Women from all walks of life join Speaking Made Easy for a myriad of different reasons.

After joining three years ago, I have found the experience to be quite life-changing. When I decided for a much-needed career change, it became clear that I simply didn’t have what it took to make it, in the corporate world with my current skill set. With some brief online investigation, I found The Penguin Club of Australia, as it was formerly known, with the slogan ‘Communicating with Confidence’. After visiting the Diamond Valley group, I knew that this was the right place for me.

Becoming a great public speaker was not my motivation for joining. However, you can achieve this, if that’s your goal. For me, it was more about building my confidence for interview scenarios and being able to articulate my strengths to convey my best self to achieve success.

With each meeting I attended, I found that my racing heart and scattered thoughts started to ease with each speaking opportunity. With every warm-up activity speaking ‘off the cuff’, I began to gain control of my nerves and managed to convey whatever I wanted to say, without the um’s and ah’s.

The women who mentor and advise at each meeting are so supportive, encouraging and patient. It became clear that improvement was inevitable for everyone who attended. Not only does Speaking Made Easy meetings teach you how to construct and deliver a well-crafted speech, the opportunity to learn chairmanship and facilitation skills and committee roles are also supported and taught.

Constructive and supportive feedback has been the key to my personal growth. Taking on a Treasurer’s role, presenting tutorials and developing workshop materials for groups has been key to improving my capabilities.

After only 18 months of being a member, I started my own small business. I am now self- employed as an Occupational Health & Safety Consultant. I can unequivocally state that without having joined Speaking Made Easy, I would still be at my old job.