Hi, I’m Marianna.

I, along with my talented team of public speaking coaches, love helping people get more comfortable speaking in front of groups through team training, individual coaching, and group workshops.

I know you have what it takes to navigate your nerves and become a stronger, more confident speaker.

Why am I so sure about this?

Because I’ve helped more than 25,000 professionals improve their communication skills over the past 20 years.

Our clients learn to communicate more effectively in meetings, at large events, and in their daily relationships.

I’ve hand-selected and vetted the public speaking coaches on my team. We provide easy and effective ways to make public speaking feel less daunting (and, dare I say…exciting!).

The techniques we teach are customized to meet you where you're at and help you overcome the anxious gremlins that would have you play small in your career.

I’ll bet your current role requires you to present in some form:

  • Lead meetings

  • Field sales calls

  • Share ideas with a group

  • Participate in board meetings

  • Teach a class

  • Interview employee candidates

  • Interview for a promotion

  • Collaborate with a team

  • Take the stage at an event

  • Answer media questions

 

UPGRADING YOUR SPEAKING SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL REASONS ACTUALLY IMPROVES THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.

“I’m feeling more confident at work, and out in the world, too. My wife even noticed and commented on it!”

- CURRENT CLIENT WHO’S HAPPY TO SHARE BUT PREFERS ANONYMITY -

 

We’ve been doing this for a long time and understand that both seasoned presenters and new speakers have fears and anxieties that are deeply engrained—making it tough to step up and speak when it really matters.

Those hesitations can be addressed through our collaborative workshops and coaching, which feature on-your-feet exercises and real-world tips. Working with us means you’ll get public speaking strategies that go way beyond “make eye contact” and “stand up straight.”

We want public speaking to be easier and more enjoyable for you. Working with your coach needs to be just as enjoyable. Our clients look forward to their coaching calls because each session helps them make significant momentum toward their communication and public speaking goals.

We can’t promise that evolving into a more comfortable speaker will be effortless because acquiring new skills always involves an element of challenge.

But that upcoming meeting, interview, or presentation you’re stewing about? It shouldn’t be keeping you up at night.

Working with a member of our compassionate and caring team can make that a reality. 

A FEW DETAILS ABOUT MY BACKGROUND + PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS:

  • Founder + Executive Director of the Chicago Writers Conference (2011-2017)

  • Author of 21 Ways to Engage Your Audience

  • Lapsed ukulele player

  • Occasional stand-up comic

  • BA in English, Northern Illinois University

  • MFA in Creative Non-Fiction, Goucher College

  • Graduate of the Second City Conservatory

  • Faculty Certificate in Experiential Learning from Loyola University Chicago

  • I’m a Growth Coach for Future Founders, a not-for-profit committed to fostering inclusion and diversity in the world of start-ups

  • Supplier Member of MPI (Meeting Professionals International) where I serve on the Trivia Night committee