Embracing Cultural Diversity for Powerful Public Speaking with Rebecca Williams

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how living and working abroad can radically transform not just your communication style, but also the way you guide and lead others? In today’s episode, we dive deep into the world of cross-cultural communication, public speaking, and storytelling with our guest Rebecca Williams, a true globetrotter and expert public speaking coach who has worked with everyone from Stanford MBAs to teams at Google, Meta, and Netflix. Hey, I’m Tim Newman, and on this episode of Speaking with Confidence, we’re getting practical about what it really takes to show up with confidence and credibility in any communication setting whether that’s on stage, in a boardroom, or even navigating the cultural nuances of a meeting overseas. Rebecca and I kick things off by discussing her journey from Wisconsin to living in places like Germany, Japan, Australia, Nepal, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. She shares how her international experiences have planted humility and empathy at the heart of her coaching approach, reminding us that communication is never one-size-fits-all. In many countries, people speak two, three, or even more languages just to participate professionally, and often it’s those little cultural cues, not just words that make or break your message. Here’s what we covered in this episode: How living abroad shaped Rebecca’s empathetic, multicultural approach to coaching communication What it means to be a “guest star” in the country of your audience How to avoid cross-cultural blunders and build trust across cultures The universal challenge of negative self-talk during public speaking and how to work through it Rebecca’s “First Five Formula” for nailing your presentation opening How specificity makes stories stick and how to find the right stories within your own life The role of humor (and how even non-comedians can use it effectively) The current and future impact of AI on communication, public speaking, and storytelling Insights into Rebecca’s book “Presenting. Presenting.” and why it was designed as an interview Where to connect with Rebecca and access her resources This episode is jam-packed with real stories, practical frameworks, and a refreshing perspective on developing your own authentic voice whether you’re addressing an international audience or conquering your own internal doubts. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed this conversation with Rebecca! Don’t forget to grab Rebecca’s book, check out more resources at speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram. Your voice really does have the power to change the world. Let's keep showing up and speaking with confidence. Support the show Want to be a guest on Speaking With Confidence? Send Tim Newman a message on PodMatchSpeaking With ConfidenceFormula for Public SpeakingFacebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices