Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christine Sofiane Katzenmaier. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Christine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

My background is a professional opera singer, performing artist and vocal coach. I have always had a passion for voice and I gained a lot of experience performing and teaching, however I still felt that I didn’t fully understand how the voice really works and why some people have a hoarse voice, reduced singing range or experience vocal fatigue. A few years ago, I was going through some personal challenges, I felt lost and was seeking to find a new path. I loved singing and everything related to the voice but there was a missing piece that I couldn’t figure out. This is when my friend introduced me to a friend of hers who was a speech pathologist, which at that time I didn’t even know what that was.

I was fascinated to learn that the study of speech pathology involves voice science, which was exactly the missing element I had been looking for. I knew at that moment that my path was to go back to school to study voice science with the goal in mind to expand my voice studio into a voice practice so I could help people with their voice on a whole new and deeper level. Fast forward, I now have a master’s degree in speech pathology with emphasis in voice and I am the founder and CEO of Speech & Voice Works, a boutique voice practice in Los Angeles, CA, helping people regain confidence and sustainability in their voice.

Meeting my friend’s friend was a defining moment in my life and I am so grateful that I have taken this path. I can help my clients on such a deep and highly effective level now and it gives me great joy to see them thrive vocally and emotionally in their lives and in their profession. Having my own private practice and becoming a voice expert has been extremely rewarding. I feel I have come full circle as an artist, business owner and voice specialist.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I’m a California state licensed speech-language pathologist and CEO of Speech & Voice Works, a boutique voice practice in Los Angeles, CA.

I obtained a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with distinction from California State University, Northridge and hold a Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

As a voice expert I help people who rely on their voice for their profession and struggle with speech problems, voice loss, hoarseness, vocal fatigue and discomfort overcome their anxiety and frustration and feel confident about the way they sound so they can shine in their roles as professionals.

Unlike the conventional approach of using vocal rest, I help my clients learn how to use their voice in a healthy and sustainable way so they can have the self-confidence they need to succeed, get the job done and have the impact they dream of.

With my background as an opera singer, performance artist, and vocal coach I bring extensive knowledge to the voice community and beyond. With a vast understanding of what it takes to be a vocal athlete and how to achieve a healthy and sustainable voice, I can help my clients shine in their public profession.

I am a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Southern California Voice Foundation. My work has been featured in peer-reviewed scientific journals, Voyagela, and podcasts like The Power of Food and Positive Talk with the former mayor of Manhattan Beach. I also provide presentations at venues including White Memorial Hospital in California and most recently with the Southern California Voice Foundation.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What has helped me build my reputation is being consistent in the quality of service I provide and achieving results with my clients. There is no better feedback than a client telling someone else of the services they received from me and how much I was able to help them, particularly when they have already been to many different places to seek help with their voice and no-one could help them. Reaching out to colleagues and other professionals and nurturing those relationships to develop a solid network has been essential as well.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Training and knowledge are certainly essential to run a successful voice practice, as well as organizational skills, however, the one thing that I found most important is to be able to listen to my clients and really understand their needs and how to get them on their path to vocal success as quickly as possible. I don’t take a cookie cutter approach. Each person is unique and I take a unique and customized approach with each of my clients to get them the results they want in the most effective way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.speechandvoiceworks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine_sofiane_katzenmaier/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speechandvoiceworks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-sofiane-katzenmaier-ms-ccc-slp-940ba911a/