Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Hennessey.
Hi Amanda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Sure! My first career was focused on creating exciting, lean-forward-in-your-seats performances. I was an actress, and I also taught and coached acting. My husband and I had a theatre company where we wrote, produced, and acted in plays, plus we acted in commercials and films. For many years I also worked at a variety of day jobs – at a tech start-up, a corporate law firm, a non-profit theatre company, a big tech company, and at a whole bunch of random temp jobs.
If you were to take all of these experiences, shake them up in a shiny cocktail shaker, and pour them into a martini glass – you could call this refreshing beverage a “public speaking coach-tini.” (Definitely add a colorful umbrella.)
This mixture of skills was the perfect foundation for what I do now as a public speaking coach. I understand performance challenges (managing nerves, preparation, writing, rehearsing, engaging a crowd). I understand the ins and outs of many different work setting. And I love teaching and helping people push themselves.
I started off working with clients one-on-one and then branched out and offered workshops for companies. Once I saw that this path was a great fit for me and how much of a need there was for public speaking training, I launched Boston Public Speaking. And things took off!
I captured my real-life case studies, practical strategies, and tips in my book Your Guide to Public Speaking- Build Your Confidence, Find Your Voice, Impact Your Audience (published in 2019). And once that gorgeous California sunshine drew me west, I launched San Diego Public Speaking. I now work bi-coastally.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I frame this entrepreneurial path as an adventure, it’s much easier to enjoy the unpredictability. I love love love being my own boss. There have been challenges, definitely. During the first 8 months of the pandemic, business basically stopped coming in. (Understandably, people weren’t working on their public speaking skills at that time; they were in total survival mode.) Thank God for Zoom. It allowed my business to get back on track and to keep many of my Boston clients.
I enjoy working, and at times, I struggle with closing my laptop and calling it a day. As a business owner, it can feel that there are always more things to do. But I moved to San Diego to create a lifestyle that includes loving what I do AND loving my life outside of work. I can be outside without a coat in Jan? Amazing! I can work out on the beach and play tennis outside in Feb? What?!?
We’ve been impressed with San Diego Public Speaking, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Public speaking doesn’t have to be a nightmare. My goal is to give people the communication tools they need so they can be heard and seen, get that juicy promotion, deliver that fab wedding speech, go after their dream job, and make a positive impact on our troubled world.
Knowing how to research cancer is very different from knowing how to present your cancer research. Writing a blog post about interior design is very different from creating a talk about interior design that is conversational and accessible.
Often people are just expected to “know” how to speak in front of an audience. This is very unrealistic! I love helping people develop the skills they’ve been missing so they can feel powerful while sharing their ideas instead of losing sleep.
I’m very fortunate to have worked with a wide variety of clients. From serving as the performance coach for talent on the PBS show America’s Test Kitchen – to coaching physicians, executives, designers, and activists, I bring a sense of possibility and very practical skills to each session.
There are a variety of ways to work with me. If you have a team that needs to up their public speaking game, I can create a highly interactive workshop for you. If you want to work on your public speaking skills so you are able to create and deliver a compelling talk without wanting to hide, one-on-one coaching is for you. I also work with folks on specific projects.
Whether I’m working with individual clients or groups, we dive right into creating a confidence mindset and how to manage nerves. This inner work is critically important! From there, we focus on honing body language and how to use the voice to spice things up (without saying “ummmmm”). This is when the creative skills become the priority – storytelling, understanding your audience, writing, rehearsing, and performing.
When it makes sense, I bring humor and fun to workshops and coaching. I’m serious about what I do, but I do know that many very talented people have major anxiety around this topic. I know they will be able to think more clearly and creatively if I can help the mood feel lighter and not so scary.
If public speaking stresses you out, there is a 7.5-minute soothing mediation just waiting for you at my San Diego Public Speaking website. It will help you if you’re struggling with those shaky hands, speeding heart rate, racing thoughts, blushing face, or any other nerves.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I was very shy as a kid. Being the center of attention? MORTIFYING. If I was late to school and had to enter my 3rd-grade classroom after everyone else was already seated, I’d nervously wait out in the hall. I’d be desperately trying to figure out how to walk to my little desk without drawing any attention to myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: sandiegopublicspeaking.com, bostonpublicspeaking.com
- Instagram: @amandaghennessey
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandahennessey/
Image Credits
Angela Garzon
