Intro to Public Speaking: Voice, Confidence & Connection

Intro to Public Speaking: Voice, Confidence & Connection

In this free online talk, BRAVA founder and CEO, Melissa Thom will introduce the key principles of effective public speaking and the core voice skills that can help you feel more confident, grounded, clear and at ease in front of any audience.

Across the session, you will:

• Learn how voice, speech and body work together to shape how your message is received
• Explore common fears and blocks around public speaking - and how to begin working with them
• Get a taste of BRAVA’s practical, coaching-based approach to building confidence and skill
• Find out what is covered in our Foundation on Public Speaking course and how to take your training further

Melissa will talk for around 45 minutes, followed by a 15-minute Q&A, so please bring your questions and real-life situations.

What we will cover

During the session, we will look at:

• What makes a talk engaging, memorable and clear
• The role of breath, pace and emphasis in sounding confident
• Simple techniques to manage nerves and anxiety before and during a presentation
• How to structure your message so people can follow and remember it
• Why awareness of your audience matters, and how to adapt to different contexts
• How developing your speaking skills can support leadership, collaboration and everyday communication

We will also touch on the theory behind effective communication, and how the practical skills you learn in training can translate directly into meetings, pitches, interviews and panel discussions.

Who is it for?

This free talk is for anyone who would like to:

• Feel more confident speaking in front of others
• Communicate more clearly in professional or creative settings
• Understand what it really takes to improve public speaking skills
• Get an honest overview of what structured training with BRAVA involves

You might be:

• Preparing for presentations, pitches or panels
• Moving into a leadership or client-facing role
• Returning to work after a break and wanting to refresh your skills
• Curious about working on your voice, but unsure where to begin

No previous experience is needed.

How it links to BRAVA training

This session is the free, introductory companion to BRAVA’s Foundation on Public Speaking course, a three-part live training across one week that helps you build the core skills and practical techniques you need to communicate more effectively, with increased confidence.

In the talk, Melissa will outline:

• What happens in the Foundation course
• How the small-group format works
• The balance between theory, practice and personalised coaching
• How completion of the Foundation course can help you progress into more advanced training

Sample questions we may explore

Together, we will look at questions such as:

• Why do I feel confident in conversation but freeze in front of a group?
• How can I sound more natural and less scripted when I present?
• What can I do with my hands, body and eye contact so I do not feel awkward?
• How can I handle my nerves without trying to get rid of them completely?
• How do I make complex information clear and engaging for my audience?
• What does good preparation look like when I am short on time?
• How can I keep developing my skills after this session?

Please note: specific questions may vary on the day, depending on who is in the room and what you ask.

Practical details

• Date and time: Thursday 15th January 2026, 6-7pm GMT
• Format: Live online talk + Q&A
• Length: 60 minutes
• Cost: Free (registration required)
• Hosted by: BRAVA founder and CEO, Melissa Thom

It is a free event, but please register here with Eventbrite to receive the joining link and reminders.

While you are here...

If you are interested in how voice shapes communication and leadership, you might also enjoy BRAVA’s podcast High Notes: Words at Work.

Hosted by Melissa Thom, the series explores how our voices influence, lead and connect in the modern workplace, with guests including speechwriter Simon Lancaster, BAFTA’s Colin Burgess, broadcaster Janey Lee Grace, voice coach Dr Rockford Sansom, PR legend Lynne Franks, writer Jane Duffus, leadership coach Tricia Duffy, and business thinker Margaret Heffernan.

🎧 Listen at: www.brava.uk.com/podcast