The Great Big Voice Blog
Reflections on finding your voice, strengthening your presence,
and communicating what matters most, on stage and beyond.
Women in Leadership
Managing Interrupting and Being Interrupted
When it comes to communication and presentation skills, I’m passionate about coaching and training everyone equally. Today, though, I want to focus on an area that’s particularly relevant for women in my audience: the art of interrupting and holding your […]
Dance With What You’re Given: A Lesson In Grace From Miley Cyrus
It was New Year’s Eve, 2021, and superstar performer, Miley Cyrus, took the stage in her live TV special, singing and dancing while rockin’ a fabulous teeny tiny silver skirt and matching teeny tiny halter top. All was well. Until […]
Take the Risk to Advocate for Yourself
I was in my twenties, pursuing my dream of being a professional actress in New York City. Auditions—and rejections—were challenging and discouraging. To fuel my bruised creative spirit, I took supportive acting classes; and I soaked in every piece of […]
Sometimes You Just Have to Say Something
A snippet from my new book out now,Claim the Stage! (Note: The following is an excerpt from the preface of my new book, Claim The Stage! I chose to write this book for women like you– and some of you have even […]
Assertive or Aggressive? What’s the Difference
Years ago, while I was living and working in New York City as a professional actor, I had a passing acquaintance with another performer I’ll call Paula. With a soaring, powerful voice reminiscent of Barbra Streisand, Paula was one of […]
Silence Is Not Necessarily Golden
(Note: The following is excerpted from Claim the Stage! The Workbook, an interactive workbook associated with my book Claim the Stage: A Woman’s Guide to Speaking Up, Standing Out and Taking Leadership. Both will be available to the public by mid-summer) If there’s […]
Before You Take Steps, Take Aim
(Note: The following is an excerpt from my new book Claim the Stage! A Woman’s Guide to Speaking Up, Standing Out and Taking Leadership, which will be released in mid-summer): Brenda, a warm and witty catering manager for a local restaurant chain, wasn’t sure […]
3 Ways to Help Men Hear You Better
My husband handed me the Sunday paper’s “funnies” section, and pointed to the comic strip Zits, by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman. “Read this,” he said, with a grin, “it’s right on the money.” In the strip, a mom was […]
When You Get Your Cue, Don’t Think, Just Do.
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 7, Take Your Cue, from my book, Claim the Stage: A Woman’s Guide to Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Taking Leadership, which is THIS far from being published. Stay tuned for more about my book launch […]
Three Ways to be Confident on Camera
When the 2020 Pandemic hit, every aspect of my work that I typically did in a room within literal reach of an audience of one many– from executive presence leadership coaching, to group presentation skills training, to giving keynote presentations— […]
To Boost Public Speaking Confidence, Take Time to Take a Bow
Claudia had spent weeks working with me to prepare a high-level presentation for a prestigious conference that would showcase her considerable expertise. The effort she’d put into developing and internalizing the presentation was almost as mighty as the effort she’d […]
Embrace Your So-Called Mistakes and be Perfectly Imperfect
Women are notorious perfectionists. We need to “get it right, and we beat ourselves into a pulp when we don’t. In the corporate world, women are more likely to be perfectionistic and deeply self-critical than the men they work with. […]
Women in Leadership – Coaching & Keynotes
I’m on a mission to help women bring their strengths, voices, and perspectives to the table. When it comes to women in leadership, I have a lot to say. First of all, let me set the record straight: I work […]