My intention when I enrolled in Mindvalley’s Speaking & Influence Mastery with Eric Edmeades, was to “polish” my speaking skills. What I did not realize was that I was about to undergo a full-scale evolution—not just as a speaker, but as a communicator, a leader, and as a person.
I spoke the way I was trained: clear, articulate, logical, structured… and deeply lecture driven occasionally sprinkled with humor. My “lawyer voice” was precise . . . and, I sensed it lacked connection. I delivered information—lots of it—but rarely gave my audience something to feel. I was so focused on being credible that I forgot how to be compelling.
Eric’s emphasis on engaging storytelling—not as a performance trick, but as the very heart of influence—resonated deeply. I had been treating emotions like landmines to avoid, rather than tools to reach people where they truly are. Once I saw how a story could evoke emotion, open hearts, and land a message more deeply than facts ever could, everything changed. Suddenly, speaking wasn’t about presenting information. It was about creating impact.
I have found, too, to focus on the desires, challenges, even undefined pain points of the audience to center on their experience instead of my own expertise. Paradoxically, this shift has made my message stronger, not weaker. Rather than “Here’s what I know,” the message is now “Here’s what you’re feeling—and how we can change it. I now connect more fully with people who are overwhelmed, exhausted, unfulfilled, unsure of their own voices… because I truly see them.
The most liberating transformation was the almost implicit “permission” to emote, to be expressive and provocative in meaningful ways. I learned how to play with energy, tension, humor, silence, and surprise to keep people leaning in.
I now know that I don’t have to be a “serious speaker” to be taken seriously. I have to be a human being that people can feel. I love knowing I am "allowed" to embody the full artistry of voice and body; the craft of varying pitch, tone, cadence, pacing and volume, allowing my body—my face, hands, presence—to speak with me. These aren’t just performance techniques but amplifiers of authenticity. When I let my body express what my heart is saying, everything becomes more powerful… and more natural.
These shifts have created something I never expected: a profound sense of ease. Suddenly, reaching out to groups, organizations, and individuals — something I once overthought and obsessed over —feels organic, aligned. It feels like service, not self-promotion. Now, when I speak with people, I listen. I hear when they are struggling with confidence, communication, leadership, cultural cohesion, overwhelm and exhaustion, disconnection, the longing for fulfillment and joy. And for the first time, I don’t just think I can help. I know I can.
This shift in presence and purpose has opened doors for me without pushing. Simply by having real conversations—rooted in curiosity, empathy, and the grounded comfort this course unlocked—I now have multiple speaking engagements pending on topics that matter to me and deeply matter to the people who requested them. Opportunities aren’t “coming out of nowhere.” They’re coming from everywhere I choose to show up with authenticity, connection, and confidence.
I am profoundly grateful to Eric and Mindvalley for this opportunity and the influence and impact this Mastery Program has brought to my life.
