Public Speaking for Technical Professions

When’s the last time you saw an IT professional take a public speaking class? Exactly. Crickets. Yet the most underrated skill that added hundreds of thousands of dollars to my IT career wasn’t another certification. It was public speaking. I see way too many IT pros who are brilliant with technology but uncomfortable speaking in front of others. That silence is holding back your career. I know, because that was me. When I was a Senior Architect at American Airlines, I saw a huge opportunity to improve the PCI program — but I wasn’t comfortable presenting. Instead of staying quiet, I enrolled in a program called Presentation Advantage. I spent 5 days learning how to present. Then I immediately volunteered to put on PCI DSS compliance workshops for employees around the world — 2 sessions a day, 4 days straight. (I even got the opportunity to present in Rome, Italy) The result? A better-informed team and a 3-month reduction in the PCI assessment timeline because everyone was finally on the same page. And here’s the thing: that decision to step out of the shadows and lead didn’t just help the company — it transformed my career. It’s still a service I provide to clients to this day. So if you’re in IT and you think public speaking isn’t for you… It might just be the skill that changes everything. So let me ask you… what’s the most underrated skill in IT that’s had the biggest impact on your career? #cybersecurity #publicspeaking #careergrowth

I often say, “𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠, 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠.” Public speaking is not just about knowing your subject. After all, knowing the words to a song doesn’t mean you can sing it. To engage an audience, you need to deliver your content in a way that captures attention. After delivering my keynote at a construction industry conference, I led a breakout session and coached volunteers on their presentations. That’s when I made my statement. A gentleman in the third row raised his hand and said, “Ms. Fripp, my subject’s boring.” I was up for the challenge. “What’s your subject?” I asked. He replied, “I teach OSHA rules and regulations—for five hours.” I’ll admit, that’s not easy material. I invited him to the front and asked, “Tell me one rule.” He said, “You have to wear your safety goggles.” “Good,” I replied. “Now, tell me about a time someone didn’t wear their goggles. Let’s imagine the story from his wife’s point of view.” Here’s how I suggested he begin his presentation: “Imagine you’re a 22-year-old wife and mother of two. One morning, you kiss your 24-year-old husband goodbye as he heads to work. While drilling through concrete, a chunk flies out and hits him in the eye—because he wasn’t wearing his safety goggles. He ends up in the hospital. You nurse him back to health. Now, how do you feel when he returns to that same site, knowing he still won’t wear his goggles?” With that opening, he immediately had his audience’s attention. From there, he could transition naturally into the regulations: “Welcome. As you know, OSHA construction regulations consist of hundreds of specific standards and subsections under 29 CFR 1926. Each year, new updates and revisions are added. This morning, let us reinforce why it’s crucial to stay vigilant and ensure your crews follow these guidelines.” The audience gasped—and then went wild. That’s the power of story. Even the driest content can come alive when you frame it with people, emotion, and relevance. Whether you’re explaining safety regulations, software code, or financial reports, your audience deserves more than information. They deserve an experience. That’s what I help my audiences and clients create. #presentationskillsexpert #keynotespeaker #publicspeaking #frippvt

Siddharth reached out to me with a peculiar challenge: 👉“People join my webinars... but they don’t stay till the end.” He had recently started hosting online sessions - but found it tough to hold his audience’s attention. When I watched his recordings, a few things stood out: 🔹 Monotonous voice 🔹 Lack of facial expressions 🔹 Poor posture 🔹 Struggles with storytelling 🔹 Difficulty answering on-the-spot questions Like many introverted professionals from a technical background, Siddharth was more comfortable behind the screen than in front of an audience. But he was committed to changing that. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. I attended his webinars, watched his videos, and created personalized practice sessions. We worked on: ✅ Crafting relatable narratives using his tech expertise ✅ Adding vocal variety and expression ✅ Strengthening his body language and posture ✅ Handling Q&A with confidence ✅ Delivering content that resonates - not just informs In just 3 months, a lot changed! 🎯 His confidence grew. 🎯 He started speaking with energy and passion. 🎯 His audience started staying till the end. Was it easy? Not at all! But his consistency, openness to feedback, and willingness to step out of his comfort zone made all the difference. If you're someone who’s great at what you do - but struggle to express it clearly and confidently - know that transformation is possible. You don’t need to be born a speaker. You just need to learn how to connect. #PublicSpeaking #PresentationSkills #Communication

Still nervous before every presentation? Still reading from slides like a robot? Still losing your audience after 2 minutes? You don’t need “natural talent” to fix this, You need the right playbook. After coaching 100+ speakers, here’s what I’ve seen consistently work 👇 1. Master your topic No shortcuts here. Know it inside out or don’t speak about it at all. 2. Research your audience Age, background, expectations, tailor your delivery to who’s listening. 3. Keep it simple If you can’t explain it to a 10-year-old, rework it. Clarity > complexity. 4. Use visuals wisely Slides should support, not replace you. (And please, no clipart from 1995 😅) 5. Vary your delivery Monotone kills energy. Change your pace, volume, and tone. 6. Tell stories Every great talk has at least one story. Stories stick. Data fades. 7. Own the stage Confidence doesn’t come from magic, it comes from preparation. 8. Get people involved Ask questions, run an exercise, start a discussion. Engagement = impact. 9. Practice until it feels natural And when you think you’re ready, practice 3 more times. The truth is: Great speakers aren’t born, they’re made. And with the right structure and practice, anyone can hold an audience. So tell me, Which tip resonates with you most? Drop it below. P.S. Public speaking is just one part of stepping into your spotlight. If you want more updated insights, exclusive strategies, and step-by-step frameworks to grow your confidence, communication, and career, Join my Career Spotlight Group for insider tips and live sessions designed to help you stand out. 📌 Join here - https://lnkd.in/gB22r3_b #publicspeaking #communication #speaker

🎤 How Public Speaking Shaped My Career When I look back, one of the underrated things that shaped my journey wasn’t just coding or system design — it was public speaking. Over the last few years, I’ve given 8+ talks across colleges and podcasts, and each session taught me something beyond the stage: 📍 Clarity of Thought → Explaining tech concepts to a room full of students or peers forced me to simplify my ideas. If you can explain it, you truly understand it. 📍 Confidence Under Pressure → Standing in front of 200 people isn’t very different from sitting in an interview panel with 4 senior engineers. Both need calmness and structure. 📍 Building a Network → Some of my best opportunities came from people I met after these talks — students, organizers, industry folks who later became collaborators or mentors. 📍 Personal Branding → Speaking opened doors. It wasn’t about showing off knowledge; it was about sharing, connecting, and learning back from the audience. If there’s one advice I’d give to anyone in tech (or any career): Don’t just focus on what you know focus on how you share it. Your voice might just open the next big door for you.

𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵—𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗼 🎤 Early in my career, I thought public speaking was just for keynote speakers and TEDx stages. Wrong ❌ Public speaking isn’t just about giving speeches—it’s about how you present ideas in meetings, pitch projects, and influence people. Here’s what I learned about speaking with confidence, even when you’re not naturally good at it: 🔹 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 = 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 Early on, I’d over-explain, trying to prove I knew my stuff. Big mistake. ✔ Senior leaders don’t want 5-minute explanations. ✔ They want the core insight + why it matters + the next step. Tip: If you can’t explain your point in 30 seconds or less, you’re overcomplicating it. 🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 Nervous speakers rush their words. Confident speakers pause. ✔ Instead of filling silence with “umm” and “uhh,” take a 2-second pause. ✔ It makes you sound more in control (and gives your brain time to think). 🔹 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 ✔ People connect with you, not your PowerPoint. ✔ I learned to speak to the audience, using slides as a backup—not a crutch. 🔹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹—𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝘁 ❌ Speaking in a flat tone makes people zone out. ✔ Vary your tone, speed, and emphasis to keep attention. ✔ The best speakers sound like they’re having a conversation, not reading a script. 🔹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 People think great speakers are “naturally good.” They’re not. ✔ The best speakers rehearse way more than you think. ✔ I started practicing my points out loud before meetings—it made a huge difference. 𝘉𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘦? 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯. #PublicSpeaking #CareerGrowth #CommunicationSkills

Most people think public speaking is a gift. The truth? It’s a skill. I used to avoid presentations at all costs. Now I keynote at global tech conferences. Here’s what helped me go from stage fright to spotlight 👇 🔹 1. Start painfully small I began with 5-minute team updates. Then department talks. Then client briefings. Each win stacked confidence for the next level. 🔹 2. Reframe the audience They’re not judges. They’re people that need to hear your message. That mindset changed everything. 🔹 3. Record. Watch. Repeat. Yes, it's awkward. But that’s where the magic is: → Voice → Pace → Posture → Filler words You’ll only fix what you can see. Here’s the truth: Most “natural” speakers you admire? They practiced. A lot. I still get nervous. But now, I use that energy to deliver with purpose. If you're working on your first talk, start small. But start now. 📩  Every week, I share real lessons from the stage, boardroom, and behind the scenes in my newsletter. Subscribe link in the comments. ♻️ If this helped, share with someone who needs to hear it.

If you've never given a talk before - I highly recommend it. I gave a technical talk on AI @ Hadrius and these were the learnings I took away from it all: 1. Present about something you know deeply and already have discussions about on a regular basis. 2. Tailor your content to the audience. I was speaking with 70+ engineers and CTOs, so I was sure to include technical diagrams in my slides. 3. Memorize your first and last 45 seconds. After that, less practice allows you to sound more natural as the words are coming to your real time (at least for me). 4. Lastly, and this seems counter intuitive, but maintain a high pace while speaking to keep folks engaged. Do these take-aways resonate with anyone else?