379: How to Develop Stage Presence and Build Confidence as a Speaker [Roundtable]

We held our in-person speaking intensive last week in Orlando and it was so much fun!

Over three days, the women who attended worked on their speaking segments, practiced them on our stage with our coaching and feedback, and then had their segments professionally filmed on the final day.

Oh, and there were dance parties and improv exercises throughout!

I’ve invited three of our clients who were there, Shannon Bumgarner, Lei Comerford, and Denise Musselwhite, for a roundtable discussion on what they learned and insights they have for you as speakers.

We talk about:

• Why they decided to attend our in-person retreat
• What they learned about developing stage presence
• Speaking as a performance (no matter what your topic is!)
• Their newfound love of improv
• The power of using our I.D.E.A.L. storytelling ingredients
• Feeling confident *not* using notes or a script
• The impact of practicing on our stage and getting feedback at our in-person retreat

This audio is from a live broadcast we did on March 5, 2024. You can watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/ylcRJtfkdk4?feature=share.

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/379/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Shannon Bumgarner = https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonbumgarner/
• Lei Comerford = https://www.linkedin.com/in/leicomerford/
• Denise Musselwhite = https://www.linkedin.com/in/musselwhited/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 347: The Power of REAL Practice to Transform Yourself as a Speaker
• Episode 346: Get More Speaking Gigs by Adding Body Movement and Vocal Variation

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable