Public speaking was never something that came easily to me. In fact, for much of my life, it was something I feared. But I knew that if I wanted to truly help and uplift others—my lifelong passion I had to walk through that fear. Stepping onto a stage was less about my comfort and more about my calling to share my story in ways that could encourage and inspire others.
I haven’t spent decades as a speaker. My journey began just a few years ago, born out of the desire to serve. What I’ve discovered since then is that public speaking is not about performance it’s about connection. It’s about creating moments where transformation can take root, not because of polished delivery, but because of shared truth and lived experience.
Whether I am speaking to a small gathering or at larger events like The Grand Butterfly Gathering, my goal is always the same: to awaken the trueness within each person and invite them into a deeper connection with themselves, with one another, and with purpose.
Why Public Speaking Matters to Me
Helping and uplifting others has always been at the heart of my work. Growing up as an immigrant child taught me the value of courage, resilience, and truth. Those early experiences gave me stories to share stories that could resonate with others who needed encouragement to face their own challenges.
When someone hears me speak and tells me, “I felt like you were talking directly to me,” I know I’ve done what I was called to do. That is also the heartbeat of The Trueness Project: creating spaces where truth, creativity, and authentic leadership inspire change. Public speaking has become one of the most powerful ways I bring that mission to life.
The Public Speaking Skills I Rely On
While passion and authenticity are essential, transformation also requires strong public speaking skills. Here are the ones I lean on most:
Storytelling: Stories carry wisdom across time and culture. When I share my own journey or the journeys of those I’ve met through the Trueness Project, people lean in. They connect. Stories make the invisible visible.
Clarity of message: I always begin by asking myself: What is the one truth I want this audience to carry home with them? That clarity shapes every sentence, every pause, every gesture.
Connection with the audience: Whether I’m speaking in Jackson, Wyoming, or Nairobi, Kenya, I remind myself: people don’t come to hear a lecture; they come to feel seen. Eye contact, body language, inclusive language all help me build that connection.
A professional public speaker doesn’t just deliver words; she embodies them. My pauses, my tone, my energy all are part of how the message is received.
Values at the center: Every word I speak must align with my values: truth, courage, creativity, and compassion. When I speak from those values, the message resonates beyond the room.
How I Use Public Speaking to Transform
Transformation happens when public speaking moves from information to inspiration. Here is how I strive to create that shift:
- I Frame Each Talk as an Experience
I don’t see my speeches as “talks” I see them as experiences. Whether it’s through ceremonies at the Butterfly March or through workshops, I want people to leave not just with ideas, but with a felt sense of possibility. - I Weave Story with Insight
Stories open the heart; evidence and wisdom ground the mind. My speaking style weaves both. I might share a personal challenge, then pair it with leadership lessons or practical tools that anyone can use. - I Offer a Call to Action
Transformation isn’t complete without invitation. I always end with a call to action. Sometimes it’s to join a movement like the Butterfly March, sometimes it’s to reflect on one’s trueness, and sometimes it’s to take a simple step toward living more authentically. - I Listen and Learn
Public speaking is not a one-way exchange. I listen to the questions, the stories, and the feedback I receive afterward. Each audience teaches me how to serve better.
What I’ve Learned as a Professional Public Speaker
From my work as a speaker, I’ve learned a few unshakable truths:
- Authenticity is magnetic. People resonate more with my vulnerable stories than with my polished ones.
- Purpose fuels power. When my purpose is clear to ignite truth, to call people into transformation the message naturally carries weight.
- Consistency builds trust. Transformation rarely happens in a single speech. It happens over time, through repeated messages and lived examples. That’s why I write, speak, teach, and host gatherings. The message echoes across many forms.
The Challenges and the Grace
Even as a speaker, I still feel butterflies before I step onto the stage. And I welcome them. Those butterflies remind me of the sacred responsibility of this work.
Public speaking requires vulnerability. It requires me to be open enough for others to see my humanity, while strong enough to guide them toward theirs. It is both humbling and holy work.
Conclusion: Speaking to Transform
Public speaking is one of the ways I serve. It is how I take the trueness within me and share it with others. As a professional public speaker, my aim is never applause, it is transformation.
When I look into an audience and see faces soften, eyes light up, or tears well, I know something has shifted. That is the miracle of public speaking. Not my words, but the way spirit, truth, and human connection move through them.
If you are developing your own public speaking skills, my encouragement is simple: speak from your truth. Speak with clarity. Speak with love. And speak with courage. When you do, you too will transform lives.
I’d love to continue this conversation with you. You can connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook to explore more about public speaking, transformation, and the journey of trueness.
