Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow is smiling at the camera.

SPEAKER KIT

Need a seasoned keynote speaker for your boardroom, ballroom, or Zoom room?

For over 20 years, Marianna Swallow has helped leaders and professionals sharpen their message, think clearly under pressure, and show up with authority—on stage, in meetings, and in moments that matter.

SPEAKING HIGHTLIGHTS

MARIANNA’S BIO

Marianna Swallow is a veteran public speaking coach, executive communicator, and keynote speaker. With over 20 years of experience and more than 25,000 professionals coached, she uses her improv and theater background — combined with storytelling, business insight, and humor — to transform stage-fright into stage presence. Holding an MFA in Creative Non-Fiction and serving on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago, she is also the author of 21 Ways to Engage Your Audience and founder of the Chicago Writers Conference.

Data Tells & Story Sells

Create an impactful message, help your listeners visualize, and drive home your point in a way a pie chart never will.

KEYNOTE TOPICS

The Art of Concise Presentations

Learn to communicate with clarity and brevity, while responding confidently in Q&A and unscripted moments.

Get Them Engaged: Creating Audience Connection

Learn how to build genuine connection, sustain attention, and keep audiences leaning in from start to finish.

Own the Room: The Easy Way

Practical tools to speak with authority (without faking it) and handle high-stakes moments with composure.

Think Fast, Respond Now: Master The Quick Pivot

Build real-time agility to pivot, respond, and stay composed when questions or situations catch you off guard.

The Advanced Speak Easy Technique

Learn how to adapt what you already do well for new audiences, leadership rooms, and challenging dynamics.

Download Full Keynote Descriptions (PDF)

TESTIMONIALS

“Marianna's presentation was captivating, enriched with real-life examples, and filled with practical tactics and tips that resonated with our audience. She facilitated engaging discussions and provided thoughtful answers to our questions.

We are eager to have her back for future sessions, confident that her expertise will continue to elevate the quality of our forum and inspire our participants.”

– Zoe Blackwell | VP Transformation & Chief of Staff | tms

“My colleagues and I have worked with Marianna several times over the past few years for both in-person and online sessions on communications and storytelling. She knows our audience and can speak to both new and experienced legislative staff.  Her presentations are always fresh and engaging. I look forward to working with (and learning from) her again because I learn something new each time! Marianna — thanks for being so flexible and such a pro!”

— Holly South | Program Manager, NCSL, National Conference of State Legislatures

“Marianna is a great facilitator, connecting easily with the group and running a productive session. I like her balance of presenting useful concepts and running activities that allowed us to engage, discuss, and practice them. I'd recommend Marianna for any audience looking to learn and improve their presentation skills.”

— Shaun Slattery | Senior Solutions Consultant

PAST CLIENTS

  • Logo of the American Student Dental Association with the acronym ASDA and the full name below.
  • BCS Interactive logo with 'BCS' in orange and 'Interactive' in gray
  • EnsembleIQ logo with black and blue text on a white background.
  • Girl Scouts logo with three interlinked trefoil symbols and text listing Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions.
  • Logo of the National Conference of State Legislatures featuring a stylized blue dome on the left and the acronym NCSL to the right, with the full name below.
  • Logo for Path to Purchase Institute with a stylized number 2 and text in blue and green.
  • Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Chicago logo
  • Logo for the Professional Women in Advocacy Conference featuring the text and a silhouette of a government capitol building.
  • UChicago Medicine logo with the text 'At the Forefront' and a crest featuring a lion and a shield.
  • Wyzant logo with a geometric icon of four interlocking shapes in shades of green and orange, next to the word 'Wyzant' in black and orange text.
  • Logo for Waterton, featuring stylized green and white trees on a blue background with the text 'WATERTON' in blue.
  • Close-up of a sign with the text 'Brookfield Properties' in large, dark blue font.
  • The image shows the word 'Baxter' in a stylized font with a blue background.
  • Illustration of a cow's face with the word 'fairlife' curved above it.
  • The Greystar logo in dark blue and gray text.
  • PHONAK logo with the tagline 'life is on'
  • Close-up of the word 'Fms' in large, bold, blue and light blue letters.
  • Logo for the Baby Academy featuring a pink and navy circular design with the words 'the baby academy' inside.

APPROVED PHOTOS

Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow is standing against a plain light gray background.
Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow is presenting at a conference.
Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow teaches a class.
Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow is smiling at a podium with a microphone in front of her.
Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow is speaking into a microphone at a podium, during a conference at the University Center in Chicago.
Public Speaking Coach and Keynote Speaker Marianna Swallow presents at a board meeting.

LET’S DO THIS

Interested in bringing Marianna to your event?

She works with speaker bureaus and event organizers to deliver thoughtful, engaging talks tailored to your audience, goals, and setting. Use the form below to start the conversation.

Invite Marianna To Speak