We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Hennessey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

Thank you! Looking back, I can see that so many of my past work experiences helped me build the skills I needed to do what I do now.

For many years I was a professional actress, acting in plays, films, commercials, and industrials. (Industrials are those training videos that companies create for their employees). As an actor, you not only play many roles on the stage and screen, you also play many roles as a creative entrepreneur.

You market yourself via headshots, a reel, a website, social media and networking. You invest in and develop your product……which is you. So this means taking classes to hone your craft, figuring out what your type is, and things like that. You are the accountant making sure you get paid and pay your taxes. You are also the admin who must schedule all auditions, callbacks, and shoot dates.

And very importantly, you are the CEO who needs to dream big and envision what you want your career to look and feel like.

Also, to enjoy this unpredictable career, you must have a growth mindset, do all you can to stay positive, not take rejection personally, and trust in the unfolding circumstances.

Running San Diego Public Speaking and Boston Public Speaking (I’m bi-coastal) has been much easier because of all the things I learned as an actress. Having learned lessons about detachment and going with the flow have been critical for enjoying the adventure of running these businesses. Every year in business, I learn to go with the flow more.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Sure! You know how most people list public speaking as their #1 fear? I’m here to change that. It’s time for spiders to be #1. Let’s get public speaking off that list!

There is a large expectation in the workforce that people “just know” how to speak publicly or will “just figure it out”. Sure, there are people who have natural gifts and are comfortable getting up in front of people. But for many people, they have never had the opportunity to develop the variety of skills needed to present well. Public speaking is an artform. It can be learned and it can be enjoyed!

Unfortunately, many people have had terrible public speaking experiences in high school, college, or early in their career. They get attached to the idea “I’m just not good at public speaking.” When actually, the truth is, they simply need to learn how to do it. Believe me, I would need training if you asked me to ride a horse. Without lessons, I would most likely get hurt or end up lost, wandering in a field somewhere, holding on for dear life.

My background as an actress, acting coach, and teacher prepared me to become a public speaking coach. I was already fascinated by performances that were authentic, powerful, and captivated audiences. I loved creating them myself. I also loved teaching others how to create them – through storytelling, being present, having clear objectives, and the ability to manage their nerves.

A woman in banking knew I was an acting coach and asked if I could help her get ready for an important presentation she was fearful about. I was game and the experience of working with her was a huge lightbulb moment for me. I saw that all that I had learned about performing could be a huge benefit for people who were terrified of public speaking and needed creative skills. That was how this career trajectory of being a public speaking coach began.

Fast forward – I’ve worked with over 1000 individuals – from banker to baker, designer to dog trainer – helping them to manage their nerves and develop writing and performance skills. I’ve also led workshops in over 60 different companies, empowering their teams with public speaking strategies. In 2019, my book Your Guide to Public Speaking was published. And in October of 2023 I launched Speak BOLDLY, my first online course! This course has been a dream of mine for years, so I’m very proud that it exists now!

I love teaching my clients how to shift their focus from worrying about “what the audience will think about them” – to being thoughtful about what they want their audience to think about their topic. Public speaking is in service of the audience. It’s not about you. When you really get this, it takes a lot of pressure off and will get you thinking about who your audience is and how you can help them with your topic.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My publisher had given me a pretty tight timeframe to write my book. This suited me because I prefer a process that’s a sprint, rather than a marathon. I started writing in late June 2018 and needed to turn in half the book by mid-September that same year and then the other half a month later – in mid-October. In the midst of this, my sister and I put together a memorial service for our mother. I’m really proud of how I was able to handle both things. I do think the writing process deadlines helped me to stay grounded during this difficult period of time.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Even though I am a coach that often works with people in the corporate, non-profit, medical, and academic worlds, at heart I am an artist. I love designing the marketing for my business. Working on my website design – playing and experimenting with text, color, and graphics – really helps me to get clear on my message. Helping my clients craft wording that sounds like them and paints a clear and vibrant picture of what their work or cause are all about lights me up. I also find teaching them how to perform powerfully is extremely rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sandiegopublicspeaking.com/ and https://www.bostonpublicspeaking.com/
• Instagram: @amandaghennessey
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandahennessey/
• Other: My book, Your Guide to Public Speaking: Build Your Confidence, Find Your Voice, and Inspire Your Audience, is available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Guide-Public-Speaking-Confidence/dp/1507210248), at Barnes and Noble, and where books are sold.

Image Credits
Angela Garzon, Create with Gusto