The Great Big Voice Blog
Reflections on finding your voice, strengthening your presence,
and communicating what matters most, on stage and beyond.
Communication
How You Show Up: Why Consistency Is the Key to Professional Presence
How You Show Up: Why Consistency Is the Key to Professional Presence As a young actress in New York City many years ago, I had plenty of enthusiasm and raw talent. What I didn’t have was consistency. Especially in auditions. […]
How Effective Communication Builds Bridges (Not Breaks Them) in Customer Service
Discover how effective communication in customer service can build trust instead of breaking it. Learn key communication mistakes and how to fix them. I’ve been traveling a lot for work lately which means plenty of time in airports and on […]
Master Your Conversations: How Verbal Frameworks Boost Confidence and Clarity
Support Your Conversations with Verbal Frameworks If you’ve ever worked with me in training or coaching, you know I love frameworks—tools that structure your words and the thinking behind them. Why? Because they help you communicate with intention and perform […]
Imagine Your Last Lecture: Create a Signature Keynote That Truly Matters
Imagine Your Last Lecture Ron had built, bought, and sold multiple successful businesses. Now, in the middle of his life and career, he felt a persistent pull to do something new: create a signature keynote presentation that captured the lessons […]
Stop Beating Yourself Up After a Presentation
Back when I was a young actor in NYC, I heard someone describe auditions in a way that made every performer in the room nod in painful recognition: Sound familiar?That post-talk, post-pitch, post-presentation spiral where you mentally beat yourself into […]
Stop Blaming Your Audience: How to Take Ownership of Your Presence and Speak With Confidence
Stop Blaming Your Audience: “What a terrible audience!” If you’ve ever whispered those words after a presentation, keynote, or meeting, you’re not alone. Maybe you didn’t say it out loud, but the thought was there: They were unresponsive.They didn’t get […]
How to Manage Anxiety and Recharge After Presenting
Public Speaking Tips for Introverts Public Speaking Tips for Introverts: When “Alice,” a CFO I once coached, told me why she dreaded giving presentations, she didn’t hesitate. “It’s because I’m an introvert. I’d much rather talk one-on-one than get up […]
4 Ways Speakers Can Stay On Time
How to Avoid Being a Time Gobbler How to Avoid Being a Time Gobbler -> Have you ever been in the audience when a speaker runs long, pushing the entire program behind schedule? Or maybe you’ve been on stage yourself, […]
Public Speaking Training in the Age of AI: Why It Still Matters
Is public speaking training even necessary anymore? “You know what I’ve been hearing a lot lately?” Eleni, now that AI can help people write presentations, is public speaking training even necessary anymore? My short answer? Absolutely. AI Can Give You […]
How to Build a Compelling Investor Pitch That Gets Funded
After more than two decades helping entrepreneurs craft investor pitches, I’ve noticed one glaring trend: Most pitches don’t grab me. They don’t spark curiosity, stir emotion, or get me to care. And if I don’t care, I don’t listen—and I […]
9 Ways to Sustain Charismatic Presence & Presentation Skills
Charisma isn’t a one-time performance—it’s a lifelong practice. Charismatic presence for speakers. If you’re striving to become a compelling communicator, you already know that delivering a standout presentation takes work. But the real magic lies in sustaining your presence and […]
Charismatic Presence
Babies have it. Great actors do too. Let’s face it: You can’t take your eyes off of a baby. That’s because they’re completely and comfortably present in their tiny little body, inhabiting the moment like it’s nobody’s business. They’ve got […]
Boost Engagement in Virtual Presentations
How to Get Your Zoom Audience to Turn On Their Cameras. Virtual presentation engagement tips. Have you ever delivered a virtual training, webinar, or talk and been met with… silence and blank screens? It’s disheartening. You log on, bring your […]
The Power of Genuine Human Connection | Presence & Compassion in Action
Genuine human connection… I knew something was wrong the moment she crumpled into the plastic airport lounge chair across from me. Her eyes were red and swollen. A crumpled tissue trembled in her hand. But the real giveaway was the […]
Like Peas & Carrots, Speaking & Leading Go Together
One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, “Do high-level leaders really need to be great speakers?” As a presence, presentation, and performance coach with over two decades of experience working with senior executives, my answer is a resounding, […]