Have you thought about seeking out a mentor? Read about Valentine’s experience with YWiB’s Blueprint Mentorship Program to find out how a mentor helped her discover herself, maximize her potential and envision her future.
Read MoreOur Speak Up! public speaking workshop series concluded on April 13th with a conversation on networking. Held at L’Atelier Vancouver Coworking, this fourth and final workshop was facilitated by April Bellia, founder of Granola Girl and of the Serendipity Tea Party networking group for women entrepreneurs. April shared her tips for connecting with others in a more authentic, compassionate, and meaningful way through heart-based networking.
Read MoreOn March 23rd, the Speak Up! Series continued with a workshop on public speaking for speeches, presentations, and other speaking engagements. The discussion was led by Leigh Wall, former legal administrator turned apprentice truck and transport mechanic and now student recruiter for Vancouver Community College. After being asked to speak on behalf of VCC’s trades program, her opportunities in public speaking snowballed, including speaking at the We for She BC Conference in 2016. In her session, Leigh shared her tips on preparing for public speaking, combatting nerves, and getting personal.
Read MoreOur Speak Up! public speaking workshop series continued on March 2nd with a discussion around workplace communication. The session was led by Brianna Blaney, founder and managing partner of the employer branding and people solutions firm Envol Strategies. Blaney shared her pro tips for making a strong first impression, delivering presentations, handling negotiations, and navigating tough conversations at work.
Read MoreOn February 9th, we kicked off Speak Up!, our workshop series on the topic of public speaking, with Genicca Whitney, founder of the Badass Lady Boss Collective. During the session, the dynamic entrepreneur and storyteller pinpointed common public speaking fears and provided strategies for young professionals to use to effectively speak to their audiences.
Read MoreDid you know that people are more terrified of public speaking than they are of dying? We learned this last Saturday when YWiB was lucky enough to host get vocalized!, a seminar put on by Pamela Hart, founder of Release Your Voice. Pamela is one of those individuals who exudes charisma, confidence, professionalism and class, and we were thrilled to introduce her to the YWiB community.
Pamela specializes in public speaking and presenting with confidence, and has an unparalleled ability to inspire and empower anyone looking to increase the effectiveness of their communications. Over delicious pastries, a splash of coffee and a lot of laughter, we all learned tips and tricks to improve our confidence and effectiveness when speaking in front of a large group. Pamela also taught us verbal and non-verbal techniques to improve our success in one-on-one conversations in both our personal and professional lives.
One of the biggest takeaways? That public speaking is a skill that even the best have to practice, and one we can all learn. The nervousness? It will subside with time, but when harnessed in the appropriate ways, a little nervousness can make you an even more compelling speaker. Above all, we learned that confidence goes a long way. If you’re reading this blog, it’s likely you are a driven young woman who is passionate about creating positive change in both your community and your professional life. Basically, that means you’re kicking a** and taking names while carving your own path on this journey called life. What’s not to be confident about?
Much love to all of the attendees and of course, Pamela Hart herself. Until next time!
xoxo Liz
Every once in a while I’m lucky to be in the presence of an interesting, captivating and charismatic speaker that makes me wonder how they got to be as good as they are. Sure they have practiced, practice DOES make perfect, but how did they acquire the skills to stand up in front of a large crowd with impressively straight posture, discussing an idea so succinctly for 20 minutes without shaking, stuttering or batting an eye? Recently, I decided to change my career path and underwent a certification program that involved a Public Speaking course. As much as I wanted to take this course and learn to be a great speaker, the idea of actually having to speak in front of a room full of the people unnerved me. I had never understood people who enrolled in Toastmasters. After all, who in their right minds enjoys standing in front of a room full of strangers with judging eyes while you're forced to present a topic you likely know nothing about? Then I realized, how else does one improve your skills? Presenting to a mirror will only get you so far.
I’ll never forget the first day I went into that public speaking class. At this stage of the program our classmates didn’t know one another very well so I don’t think I’d be alone in saying it was like being in a room full of strangers. I’m sure we all had similar concerns about what was in store for us over the next couple of hours, feelings of self-doubt and worries of dare I say, choking, on the presentation stage. Then in walked Pamela, our public speaking professor. Now Pamela at first impression can appear intimidating. She is a tall, excellently poised, noticeably professional and attractive woman who smells of confidence. And she hasn’t even begun talking yet. When she does I realize that while she not only smells of confidence, she exemplifies it through every perfectly annunciated syllable that comes out of her mouth.
But then, at some point, I realize I'm not feeling nervous anymore. I’m actually relaxed and completely engaged in Pamela’s voice. Momentarily I have forgotten that I will at some point in the very near future, be expected to give an impromptu speech in front of all these strangers. Pamela has that calming energy most of us dream we had. She can make a room full of clammy hand, nervous stutters feel like they not alone in their public speaking fears and can teach you the tools to remove that doubt. Throughout our first session I soaked up more speaking knowledge than I could have ever imagined learning. I left that first session excited to return for the second.
Pamela Hart, founder of Release Your Voice, can teach you to not only communicate confidently in front of a group, but to make people interested in what you’re telling them even. She'll teach you the skills to pronounciate your words clearer, stand taller, and breathe the same confidence she does. Our classroom transformed in ways I cannot begin to describe. Those who could not stand on day-one were leading 10-minute presentations by our last session without so much as blinking out of line. Pamela taught us how to cater our presentations to individual needs and to ensure you have a “little something for everyone” in every presentation you deliver. Her talent and passion for what she does is incredibly rare and that is why I KNEW I had to find a way for her to partner up with YWiB. I wanted to bottle her skill and share it with everyone I knew; family, friends, even enemies so they could be better people. She’s THAT good.
Pamela Hart is a game changer and I’m so proud she agreed to partner with YWiB and lead our Get Vocalized! confident communication event this Saturday, May 12th at SFU Downtown Campus. Do not miss out as these skills can be used in every aspect of your life both professionally and personally. Tickets are on sale until Thursday, May 10th at noon, purchase yours today.
Young Women in Business is a community for emerging female leaders and young professionals who want to create their own success.
We believe every woman and young professional stepping into the workforce or growing in their career should be well equipped with the proper set of tools and knowledge to reach their fullest personal and professional potential.
We provide young women and professionals with events, programs and an engaged network of ambitious women, to help them become successful in their careers, take on new challenges and develop skills.
