The first time I saw a woman truly command a room, I was captivated. She wasn’t the loudest person in the room, but there was a quiet power in the way she spoke. Every word she said carried weight. Her voice seemed to cut through the noise, and in that moment, I realized that leadership isn’t about volume; it’s about conviction. It’s about speaking up for what matters, even when your voice shakes.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Malala Yousafzai: “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” That idea has stayed with me, reminding me that we don’t need permission to speak—we just need the courage to open our mouth. 

Every woman has something to say, a unique perspective that the world needs to hear. Yet so many of us hesitate, held back by doubts or fears of being judged. What if I’m not good enough? What if no one listens? These questions run through our minds, but the truth is, the only way to...

Perfection is an alluring (yet, completely unattainable) goal. The idea of delivering a flawless speech, where every word lands perfectly and every gesture is just right, can feel like the ultimate achievement. But the pursuit of perfection often creates more anxiety than confidence, and it can distance you from the very people you’re trying to reach: your audience.

In my own journey, I’ve found that audiences don’t connect with perfection; they connect with authenticity. They’re not looking for a perfect performance—they’re looking for someone who feels real, relatable, and human. Let’s explore why authenticity matters so much in public speaking and how letting go of perfection can transform your speaking experience.

When we strive too hard for perfection, we set ourselves up for frustration. Don’t get me wrong, you should certainly strive for excellence but know the difference between it and perfection. When you focus only on...

The first time I stepped onto a stage, (and if I’m being honest, sometimes even now…) I felt like an imposter. As an introvert, the spotlight felt unnatural and as a perfectionist (now in recovery if you know what I mean), I always had that nagging voice saying, “you’re not good enough…the others are better.” 

As far back as I can remember, I preferred quiet moments of reflection to boisterous gatherings, and yet, I would get the biggest rush when given the chance to speak, sing, or play my instruments in front of a crowd. Looking back, I have discovered that from that first chance to speak in the 6th grade (D.A.R.E. graduation circa 1995) and in the years since, is that introverts like me have a unique edge when it comes to public speaking. What we think of as a negative trait (introversion) is really a superpower when it comes to doing things outside of our comfort zone, like speaking!

I know, you are currently thinking, “Um, what?...