My voice doesn't have to sound like anyone else's to be valuable

Finding My Voice My Journey Through Mindvalley’s Speaking & Influence Mastery When I enrolled in Mindvalley’s Speaking & Influence Mastery programme, I already knew that I had an important message to share. Through my work as an educator, coach and founder of Growing Up Informed, I want to help parents, teenagers and educators have clearer, healthier and more compassionate conversations about puberty, emotions, relationships, boundaries and sexual health. However, knowing that I have something valuable to say and feeling completely confident saying it have not always been the same thing. As someone who is dyslexic, I have often felt that my thoughts are much clearer inside my head and heart than they appear when I try to express them. At times, I have compared myself with people who seem able to speak effortlessly and wondered whether I would ever be able to articulate my message with the same clarity and confidence. I joined this programme because I did not simply want to become a better public speaker. I wanted to find my authentic voice and learn how to communicate in a way that would allow my message to reach and genuinely help others. From the beginning, Eric Edmeades was extraordinary. He was informative, captivating, charismatic and completely engaging. He did not merely teach us how to tell a story. He demonstrated the power of storytelling in almost every session. The entire five-month programme felt like one complete story that we had been invited to enter. Once inside it, we were carried through every turn, bend, high point, challenge, uphill climb and downward dip. At times, it felt like an emotional roller coaster. There were moments of excitement and inspiration, followed by moments of vulnerability when I had to examine my fears, habits and insecurities. Yet every stage of that journey brought a deeper level of learning and understanding. Eric taught me that speaking is not about standing on a stage and delivering perfectly memorised words. It is about taking an audience on a journey. It is about understanding what you want people to think, feel and do, and then building a pathway that helps them reach that destination. What made Eric so effective was that he embodied everything he taught. His stage presence, timing, humour, warmth and ability to hold an audience’s attention were lessons in themselves. He showed us that a speaker can be knowledgeable without becoming distant, entertaining without losing substance, and influential without being inauthentic. One of my greatest lessons was understanding that a speech should not feel like information being delivered to an audience. It should feel like an experience being shared with them. People may not remember every fact or sentence, but they will remember how a speaker made them feel and how the message changed their perspective. Linda Clemons was another speaker who had a profound impact on me. She was phenomenal. Her teaching on body language and non-verbal communication made me recognise that we begin communicating before we have spoken a single word. Linda helped me understand the importance of posture, facial expression, gestures, eye contact and the energy we bring into a room. She showed that our bodies can either reinforce our message or contradict it. Her personality and delivery made the subject memorable, enjoyable and practical. I was so impressed by her that I bought her book so I could continue learning from her after the programme. Daniel Priestley brought an extremely valuable entrepreneurial perspective. His teaching helped me see that speaking is not separate from building a business or developing a personal brand. A powerful message can create trust, establish authority and open opportunities, but people must first understand clearly who you are, what you represent and how you can help them. As an entrepreneur developing Growing Up Informed, this was particularly relevant to me. Daniel encouraged me to think beyond simply giving a good presentation. He helped me consider how my message, books, courses and speaking could work together to create a recognisable body of work and a meaningful educational platform. Prince EA demonstrated the emotional power of words. His ability to combine storytelling, spoken-word delivery and a message with purpose showed how speaking can make people stop, listen and reflect. His contribution reminded me that the most memorable speakers are not simply trying to impress an audience. They are trying to awaken something within them. Dr Shadé Zahrai added an important understanding of confidence, self-belief and human behaviour. Her teaching helped me recognise how easily our internal stories can limit our external expression. We can have the necessary knowledge and experience, but if we continually question whether we are good enough, our uncertainty will affect how we communicate. Her contribution helped me see confidence not as something a person either possesses or lacks, but as something that can be strengthened through preparation, self-awareness and repeated action. That was especially meaningful to me because I have sometimes allowed my dyslexia or fear of not finding the right words to make me doubt my ability. I now understand that these experiences do not disqualify me from speaking. They are part of the story that makes my voice authentic. Vishen Lakhiani helped place the entire experience within a larger vision of growth, purpose and possibility. His perspective encouraged me not to think too narrowly about where my voice could take me. Speaking can create business opportunities, but it can also build communities, challenge outdated thinking and contribute to meaningful social change. The arrangement of speakers throughout the programme was one of its greatest strengths. We learned from professional speakers, entrepreneurs, authors, writers, coaches, behavioural experts and communication specialists. Each person added another piece to the overall picture. It never felt as though we were repeatedly receiving the same lesson from different people. Each speaker brought a unique area of knowledge and showed us another way in which communication influences our businesses, relationships, confidence and impact. The programme was also not always comfortable, and I now recognise that this was part of its value. Some lessons made me aware of how much I overthink. Others showed me how easily the search for perfection can delay action. There were times when I felt inspired and ready to stand on a stage immediately, and other times when I became very aware of the work I still needed to do. Nevertheless, I emerged from each stage of the programme with a deeper understanding of speaking and of myself. I no longer believe that powerful speakers are simply born with a special gift that others do not possess. Speaking is a skill that can be studied, practised and continually developed. Charisma is not about pretending to be someone else. It grows when we become comfortable enough to allow our real personality, passion and purpose to be seen. I am completing this programme with more than a collection of speaking techniques. I now have a clearer understanding of how to structure a message, use stories, connect emotionally, communicate through my body language, hold attention and guide an audience towards a meaningful outcome. Most importantly, I have developed greater belief in the value of my own voice. I know that my journey as a speaker is only beginning. I still have more to practise, more to learn and more confidence to build. However, I now feel better equipped to speak to parents, educators, schools, community organisations and conference audiences about subjects that matter deeply to me. My goal is not simply to stand on a stage or to be recognised as a speaker. My goal is to use speaking to create understanding, reduce shame, strengthen families and help young people grow into informed, emotionally healthy and confident adults. Speaking & Influence Mastery has helped me move closer to that goal. The programme was exceptionally well organised, thoughtfully presented and filled with knowledge that I will continue using for many years. It brought together a remarkable variety of teachers while still feeling like one connected and carefully constructed journey. I would wholeheartedly recommend Speaking & Influence Mastery to anyone who has knowledge, a story or a message they feel called to share. It is not only a programme about public speaking. It is a programme about discovering the power of your voice, understanding the responsibility that comes with influence and learning how to communicate in a way that truly serves others. I began this programme hoping to become a more confident speaker. I completed it with a much deeper understanding: my voice does not have to sound like anyone else’s to be valuable. It simply has to be honest, prepared, purposeful and brave enough to be heard. Joanne Corey-Glen