Corporate Speaking Coach for Introverted Leaders | Communicate More Effectively With Your Team | Excel at Impromptu Speaking | Deliver Impactful Presentations | Book Free Consultation ⬇️

Maria Malik is an Executive Speaking Coach who helps introverted leaders speak with clarity, authority, and confidence in high-stakes meetings, presentations, interviews, and leadership conversations.

She works with directors, senior managers, and executives who are highly capable—but often overlooked in high-stakes environments because their communication style doesn’t reflect the level they operate at.

Maria’s work focuses on executive presence, assertive communication, and structured thinking under pressure so leaders can earn respect, command attention, and influence decisions without becoming louder or more aggressive.

Earlier in her career, Maria struggled significantly in the corporate world. Despite being capable and driven, she often stayed quiet in meetings, avoided high-visibility speaking moments, and felt underestimated because she didn’t communicate the way louder personalities did.

Determined to change this, she spent years studying and training in public speaking, executive communication, and leadership presence turning what was once her greatest pain point into her greatest strength. That journey eventually became the foundation for a thriving coaching practice.

Today, Maria is the founder of The Introverted Speaker, where she helps introverted professionals do what she once struggled to do: speak up with confidence, lead with clarity, and be taken seriously without changing who they are.

Maria regularly shares insights on executive communication and leadership presence with a global audience.

To work with Maria or attend an upcoming training, connect with her here or visit theintrovertedspeaker.com.

Maria Malik

10 things I will not compromise on in 2026. 

As an introverted leader.

1️⃣ I will stand firm on my boundaries without explaining or apologizing.

2️⃣ I will speak up when it matters, even if my voice isn’t the loudest in the room.

3️⃣ I will not tolerate disrespect  masked as “feedback,” “banter,” or “tone advice.”

4️⃣ I will stop over-explaining to earn understanding or approval.

5️⃣ I will choose clarity over being liked.

6️⃣ I will no longer shrink my presence to make others comfortable.

7️⃣ I will walk away the first time my competence is questioned without cause.

8️⃣ I will protect my energy like a strategic asset, not an afterthought.

9️⃣ I will trust my instincts faster and stop second-guessing myself.

🔟 I will stay only where my contribution is valued, not merely tolerated.

What’s one thing you will not compromise on in 2026?

#leaders #proessionaldevelopment #personaldevelopment

Executive Speaking Coach for Introverted Leaders | Executive Presence, Assertive Communication & High-Stakes Speaking

I quit my job at Stanford 6 years ago 🎓

And went all in on Linkedin.

On paper, it made no sense at all.

I was walking away from a: 

➡️ Prestigious job.
➡️ A stable paycheck.
➡️ A secure path

But inside, I felt something was off and I had a higher calling 🚀

Even though I am an introvert, I knew I had more to offer than staying quiet, comfortable, and invisible.

But fear kept me there longer than it should have.

1️⃣ Fear of disappointing my family.
2️⃣ Fear of failing publicly.
3️⃣ Fear of giving up something “certain.”

So I just tried to just be grateful...

I told myself this was as good as it gets ✋🏻

Until I couldn’t ignore the voice inside my head anymore 😔

So I made the bold decision and just left.

The crazy thing is, I had no backup plan.

Just a quiet certainty that betting on myself was the only way forward.

Honestly, the early days were brutal 😣

➡️ I had so much doubt.
➡️ I felt extremely lonely.
➡️ And lack of money was always on my mind. 

And of course, imposter syndrome was on full volume 💥

Regardless like an insane person, I just kept going.

✨ I learned what I was best at..
✨ I learned how to run an online business..
✨ I found people who needed my help..

That’s when I saw a real gap in the market.

No one was teaching introverts how to become confident speakers 🎤

5 years later, I’ve built a business and a life on my terms.

Looking back my biggest regret isn’t that I should have started earlier. 

It’s that I didn’t believe in myself sooner 💪🏼

If you also feel that quiet pull inside your head... listen to it. 🧠

Because your life doesn’t change when you stay silent.

✨ It changes the moment you finally let your voice out. ✨

#motivation #careers #personaldevelopment #introverts

For a long time, I wasn’t taken seriously at work.

I was just too soft spoken. 

I had all the skills.

I knew how to do my job perfectly. 

But I just did not sound like a leader. 

I actually believed that: 

“If I do good work, people will notice.”
“If I speak less, I’ll come across as thoughtful.”
“If I wait until I’m confident, I’ll say it better.”

I was so wrong!

What was happening was: 

• My ideas were acknowledged… then ignored
• Louder voices took credit for things I initiated
• I was seen as capable, but not leadership material

And I could feel it the moment I spoke. People just didn't acknowledge me. 

This was extremely frustrating and I knew change had to be made. 

And that took me on my long journey of learning how to speak like the 1%. 

Specifically:

• Leading with the point instead of the explanation
• Speaking in conclusions, not thought-process
• Ending statements cleanly instead of trailing off

Once I learned how to do this:

I was pulled into higher-level conversations.
I was trusted to lead meetings.
Leadership roles followed without me chasing them.

That ability to speak with calm authority is what changed how I was perceived and what opened the door to leadership positions.

It took me nearly 10 years to learn this through trial, error, and uncomfortable feedback.

Which is why tomorrow, I’m teaching that entire process in a live masterclass for introverted leaders.

If this resonates and you’re ready to be taken seriously at the level you operate at...

This training is very high level and I’m keeping it small and intentional.

DM me ASSERTIVE and I’ll send you the invite.

You go blank under pressure because you rely on confidence.

And confidence disappears the moment stakes rise.

Most introverted leaders speak well when they’re prepared.

But under pressure:
 
 • A sudden question
 • A challenge from a senior leader
 • A tense meeting moment

Your mind goes quiet.

Not because you don’t know what to say.

But because pressure shuts down unstructured thinking.

When confidence drops, most people panic, ramble, or freeze.

What actually holds under pressure isn’t confidence.

It’s structure.

Structure tells your brain what to say next even when adrenaline kicks in.

This is why senior leaders sound calm and decisive in difficult moments.

They’re not thinking faster.

They’re speaking in patterns.

This Thursday, January 29, I’m hosting a live, 1-hour masterclass:

Speak Assertively in 2026

This is the first time I’m opening a session like this to the public.

It’s designed for introverted leaders who want to:
 
 • Respond clearly when put on the spot
 • Speak assertively without sounding aggressive
 • Stop freezing, rambling, or over-explaining
 • Handle pressure moments with composure

You will learn practical breakdowns of how assertive communication works under pressure.

Only 38 spots remaining.

Once doors close, that’s it.

If you want an invite, DM me “ASSERTIVE” and I’ll send you the details.

If you’re an introverted leader and not taken seriously..

This isn’t “just your personality.”

It means something in how you’re speaking is costing you authority.

Most quiet leaders assume:

“If my work is good, it’ll speak for itself”
“I don’t want to sound aggressive”
“I’ll speak up when I’m more confident”

That mindset is what keeps you overlooked.

At senior levels, clarity is confidence.

Hesitation gets read as uncertainty whether you mean it or not.

If you’ve ever:

Been talked over in meetings
Had your ideas ignored until someone else repeated them
Felt respected for your work, but not your voice

Doing “more prep” won’t fix this.

You have to solve the root problem: how you speak under pressure.

This Thursday, January 29, I’m hosting a live masterclass:

Speak Assertively in 2026 

Designed specifically for introverted leaders who are tired of being underestimated.

You’ll learn:

1. How to speak with authority without sounding aggressive
2. What assertive communication actually looks like at senior levels
3. How to hold your ground when challenged or interrupted
4. Why being “polite” is often killing your credibility

This is not a motivational talk.

It’s a practical, high-level training you can apply right away. 

I’m limiting this to 50 people only so it stays intimate and advanced.

If you want a seat, DM me “ASSERTIVE” I’ll send you the details.

Nausheen I. Chen

Get clients, investments and influence by speaking confidently | Public Speaking Coach for entrepreneurs and execs | ex-Fortune 50 | My featured section has a gift for you.

You know who gets the most clients and promotions?

The person who can speak the best.

You might be an expert in your domain.
But if you don't speak with confidence, no one will trust you.

Your career and business will suffer because you struggle to speak powerfully.

Your next client will go to the person who presents better than you.
Your next promotion will go to the person who communicates better than you.
Your investor might pass because they are not convinced of your value and worth.

You’ll feel weak and powerless.

It’s crazy because you have a lot to share with the world.

But your speaking skills let you down.

Here’s the good news:
It doesn’t have to be like that.

Now imagine:
You ace sales calls and win dream projects because you speak with confidence.
You get that promotion because you present with clarity in the boardroom.
You build a powerful brand because the world listens when you speak.

I can help you get there.

I’ve helped 500+ entrepreneurs and execs become confident and effective speakers.

• Entrepreneurs like Wes, who had stage fright and went blank when he was in the spotlight.

• VPs like Sarah, whose voice shook every time she presented in the boardroom. But became a confident speaker working with me and secured 2 leads worth $350,000 for her company.

• LinkedIn creators like Jasmin Alić, Ruben Hassid, Lara Acosta, Sophie Miller, Nigel Thomas, Nicholas Boucher, and Mando Sallavanti III who now speak on big stages with credibility, authority, and influence.

I can help you become a confident, powerful speaker too.

Are you ready to stop missing opportunities and start attracting them?

DM me ‘SPEAK’ to find out how.

Who am I:
• 3-time TEDx speaker.
• Award-winning ex-filmmaker.
• Communication skills trainer at Fortune 50 P&G.
• Official LinkedIn Instructor for public speaking courses.
• Coached 500+ execs at Google, Amazon, SAP, AT&T, IBM, Twitch, European Chamber of Commerce.

I'm also a part of the @elgato professional program as well as the LinkedIn Creators program.

Public Speaking Coach for stage and camera

I coach entrepreneurs and execs on how to speak on camera with maximum impact, create a powerful brand and grow professionally.

I was adopted right out of the delivery room.

But this surprised me when I met my biological family:

I met my entire biological family 2 years ago.

(Yes that’s them in the picture).

These 5 things took me by surprise.
(and number 5 was the weirdest one).

1. We had the same feet.

It was the weirdest thing to see.
I was used to seeing feet very different from mine.
Didn’t realize family could have similar feet!

2. Things got awkward (sometimes).

Yes we had a lot to catch up on.
But we didn’t grow up together.
So at times, we had no shared history.

3. I had so much love for my nephews and nieces.

I grew up as an only child.
But now I was “introduced” to nephews and nieces.
I instantly loved them. Even though we’d just met.

4. We had to work on building connection.

Just because we were related by “blood”:
It didn’t mean there would be instant rapport.
We had to build our relationships from scratch.

5. My biological father also loves public speaking.

He loves getting up on stages.
Just. Like. Me.
But I've never lived with him.
Never been “inspired” by his speaking.

I’m not saying “public speaking” runs in the blood.
But it’s something I can’t explain.

PS Ever met anyone else who’s adopted? yes/no?

The CEO’s Public Speaking Coach • ex-Fortune 100 communications trainer • 3-time TEDx speaker • Public Speaking Professor at CEU • LinkedIn Learning Instructor • Founder, The Confidence Accelerator • Keynote Speaker

When you ask someone “Where are you from?” 

What they hear is: “You don’t look like you belong”. 

This makes immigrants feel out of place. 
(Even if you have the best of intentions). 

So instead of: 
“Where are you from?” 
Ask: 
“Where did you grow up?” 

One questions belonging. 
The other shows curiosity. 

Instead of: 
“Your English is so good!” 
Say: 
“You explain things very clearly” 

One implies surprise. 
The other shows respect. 

I made an entire cheatsheet on this. 
(Probably the first ever of its kind on LinkedIn!) 

When you make people feel welcome, 
You rise above differences in skin color or accents. 

You relate to people on a human level. 

And that makes you powerful and unforgettable. 

PS - anything in the cheatsheet surprising for you? 

PPS - and no, asking “But where are you REALLY from?” is worse!

President Obama once froze on stage. 

I know because I asked his speechwriter Terry Szuplat. 

This is what happened: 

Young Obama had delivered speeches before. 

So for his next speech, he thought “no big deal”. 
He didn’t prepare, didn’t practice. 

But this time - he was speaking to a bigger audience. 
Higher stakes. 

Midway through, he lost his train of thought. 

And froze. 

It wasn’t nerves. 
It wasn’t fear. 

It was overconfidence. 

Here’s the real lesson: 

When the stakes are high, you feel out of your depth. 

Just “confidence” won’t save you. 
Preparation will. 

PS follow Terry for amazing stories on public speaking from the White House.

I’m a brown woman with purple hair.

This is how I lead rooms of white male leaders.

You don’t need to “fit in” to belong.
You need to make your presence felt.

Do this to speak with power in any room:

1. Connect first, inform later.
Take time to connect with the audience.
Share why you matter first, deliver content later.

2. Enunciate like a pro.
Articulate every word clearly.
You’re signaling: “this is worth hearing”.

3. Lead with the headline first.
Don’t bury the lede with too much context.
Stating the point first gets quicker buy-in.

(save this post so you can revisit these points)

4. Never ramble or over-explain.
When you're done with a point, pause.
Let them ask questions to know more.

5. Watch out for weak words.
Drop “Does that make sense?”
Psychologically, they lower your authority.

When you present,
You’re not there to “deliver slides”.
You’re there to create an experience.

When you make your presence felt,
They never forget you.

PS - what are you presenting on next?

Stop procrastinating on your public speaking goals.

(This is how to tell your story in 2026):

Every day, people tell me:

“Nausheen, I want to speak on stage but…”

→ “I’m not ready”
→ “I don’t feel confident”
→ “I don’t want to disappoint”

When I got my first TEDx acceptance-
I didn’t feel ready either.

But I didn’t let that stop me.

And it helped me launch my entire business.

You can do 3 simple things to get yourself ready:

(Save this so you can remind yourself)

1. Start with low-stakes opportunities:

→ Open mic storytelling events.
→ Share a project that you worked on publicly.
→ Sign up for a career talk at your alma mater.

2. Create a “positive feedback loop”:

→ Every time you do a talk, note what went well.
→ Use that as proof for yourself that you can do more.

3. Build a “big idea” that you stand for:

→ “Systematize” your expertise to prove your value.

Every day that you procrastinate,
Your competition wins.

Don’t wait to feel ready.
Don’t wait to say yes.

Your future self will thank you.

PS - What do you want to speak about on stage?

Stop saying these 5 things to yourself in 2026.

(You’re destroying your confidence)

“I don’t want to brag” → “I’m proud of what I’ve done”
“I made a mistake, I’m dumb” → “I’ll learn from this”
“I don’t know how to sell” → “I know how to help”
“I can’t do this” → “I can experiment with this”
“I’m going to fail” → “I’m going to try this”

We are all stories that we tell ourselves.

If your story doesn’t serve you, change it.

When you change the way you speak to yourself:
You change the way you speak to the world.

→ Save this post so you can remind yourself of this.

P.S. Ever caught yourself saying any of those things?

Your ideal clients don’t know your true worth. 

(That gap is costing you revenue). 

You’re already great at what you do. 
But opportunities don’t reflect that. 

You’re chasing leads. 
Your best clients hesitate. 
Your work isn’t recognized. 

That’s not an expertise problem. 

It’s a communication problem. 

When you speak about your work, you lack impact. 

So I’m hosting a 2-day mastermind in London 
For coaches and entrepreneurs who are experts - 
but under-recognized. 

We’ll work on: 

- Turning your expertise into authority. 
- Owning any stage or room you walk into. 
- How to speak with impact, power and credibility. 

I’m co-hosting this with my own coaches: 
The team who grew my Instagram from 2k to 350k+ (Alessio Bertozzi and Bryan Fischer) 

👉 Join us: https://lnkd.in/dC2Q9wjM 

This isn’t a random event. 
It’s an investment in being taken seriously. 

PS - do you want to learn from me in person?

I’ve coached 500+ CEOs to speak with confidence.

But only one CEO’s story ended up in my TEDx talk:

Pauline:

→ CEO of a recruitment company.
→ Traumatized by freezing up on camera.
→ Sounded robotic and rehearsed when she spoke.

After 2 months of working with me:

→ She did a talk at a major industry event.
→ Smashed the talk, boosted her confidence.
→ Got 3 major leads, landed multi 6-figure deal.

In this video I show you the one question she asked -

That I did an entire TEDx talk on:
What comes first: Confidence or action?

Check out the video to get the answer.

P.S. Do you feel confident before taking action or after?

Why smart people sound less confident than they are:

(We fixed this for my Google client, she got promoted)

This is how we did it:

M was a non-native English speaker.

She felt nervous every time she did a presentation:

→ She would memorize a script.
→ She felt extreme lack of confidence.
→ She spoke too fast and stumbled over words.

BUT she knew she had to be visible to get promoted.

So we started working together.

2.5 months in, M:

→ Stopped relying on memorizing scripts.
→ Spoke to an audience of 500+ at Google.
→ GOT PROMOTED.

When you speak well, you don’t just get applause.

You get the credit you deserve for your work.

But more importantly:

Speaking well gives you a new type of confidence.

One that no one can take away from you.

P.S. On a scale of 1-10, how nervous do you feel before a big talk?

A “fake” smile destroys trust.

I’ll show you how to spot a real vs fake smile:

You see two smiles in the picture.

One is genuine.
One is fake.

Can you tell which one’s real?

Here’s the best way to find out:

A fake smile doesn’t reach the eyes.
A real smile includes your eyes smiling too.

When you notice someone’s mouth smiling -
But their eyes don’t - 
There is a disconnect.

That makes your brain uncomfortable.

And an uncomfortable brain doesn’t trust easily.

(This is why you should “smile with your eyes”).

You never know what a “fake smile” is hiding.
Now you know how to spot one.

P.S. So which smile is real? Smile 1 or smile 2?

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Maria Malik

Nausheen I. Chen

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The Battle

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