ambiologix, a consulting and training company that helps entrepreneurs advance their innovation, grow their potential, and build their businesses. Maria’s journey from the CEO of Orbis Biosciences, which had a successful acquisition, to becoming an Amazon bestselling author and keynote speaker, is nothing short of inspiring.  We delve into her innovative framework on maximizing...

If your ideas feel a bit - or a lot - messy and muddy, you’re far from alone. This is the #1 challenge I hear from women we work with. We're too close to our own ideas so we're not sure what our audiences will be interested in. We feel self-doubt or resistance that causes analysis paralysis. We try to put too much information into our talks (hello, expert trap!). This is why we are your idea whisperers. In this episode, I share: Why it’s hard to get clarity on our own ideas Why you...

If you want to get more speaking engagements, this episode is packed with specific strategies you can use, no matter where you’re at in your speaking journey. Our guest is Cindy Rowe, a professional speaker, owner of a marketing company, and a graduate of our Thought Leader Academy. Cindy has been on fire with her speaking for the past two years, so we invited her back on the podcast to share how she’s been getting momentum on the speaking circuit. Our lead speaking coach Diane Diaz and...

Are you an introvert? If so, do you wonder if you are at a disadvantage as a speaker? There’s a common misperception that most speakers are extroverts. But, from my admittedly very unscientific survey, many speakers I know are introverts. We think that as introverts we won’t be as engaging or charismatic or energetic. Perhaps we’ve seen speakers we admire and we assume they’re extroverts. I’m an introvert and I grew up quite shy, yet I found that public speaking was a great way for me to...

We’re continuing our new podcast series on Executive Speaking! This episode is full of inspiration and practical insights if you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills, embrace transformation, and make meaningful connections.  Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the importance of showing up. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your career, her wisdom will resonate and empower you to take bold steps towards your...