Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

I was listening to a well-known, very popular male podcaster a few months ago and he put me over the edge when he said something like this (I'm paraphrasing): "Some people tell me I should have more diverse guests - women and people of color - but I don't think that should be a criteria for who I invite. I want the best person on a given topic no matter their gender or race." And at that moment, I hit stop, unsubscribed, and deleted his show from my podcast app. 🤯​  (You'll hear who it was and more in this episode.) I do have to thank him for partly inspiring the #ChoosingWomensVoices challenge we're running this month to raise our awareness of the voices we listen to (and read), from podcasts and books to movies, tv, and news to our specific industry. How many are women? Is there diversity within those women's voices? Are there women podcasters/authors/experts you can find to augment (or replace) the male voices? You may be wondering: why does it matter if the content I listen to or read is from a woman or a man? That’s what we’re talking about on the podcast as well as during the challenge. In this episode, Diane Diaz and I talk about: What’s just as important as visibility is our actual voices as women and what we’re saying: “If you can see it *and* hear it, you can be it.” Although there are more women in higher-profile positions than ever, we're still hitting that glass ceiling. Why is that? There are many factors, but one is literally the voices we hear. The history of women being shamed, ridiculed, threatened, even harmed and killed for speaking up. This continues even today: GamerGate, harassment on social media, women in politics. Women’s actual voices are criticized as being shrill, nagging, whining, too angry, too emotional or not emotional enough. The positive impact that collective women’s voices can have, as we've seen in movements like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and #TimesUp.  What we can do about it by being more intentional with the voices we choose. Unsilencing ourselves and developing the confidence to do so. Join the Challenge! To sign up for our #ChoosingWomensVoices challenge, go to https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge or text the word SPEAKING to 33-777. During the challenge, you'll receive an email prompt each day for 7 days with a short activity, along with recommendations. We'll also be asking you to share the women's voices you've found during the challenge. You can start the challenge any time - we’ll be repeating the 7 days each week in March. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox, joined in this episode by Diane Diaz, one of our speaking coaches. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/162 Sign up for our 7-day challenge #ChoosingWomensVoices at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge or text the word SPEAKING to 33-777. Connect on social media: LinkedIn = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/carolmorgancox  Twitter = https://www.twitter.com/carolmorgancox  Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power Episode 94: Speaking and Showing Up Powerfully as Women Episode 97: Thinking Bigger: I Get Coached On-Air by Geraldine Carter   JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Join me for an insightful conversation with my guest Latesha Byrd, a speaker, podcaster, and the founder of Byrd Career Consulting, a consulting agency that provides professional and executive career coaching.  Latesha and I talk about: Figuring out what you want to be known for The identity shift that Latesha went through when she left one career to go into an entirely different field Why and how Latesha re-birthed her own brand and what the results have been Mindset strategies we can use to put ourselves out there: “Marry the process, not the outcome” Really good tips on how Latesha diversifies her social media content How Latesha gets speaking engagements and how she handles requests for free speaking Pricing and negotiating your speaking fees Join Our Challenge! Women's voices should carry equal weight, authority, and expertise. Join us in the #ChoosingWomensVoices 7-day challenge to bring awareness to and expand who we listen to, from podcasts and books to news, movies, and more. Sign up for free at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge/ or text the word SPEAKING to 33-777. About My Guest: As a career designer, speaker and consultant, Latesha Byrd - Founder and CEO of Byrd Career Consulting, is on a mission to help millennial professionals turn their dreams into careers that will allow them to live life on their own terms. Her work is centered at the intersection of career empowerment and life visioning. She founded Byrd Career Consulting, a consulting agency that provides resume makeovers, LinkedIn makeovers, interview coaching and executive career coaching. She partners with professional organizations, nonprofits, universities and corporations to deliver keynotes and workshops centered around people engagement and upward mobility, and provides coaching, with a range of clients including Black Enterprise, United Negro College Fund, Wake Forest University and the Urban League. She’s also an Adjunct Faculty at the North Carolina A&T State University, and a Certified Life and Career Coach. She also hosts a weekly career advice podcast with Living Corporate, The Link Up With Latesha.   About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/161 Latesha’s website: https://www.lateshabyrd.com/ Living Corporate, a podcast for black and brown professionals at work. Sign up for our 7-day challenge #ChoosingWomensVoices at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge or text the word SPEAKING to 33-777.   Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz  Latesha Byrd (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/lateshabyrd/ Connect on Twitter: Carol Cox = https://www.twitter.com/carolmorgancox Latesha Byrd (guest) = https://www.twitter.com/latesha_byrd Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 68: Getting Paid to Speak and Negotiating Speaker Fees Episode 105: Tips for Speakers: From Negotiating Your Fee to Opening Your Talk Episode 132: 7 Reasons Why You Aren't Getting Paid to Speak JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

How would you like a bucket of leads at your business doorstep every day? Sounds great, right? Well, maybe not. This conversation with sales expert Reena Philpot is going to revolutionize the way you look at sales. I’ve gotten to know Reena over the past 2 years, and we worked together a few months ago to create her signature talk. The sales insights and approaches she shared with me while we created her talk were so profound that I started using them myself - and have seen the results. In this episode, Reena and I talk about: Why more leads coming to you is *not* the answer Why and how Reena hand selects 90% of her clients The power of truly identifying the need a prospect has - Reena shares a great story about her dad The difference between marketing and sales Common sales mindset issues and how to shift them for higher sales Feeling good about the sales process Join Our Challenge! Women's voices should carry equal weight, authority, and expertise. Join us in the #ChoosingWomensVoices 7-day challenge to bring awareness to and expand who we listen to, from podcasts and books to news, movies, and more. Sign up for free at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge/.   About My Guest: Reena Philpot is a sales coach with 25 years of experience in sales. She and her husband own and operate a successful office equipment dealership in Kentucky that they started in their garage 17 years ago. Reena enjoys working with others helping them become successful and confident with their sales process. She believes it’s better to pick your clients when possible rather than waiting on them to come to you.   About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/160  Reena’s website: https://reenaphilpot.com/ Sign up for our 7-day challenge #ChoosingWomensVoices at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge or text the word SPEAKING to 33-777.   Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz  Reena Philpot (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/reena-philpot/ Get our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 133: Authentic Selling at Your Speaking Engagements with Nikki Rausch [Money Series]   JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

How do you know when you’re ready for the next big thing, to make a change? Do you feel that you need to learn more, become more of an expert? Or are you the type of person who’s willing to learn while leaping? I’m joined by my friend and incredible coach Stephanie Harter, who’s made a few leaps herself over the years. We talk about what prompted her career changes, whether she felt ready, and what mindset strategies helped her and could help you. Stephanie has great energy, so you’ll be inspired by this conversation! Women's voices should carry equal weight, authority, and expertise. Join us in the #ChoosingWomensVoices 7-day challenge to bring awareness to and expand who we listen to, from podcasts and books to news, movies, and more. Sign up for free at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge/.   About My Guest: Stephanie Harter is the co-instructor of the online Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certificate course, award-winning author of the book The Skinny On Eating Like You Give a Damn, and the host of the popular Eating Like You Give a Damn podcast where she interviews experts, innovators, and celebrities about the global movement towards a plant-based future.  As a vegan visionary and certified coach, Stephanie works with vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based coaches and wellness professionals to set the foundation to their online practice, earn a full-time income while living a freedom-based lifestyle, and make a big impact in the world for people, animals and our planet.  Stephanie is also a sought-after speaker on vegan leadership and business development for health coaches. You’ll likely find her raising everyone’s energy at a personal growth event, helping out at a farm animal sanctuary, or kickboxing at her local gym in St. Petersburg, FL.    About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/159/ Stephanie’s website: https://www.eatinglikeyougiveadamn.com/. Stephanie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatinglikeyougiveadamn/ Listen to Stephanie’s podcast “Eating Like You Give a Damn” https://www.eatinglikeyougiveadamn.com/ Carol’s interview on Stephanie’s podcast: http://eatinglikeyougiveadamn.buzzsprout.com/377237/1632292-12-speaking-tips-for-epic-vegan-outreach-carol-cox Sign up for our 7-day challenge #ChoosingWomensVoices at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/challenge or text the word SPEAKING to 33-777. Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz  Get our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Public speaking can certainly bring about nerves and uncertainty, whether you’re a new speaker or you’ve been speaking a while and want to try something new on stage or with a larger audience. In this episode, Diane Diaz and I talk about: The improv class we’re taking and what we’ve learned so far that can help you Our own personal experiences of feeling uncertain about new experiences How Diane is approaching hiking part of the Appalachian Trail next year (bears, oh my!) How I’m approaching writing my book proposal and book this year (self-doubt, for sure!) How some of our clients have approached dealing with uncertainty and fear The benefits of uncertainty - that’s where growth comes from   Interestingly, the week we recorded this episode, I had received an email newsletter from Leo Babauta of Zen Habits about uncertainty.  Here’s what he wrote: “The first mindset shift to consider is that uncertainty is not bad, or something to be avoided. It’s a natural part of doing anything meaningful. In fact, feeling uncertainty is a great sign that you’re doing something challenging and meaningful. “The second mindset shift is to see an uncertain path as a practice opportunity. It’s not something to run from, but a place to stay, so that we can grow, learn, and create.” Embrace trying new things and having new experiences, both on stage and off.   What’s something new you want to do this year? Let me know on LinkedIn!   Speaking of LinkedIn, have you purchased our LinkedIn for Speakers masterclass yet? Users are loving it! Here’s a recent review: “For months, I have moved the ‘learn to leverage LinkedIn’ task from one month to the next. Finding a class with the content, expertise and price point to fit my needs was a challenge. Finally success - I found Diane! She did a wonderful job focusing on the how's and why's of each topic. Her modules were well-organized to build upon one another and just the right length to absorb and apply the material. Because of the LinkedIn Masterclass, I am ready to leverage the platform to build my brand and grow my business. I could not be more pleased.” Get instant access to the online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox, joined in this episode by our top speaking coach Diane Diaz. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/158 Get our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz Book Writing Resources Mentioned: The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book by Cynthia Morris Book Proposal Academy with Joelle Hahn Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 71: Using Humor in Your Talks Will Get You More Speaking Gigs with Kathy Klotz-Guest Episode 127: Developing Confidence in Public Speaking [Confidence Series] Episode 129: From Fear of Speaking to Keynote Speaker in 2 Years with Dr. Charmaine Gregory [Confidence Series] Episode 131: Pitching and Negotiating for Bigger Speaking Opportunities with Maureen Taylor [Confidence Series] JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

I’m sharing 7 books and 4 podcast series that have impacted me personally and professionally because they’ve made me think about being a speaker (and an entrepreneur) in a different way. You won’t find these books or podcasts in the business or marketing section. They’re also not about public speaking tips. Instead, they can add depth and dimension to you as a speaker, so you’re more captivating, engaging, and memorable. I’ve listed the names of the books and podcasts below.  To hear what I’ve learned from them as a speaker, listen in. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read any of these books or listened to these podcasts. Let me know on LinkedIn!   About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/157 Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz Casey Gromer (client) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseygromer/ Books Mentioned: "The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism" by Olivia Fox Cabane "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters" by Priya Parker "The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life" by Lynne Twist "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez "Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done" by Laura Vanderkam "The Awakened Woman: A Guide for Remembering & Igniting Your Sacred Dreams" by Dr. Tererai Trent "The Signature of All Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert   Podcasts Mentioned: The Jungle Prince 1619 The Dream Ordinary Equality JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

What does “being visible” mean? It means being seen and being in public view.  As entrepreneurs, we want to be seen, so people know what we do and how we can help them. Visibility strategies, including being a panelist and speaker, posting on LinkedIn, and writing for publications, is what my guest Janice Gassam has successfully done over the past few years (even as an introvert - and we talk about this). From graduating with her Ph.D. in Applied Organizational Psychology to becoming a sought-after speaker and a Senior Contributing Writer to Forbes, Janice has quickly elevated her visibility. But, “visible” also means something that’s apparent or obvious (from dictionary.com). It seems obvious that companies should improve diversity among their employees - and many are working towards this. But, they have blindspots and tend to be reactive rather than proactive, particularly when it comes to inclusion, leadership, and retention. Janice works with companies on diversity, inclusion, and equity, so we talk about this important topic too.  About My Guest: Janice Gassam, Ph.D. is a consultant, who created BWG Business Solutions, LLC, to help organizations create environments that are equitable for all employees. Janice facilitates workshops, delivers keynote speeches and “Awareness Talks” to spark important dialogue and develop strategies for more workplace inclusion. She is the host of the Diversity Dinner Dialogue in New York City, which is a free workshop on diversity, equity, and inclusion-related issues that companies and individuals are facing. She is a senior contributing writer for Forbes and a contributing writer for Fast Company. Janice is a TEDx speaker, having delivered a talk on emotional intelligence. Janice has a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and she is a professor of Business Management.   About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/156 Forbes article: “How Carol Cox Is Helping Women Speakers Get Paid What They Deserve”   Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin/in/dianediaz Janice Gassam = https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicegassamphd/ Get our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  Join our Master Your Speaking program at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 84: Less Is More: Developing Your Visibility Strategy with Wendy Zanders [Coaching] Episode 91: Visibility Works: From Local Speaking to TED.com to a Book with Tammy Lally Episode 102: Getting Local Media and Publicity to Expand Your Visibility with Amanda Berlin Episode 126: Gain Skills and Visibility By Serving on a Board with Shireen Motara JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Public speaking has undoubtedly been one of the key factors in building 3 different businesses over the last 18 years. You’ll hear the lessons and mistakes I learned, so you can use speaking effectively and strategically as part of your overall marketing strategy, whether you’re newer in your business or years in. Why does public speaking work so well as an entrepreneur? Being a speaker gives you instant credibility and authority. Putting your message out there gives you invaluable feedback (real-time market research). It generates leads and clients and fast tracks the sales process. It grows your network and the number of people who know what you do. If you’d like to make speaking and visibility a focus this year, we’d love to work with you in our Master Your Speaking program. It’s a combination of one-on-one individual coaching where you work with us to create your signature talk in a Virtual VIP Day plus you get bi-weekly group calls for 3 months as you learn how to position, promote, and market yourself to get better speaking engagements, including paid ones. We’re accepting applications now for the few spots we have left. (This is a small program - max 12 women.) To learn more about Master Your Speaking and apply today (no credit card required), go to https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.    About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and leaders create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/155 ENROLLMENT IS CLOSING SOON! Apply for our Master Your Speaking coaching program at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.  Get our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin/in/dianediaz    Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 116: 16 Ways You Can Use Your Signature Talk Episode 132: 7 Reasons Why You Aren’t Getting Paid to Speak Episode 136: How to Use the Feedback Form for Higher Quality Lead Generation [Money Series] Episode 145: You Need to Create a Framework [Frameworks Series] JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

What trends are on the horizon that you can capitalize on to get better speaking engagements and to get better results from them? How can you improve your presentations so the audience raves about you and you get invited to do more (including paid speaking)? How can you be memorable as a speaker? In this episode, you’ll learn 3 trends you can apply to your presentation content and delivery that can make the difference between a so-so speaking engagement and one that makes an impact. After having worked with over 150 clients during the past 4 years to create their presentations, workshops and keynotes, attended and spoken at many conferences and events, and talked to event organizers, I’m keenly attuned to what sets apart good speakers from great ones - those who’ve mastered speaking as a communication medium. What I mean by trends are not fads or cliches or gimmicks.  Trends are like currents or waves of energy that move through our society and affect everything from business and the economy to popular culture and media as well as our politics. As speakers and leaders, our talks have more of an impact if our audiences can see the bigger picture of what’s affecting them and the world around them. Curious what these 3 big trends are? Listen in! Are you ready to master your speaking? Our next Master Your Speaking program starts in mid-January and enrollment is open right now. You get to work one-on-one with us to create your signature talk PLUS you get 3 months of group coaching to learn how to position, promote, and market yourself to get better speaking engagements, including paid ones, and even your dream one. To learn more about the program and enroll today, go to https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.  If you have questions and want to make sure it’s the right fit, schedule a call with us. There’s a button to do so on that same page or email hello@speakingyourbrand.com.  About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/154 ENROLLMENT IS OPEN! Join our Master Your Speaking coaching program at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.  Get our LinkedIn for Speakers online masterclass at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/linkedin.  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin/in/dianediaz  Maureen Taylor (client - The Photo Detective) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/photodetective/ Marie Fiebach (client) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariefiebach/ Teresa McCloy (client - executive coach) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresamccloy/ Laura Gallaher (client - TEDx talk) = https://youtu.be/RUxT8wuDsG Danielle Medrano (client - cognitive performance coach) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-medrano/   Book “The Art of Gathering” by Priya Parker.   Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 101: Public Speaking Trends for 2019 Episode 145: You Need to Create a Framework JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

Do you feel like you have too much content in your presentations? Too many good things you can share with your audiences and you’re not sure how to select what to include? Most of us feel this way - and it’s our job as speakers to identify the most essential elements and convey them in a way the audience can understand and apply. One way to do this is to thread a story throughout your talk, where the people (could be you, a client, or someone else) in the story, the situation they’re in, the challenges they face, and how they overcome them becomes the lessons the audience learns. In this on-air coaching call, my guest Amber Hawley and I do exactly this as we go through her signature talk. We identify a client story Amber can use and then play with the timeline to keep it interesting. Amber recently graduated from our Master Your Speaking program. Our next Master Your Speaking program starts in mid-January and enrollment is open right now. You get to work one-on-one with us to create your signature talk PLUS you get 3 months of group coaching to learn how to position, promote, and market yourself to get better speaking engagements, including paid ones, and even your dream one. To learn more about the program and enroll today, go to https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.  If you have questions and want to make sure it’s the right fit, schedule a call with us. There’s a button to do so on that same page or email hello@speakingyourbrand.com.  About My Guest: Amber Hawley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of a group private practice. Amber is also co-host of the My Biz Bestie Podcast, Founder of CouplesFix, which provides relationship support to high achieving couples, and is a speaker. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/153 Connect with Amber: http://www.amberhawley.com  Listen to Amber’s podcasts “Couples Fix” and “My Biz Bestie.” ENROLLMENT IS OPEN! Join our Master Your Speaking coaching program at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mastery.  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 82: How to Create an Emotional Connection with Your Audience with Leanne Kabat [Coaching] Episode 137: The Missing Ingredients in Your Stories [Storytelling Series] Episode 139: Selecting the Best Stories to Include in Your Signature Talk with Marie Fiebach [Storytelling Series] JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.