Ty Hoesgen

Do you ever try to explain something in a meeting,
but it doesn’t come out as clearly as you want it to?

You over-explain.
You're not concise. 
Or you leave the meeting overthinking:

“I should have said that better.”

Most people assume they just need "more practice"
That’s rarely the problem.

It's actually about a lack of structure.
And how your brain responds to pressure. 

That's why I work with professionals who want 
to be seen as more clear, confident, and credible.

(especially in high-stakes situations)

So far, I’ve coached 330+ professionals with a 99% success rate. 

Many are managers, directors, executives, and founders. 
People in positions where clarity matters. 

Our work focuses on 3 things:

1.) Clear, concise speaking on the spot

2.) Confidence and composure under pressure

3.) Executive presence in important situations

Everything is customized and built around 
the real-life meetings, presentations, and 
conversations you'd like to speak better in. 

If crystal clear speaking would be helpful 
for you and your professional life,

DM me “CLEAR" to learn more.

Founder & CEO / Communication Coach

🧠 Advanced Growth Institute is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations from around the world master their communication and people skills. 

🏆 1.) Elite Private Coaching — for individuals who want to gain a positively unfair advantage in their life and career. 

💬 Our Elite Communication Accelerator is a private coaching program for growth-minded individuals who want to:

✅ Advance their career
✅ Become strong, influential leaders
✅ ​Get more respect
✅ Earn what they deserve
✅ ​Elevate their social life
✅ Form deeper relationships
✅ ​Live a less stressful life 

📈 AGI works closely with clients on their communication and people skills, helping them overcome unique challenges and accomplish their personal and professional goals. 

⭐ 2.) Custom Corporate Trainings — for organizations who care deeply about their team members and clients, and want to maximize their success in every interaction. 

🎤 Attendees are taught practical, science-backed communication strategies to boost sales, form deeper relationships, build trust and influence, listen with intention, and connect better with clients, co-workers, and customers.

✍️ Our captivating presentations have attendees smiling, laughing, rapidly taking notes, and leaving with a ton of actionable takeaways. 

📖 3.) Other Resources — best-selling books, courses, guides, video trainings

Mark Zuckerberg is a highly skilled speaker. 

If I had to pick one CEO to learn communication from, it would be him. 

(Smiling to myself while writing this) 

Okay, I’m obviously kidding. 

He has improved over the years. 

But then you see clips like this…

And you’re reminded he still has a long way to go 😂

Agree?

Speak clearly and confidently under pressure in 90 days (guaranteed) / World Class Certified Speaking Coach / 3x Bestselling Author / TEDx Speaker / 330+ clients coached

You are not Elon. You are not Zuck. 
The same rules don't apply to you. 

Someone in my DMs the other day said: 

"Idk, not everyone needs to be good speaker. 
Look at Elon, Zuck, and many of those guys. 

They don't speak that well. Look at where they are."

And this is true. 

But they didn't get this far 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 of their communication. 

They got this far 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 their communication. 

How? 

Because they're literal geniuses. 

And even then, they've both put a ton of work 
into their communication skills over the years. 

Now if you already have everything you want 
from your career or business,

Or you're just a chill person and 
are content with where you're at, 

Don't worry about speaking. 

Keep doing your thing. You've won. 

But if you want to grow,
(especially professionally) 

Improving your speaking has a high ROI. 
No matter what role or industry you're in. 

Finally, let's be realistic with 
who we compare ourselves to. 

Agree?

The fastest way to RUIN your speech or presentation…

Is to realize you’re short on time.

Because most people get this wrong. 

Let me explain:

Early on in my career, whenever I realized I was short on time… 

Whether it was a presentation, speech, or even a meeting…

I’d speed up. 
Stop pausing.
Try to get through all the content I had planned. 

But every time… it was terrible.

People’s eyes would glaze over.

They were clearly struggling to follow along.

And it made me look disorganized.

Here’s what I learned: 

When you rush to get through everything, the audience doesn’t think:

“Wow, he is so efficient! 
He wants me to get the most out of this!”

They actually think: 

“He clearly didn’t manage his time well. 
Now he’s rushing to compensate.”

The best speakers do the opposite.

When they realize time is tight, they continue to keep their pace under control. 

But they edit on the spot. 

They cut anything that isn’t crucial.

They only say what’s most important.

If you do this right, your listeners should have no idea what’s happening. 

So if you’re running out of time, don’t rush your words. 

Edit them. 
Finish calm. 
Finish under control. 

You got this.

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Helping leaders & teams communicate with clarity & confidence 🏆 World Class Certified Speaking Coach / 3x Bestselling Author / TEDx Speaker / Trusted by leaders at Amazon, Microsoft, & More

Welcome, I appreciate you being here. Quick question - can you relate to any of these?

→ You don't always explain your points clearly and concisely.
→ You sometimes feel nervous when speaking or presenting to groups.
→ You don't feel as confident in difficult situations (or around certain people).
→ You find it hard to organize and articulate your thoughts on the spot. 

If so, I totally get it. 

Even the lifetime overachievers and high performers feel this way sometimes. 

But what if you could make these 3 changes?

1) Learn to speak with unshakeable confidence
2) Master charisma to captivate any audience
3) Learn to organize and articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely 

(Especially on the spot or in high pressure situations)

If you do, you could gain:

— The ability to stay calm under pressure
— The power to own the room when speaking
— Increased respect from everyone you meet 
— A strong reputation in your company and industry 
— Open doors to new career/business opportunities

Now you might be thinking, 

"This all SOUNDS good Ty, but how the heck do you actually get there?" 😅

Great question. That's where coaching comes in! 

There are 3 key parts of my coaching program: 

1.) Personalized 1-on-1 coaching sessions tailored to your needs
2.) Step-by-step weekly plans to ensure constant improvement
3.) Messaging access for additional support and questions throughout the week 

Everything in the program is backed by science (and has been done with hundreds of people)

Because I know everything works, there's a 100% money back guarantee.

And if you're curious, here's a bit more about me:

→ Former shy, awkward farm kid who was a TERRIBLE speaker and loved avoiding people 

→ Today, 330+ professionals coached 1-on-1 across tech, sales, healthcare, finance, and more

→ World-Class Certified Speaking Coach
(Trained by Craig Valentine, former #1 ranked public speaker in the world) 

→ 3x best-selling author on communication skills 

→ TEDx speaker (recent talk given April 2025)

With all that said...

If you're ready to elevate your speaking skills and advance your career...

DM me the word “COMMUNICATION” 

Happy to have a quick chat about how everything works.

***Please mention whether you're interested in:

- 1-on-1 coaching programs
- Corporate group trainings

Book Your Free Strategy Session

Speak Like a Confident Leader in 7 Days

Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that provides music lessons to underprivileged youth.

How I answer questions that I DON’T know the answer to:

If you hate saying “I don’t know”

This is for you. 

Step 1: 

Acknowledge that you don’t know everything. 

But in a way that doesn’t make you sound silly. 

“I haven’t looked into that much yet”
“I don’t have all the details on that yet”

Step 2: 

Say whatever you DO know. 

“But what I do know is X”
“But what I can tell you is X”

Together: 

“I haven’t looked into that much yet, but what I do know is X.”

Now you get to answer in a way that sounds polished and smooth.

Doesn’t that sound better?

I used to get talked over in meetings ALL the time. 
Until I learned to do this:

Start my points with conviction. 

Not feelings. 

❌ “I feel like this might work better" 

This creates doubt.

✅ “This is a better option. The reason is...”

This creates respect.

And when people respect you more, 
they talk over you less. 

One of the things I often help clients with is 
explaining their points in a clear, concise way. 

When they improve this, 
everything else feels easier:

- Higher confidence speaking on the spot 
- Mouth and brain on the same page
- More composure in high pressure moments

You can excel in this too. 

Because it's just another learnable skill. 

P.S. Do you ever get talked over?

Know too much about your topic? 
Here are 7 cheat codes for complex ideas:

Because most professionals know 
a LOT about what they do. 

But clarity isn’t about saying more.

It’s about saying it with precision. 

In a way that's easy to follow and understand. 

Having coached 300+ professionals 
to speak more clearly and concisely, 

I return to these 7 cheat codes again and again: 

𝟭.) 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝟭𝟬-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗱" 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 
 ↳ Could you explain it to a 10-year old?
 ↳ Would they understand what you mean?

𝟮.) 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟭 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 
 ↳ Multiple ideas at once is muddy. 
 ↳ What's the one thing you want to get across?

𝟯.) 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 = 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 
 ↳ No structure leads to word salad.
 ↳ DM me for a list of my favorite structures. 

𝟰.) 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 "𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?"
 ↳ People don’t care unless you make them care.
 ↳ “This is important because…”

𝟱.) 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲 
↳  Have one key sentence to capture your big idea.
↳ Should be easy to say and remember. 

𝟲.) 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁 
 ↳ You're probably adding unnecessary details. 
 ↳ Cut them out.

𝟳.) 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗔𝗥:  𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 → 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 → 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲
 ↳ Record yourself explaining it on the spot.  
 ↳ Analyze weak spots. Refine until polished

Communication isn’t about 
dumping information on people. 

It’s about getting them to 
understand and resonate with it. 

And most importantly, 
take action on it. 

Agree?

I still replay conversations in my head.

I think, “I should have said that differently”

And it bothers me. 

But thankfully, it doesn’t happen much anymore.

In fact, it’s pretty rare now. 

Only because I have tools I can rely on.

Tools to:

— Speak more clearly 
— Stay more composed 
— Articulate with intention 

And most of the time, I say what I mean to say.

But when I don’t….

There are other tools that help me move on quickly. 

(The “toolbox” has grown a lot over the years 🧰) 

Because there’s a big difference between: 

1.) Being annoyed about something for a few MINUTES 

vs.

2.) Being annoyed about something for a few DAYS 

Remember this: 

You don’t need to speak perfectly.

You just need the right tools to speak at your best.

Do you ever replay conversations in your head?

And do you ever think “I should have said this differently”?

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I used to feel overlooked in conversations.
It was my fault. These 5 things fixed that.

No personality change.

Just small communication shifts,
used consistently.

1. I stopped softening my words.

→ I removed maybe, probably, I think.
↳ I spoke in clear decisions.

"Let’s test this out."

2. I cut unnecessary apologies.

→ I stopped saying sorry by default.
↳ I shifted to thank you statements.

"Thanks for giving us an extra day."

3. I ended messages without cushioning.

→ No added details at the end.
↳ No extra convincing.

Precision.
I made my point land harder.

4. I accepted praise without shrinking.

→ I stopped deflecting compliments.
↳ I accepted, then went silent.

"I appreciate that."

5. I asked for what was needed.

→ No begging language.
↳ No drill sergeant orders either.

"Would you mind sending this by EOD Tuesday?"

Respectful. 
But gets the job done.

Do you ever feel overlooked 
in particular meetings? 

Or around certain people?

3 Simple Things I Do to Sound
More Confident Under Pressure: 

When I learned these, 
I no longer had to fake confidence. 

1.) Stop filling space with useless words. 

- Uses pauses instead.
- Pauses show you're in control. 

2.) Slow down and show composure. 

- Most people speed up when nervous.
- Confident people take their time. 

3. Speak to a person, not the room. 

- Don’t try to impress the group. 
- Speak as if you’re talking to 1 person. 

(people will feel more connected to you)

The good news is none of 
these take long to master. 

As long as you practice the right way,

You'll improve much quicker than you think.

Which 1 stands out most to you?

Are you usually a confident person, 
But don’t always speak at your best under pressure?

This is very common. 

I work with a lot of high-performers who are exceptional at what they do.

But when:

- The pressure’s on 
- They're put on the spot 
- Intimidating ppl are around

Their communication doesn’t always reflect that at the highest level.

They walk out of meetings thinking:

“That didn’t come out the way I wanted it to.”

Here’s the good news.

If you’re already confident most of the time, you don’t need to change much.

For example, one of my clients Kim was in a solid place in her career.

But with high-level stakeholders,

She didn’t always like how she was coming across.

She’d rush through things or second-guess herself after speaking.

And after completing my 1-on-1 program,

She doesn't have to worry about those things anymore.

Why? 

- She knows how to speak with calm authority.
- She gets to the point clearly and quickly.
- She leaves conversations feeling proud of how she spoke.

3 months from now, that could be you as well.

-

If that sounds interesting and you want to learn more...

Message me the word “CLEAR”

-

And no matter where you're at on your communication journey right now…

I'm rooting for you.

You don’t get better at speaking by thinking about speaking.

But you do need 1 thing BEFORE you start practicing. 

Clarity on your flaws. 

We can also say “areas of improvement” if that makes you feel better 😅

Progress starts from awareness. 

Because if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, 

How are you supposed to fix it?

So pay extra attention the next few days. 

Notice: 

- When you ramble 
- Which filler words you use 
- When the words don’t come out right 
- Which situations feel less comfortable  

No judgment. 

Just see what comes up.

You got this.

"I want to feel totally in control when I speak."

It's one of the first things I heard from a recent client...

So we dived right in: 

Each week, we met for a 1:1 session.
And we focused on one thing.

Helping him build the skills to speak with 
more clarity, confidence, and credibility.

(Even when he’s put on the spot 
and in moments that feel stressful)

We do a full analysis. 

Then we start building his skills. 

How to: 

→ Organize and structure his thoughts
→ Articulate them clearly and concisely 
→ Reduce overthinking and doubt 
→ Stay composed under pressure 
→ Speak with authority and credibility

After each session, he gets a plan with 
specific things to practice that week.

And he sends me updates and recordings 
throughout the week so I can track his progress.

1 month in, things weren’t perfect. 

But they were feeling a lot smoother.

→ Less overthinking and second guessing
→ Leading meetings with more clarity 
→ Getting more buy-in on ideas 

But it's not magic. 

It’s just a system that’s backed by science
and has been fine tuned with 300+ clients.

And he still had to be intentional and consistent. 

Until I figure out how to put speaking skills 
into a peptide, consistency is required. 

If you’re curious about what 
this would look like for you,

Message me the word “clear"

Happy to walk you through how it works.

It’s 2026. STOP overexplaining yourself. 
(That means no more word zomit)

Have you ever heard someone take 3 mins to explain something that should have taken 30 secs? 

How frustrating is that to listen to? 

If you want to stand out as a clear, concise speaker, try using structure when explaining something. 

Here’s an example of structure: 

1.) Main idea/message 
2.) Why you think it
3.) Example or story to support it 
4.) Restate main idea/message 

In practice: 

1.) “Communication is one of the most valuable skills to learn.”

2.) “It helps you get more respect, build deeper relationships, and advance your career.”

3.) *Example of how improving my communication made me more successful*

(Or an example of how it helped someone else)

4.) “That’s why communication is one of the best skills a person can learn.”

I teach clients how to build the skills to speak with structure like this on the spot. 

So even if you don’t have time to prepare…

(which is most situations)  

You can be confident knowing you have the skills to give a clear, powerful answer. 

If you want to learn the exact process for building your speaking on the spot skills…

Message me the word “CLEAR”

Let’s leave the word vomit in 2025. 

Would you agree?

This is something a lot of people 
don’t think about with communication…

It’s the level of intention they have. 

Most people are on autopilot throughout the day.

And their communication suffers. 

Don’t be one of them. 

My challenge to you is the following: 

Before the next conversation you have…

Set an intention for:
 
- How you want to show up 
- How you want to communicate 

It costs nothing. 

And it takes almost no time. 

I bet you’ll notice a difference. 

Do you accept the challenge?

Why even bother with 
improving your communication?
Who cares?

Well...

– It positions you to grow much faster in your career/biz
– It helps you understand people and their behavior
– It turns ideas into influence and opportunity

And speaking will NOT be replaced by AI. 
(only written communication will be)

Expecting to grow your career 
without strong communication
is like driving with no steering wheel.

You will move...
but you're not in control.

Agree?

Here’s the real reason you overthink important conversations:

It’s not just a lack of certainty or confidence.

It’s also what pressure does to your thinking. 

When Josh and I started working together, high-pressure moments scrambled his thoughts.

Sales calls with big prospects. 
Important internal meetings.

He knew his material. 
And was an intelligent guy. 

But when the pressure kicked in, 

He overthought what to say and how to say it.

So what did we do? 

1.) Trained him to simplify, organize, and clearly articulate his thoughts

2.) Taught him science-backed tools to stay more calm and composed under pressure 

3.) Focused on communicating with control and intention (verbally and nonverbally)

Here’s the part most people miss.

Confidence doesn’t come from forcing yourself to be bold.

It comes from clarity and control when it matters.

Shout out to Josh for being such an awesome client. 

He was hard-working, eager to learn, and followed the plan step-by-step. 

And the good news is this:

These are skills ANYONE can learn.

Do you agree?

You’ve lost your audience’s attention when speaking. 

How do you get it back?

Here are 3 things the best speakers in the world do: 

1.) Add some vocal variety.

— Speed up or slow down your pace 
— Raise or lower your volume 
— Emphasize a word or phrase 

2.) Ask a question.

Example:

"Has this ever happened to you? *pause*

How did that feel?" *pause again*

The pauses give them a chance to answer the question in their minds. 

3.) Get them involved with an exercise.

a.) Have them turn to the person next to them.

And practice what they just learned.

Or if that doesn’t make sense…

b.) Have them trade ideas on something that you just spoke about. 

This should be quite quick.

Around 30 seconds or so. 

Summary: 

— Vocal variety
— Questions
— Exercises

(Bonus: Tell a story)

Ideally these things would already be planned in advance. 

That way you don't lose your audience's attention to begin with. 

But if it does happen… 

You need to have the right tools on your tool belt. 

-

P.S. Do you have any presentations or speeches coming up this year? 

(Even short ones at work count)

Unclear communication doesn't 
just affect your daily work life...
It quietly limits your growth.

It changes how people see you. 

In every meeting, interview, and conversation.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve spoken to a handful of people who all shared similar things: 

→ A meeting where they over-explained 
→ A comment they didn't know how to respond to 
→ A thought of "I should have said that better"

These aren’t just speaking issues.

They’re clarity issues.

→ Organizing thoughts on the spot 
→ Articulating them concisely 
→ Getting people to buy-in

What's the mistake most people make next?

Practicing random tips or things they heard online

before they build a real foundation of skills. 

Otherwise it’s the same patterns again.

Different meeting.
Same overthinking. 

The hardest part isn’t learning what to say.

It’s admitting that your skills aren't where they need to be.

I made 3 BIG mistakes when 
learning to speak better...

1.) Thinking “just speaking more” would help me improve
2.) Memorizing scripts with fancy words 
3.) Copying other people who sounded confident

These seem like they could be helpful. 

But they don’t solve anything. 

Here’s what actually makes a difference:

(Based on over a decade of learning and 300+ clients)

1.) Clarity
Clear and concise = easy for others to understand 

2.) Delivery
Engaging voice = easy for others to keep listening 

3.) State 
Optimized state = easy for you to speak at your best 

If you're lacking in one of these,

Things are harder than they need to be. 

But they're all important to learn. 

Do you agree?

One thing I’ve noticed about great speakers:

They don’t just try to sound confident.

They try to sound clear.

And here’s where it gets interesting:

Most people think confidence comes first.

And it does for some. 

But for others, it really shoots up when they become more clear.

For example:

1.) You explain a point clearly. 
2.) People buy in and are on board. 
3.) Confidence increases. 

Rinse and repeat. 

Next thing you know - 

Confidence is higher than ever. 

But I’m curious how this shows up for you:

Do you struggle more with confidence or clarity when you speak?

Age 8, I was visiting my grandparents house in Pakistan

My uncle announced an "English-speaking competition"
One by one, my cousins stood up and spoke
Their words flowing like water

Me?
I froze.
Words trapped in the translation. 

I Failed, they won
Everyone laughed.

This wasn't just an everyday failure
It was a delibrate attempt to prove me inferior to my cousins.

And I learned the UGLY side of my family.

Humiliation overwhelmed the 8-year-old me
And a seed was planted that day... deep in my gut:
→ “I’m not good enough.”

That belief became my shadow.
My deepest insecurity.
My secret tormentor.

On surface, I was thriving..
Straight A’s. 
Class topper. Medals.

But behind every achievement was a boy seeking validation.
Every success became less about growth…
and more about desperately proving:
→ “I do belong.” 

2012: 
Graduated in Electrical Engineering.
2 Master's degrees followed.

Still, that question echoed in every silent moment:
"Am I enough?"

The answer never came.
Imposter Syndrome sure did.

Fast forward to 2019.
I moved to U.S. for PhD studies. New chapter.
But one evening, at a cultural event in Rolla, Missouri...

History repeated itself:

A media reporter shoved a mic in my face.
The spotlight scorched.
Heart racing.
Palms sweating.
Voice cracking. 

I froze and then...
15 seconds of broken words spilled out.

The “English-speaking competition” all over again.
→ Same humiliation... just a bigger crowd.
→ Same shame... higher stakes.

Confidence? Rock bottom. 
Wanted to hide someplace far and dark.

But this time.. I've had IT.
That night, I made a decision: 

ENOUGH!

Let this be the last time I make a fool of myself in public.
My voice is broken? I will rebuild it.

2 years of relentless effort.
 - Toastmasters practice.
 - Digital courses.
 - Day-long bootcamps.
 - More failures than I can count. 

But this time, failure didn't stop me.
And slowly.. silence gave way to strength.

Since then...
 → Spoken 4 times at The Moth, sharing personal stories with 300+ strangers.
 → Coached 50+ individuals to find their voice.
 → And most importantly... rewrote the belief that ruled my life. 

If I can go from Silent to Seen..
SO CAN YOU!

DM “WORKSHOP” for Live Free Workshop on Public Speaking Confidence.

These are the types of results you can expect:

🔥 “This wasn’t just coaching. It was reconstruction. Not just of my speaking, but of my identity.”
-Dr. Joshua Oigara, CEO, Stanbic Bank Kenya

🔥 "The coaching didn’t just help with communication, it helped with overall confidence and leadership." -Carl Lane, Founder & Business Owner, USA.

Waqas P.

I used to start my presentations with my life bio. Thinking they were interested in knowing how many degrees I earned. Turns out... they weren't. 

Here are 10 openers that make your audience bored instantly.

Without you even realizing it.

I've seen brilliant experts crash in the first minute or two.
Not because of bad content

But because they opened with credibility killers disguised as “professional”

1. The "agenda slide" trap
↳ "Today's presentation will cover A, B, & C..."
↳ Gives boring high school teacher vibe
↳ Kills curiosity before it starts

DO THIS INSTEAD: 
• Open with a problem that keeps them up at night

2. The "I'm nervous" confession
↳ Transfers anxiety to your audience 
↳ Congrats... now everybody is nervous 

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Transform that energy into connection

3. The "famous quote" shield
↳ Hides your original thinking
↳ Signals imposter syndrome

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Lead with your POV that challenges their beliefs

4. The "so excited" overplay
↳ Feels forced
↳ Breaks trust instantly

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Let your insights create the excitement

5. The "technical difficulty" dance
↳ "Can everyone see my screen?"
↳ Followed by death by 100 apologies

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Own the room before touching tech

6. The "let me tell you my career bio"
↳ Starts in 1979... audience checks out in 2026
↳ Makes it about YOU, not THEM

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Share the ONE 'relevant' story that changed everything

7. The "industry jargon" Avalanche
↳ Drowns audience in acronyms
↳ Creates instant disconnection

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Speak human, shock with simplicity

8. The "PowerPoint karaoke"
↳ Reading slides like they're lyrics
↳ Kills credibility instantly

DO THIS INSTEAD:  
• Use slides as billboards, not novels

Your opening isn't just an introduction.
It's opportunity to build connection.

💾 Save it for your next talk or presentation
➕ Follow Waqas, P. for more on public speaking

Confession time: Which opener are you guilty using the most? 😅

Waqas, PhD 🎤

Tech leaders: stop freezing in high stakes presentations & lead the room in 60 days | Engineer → Speaking Anxiety Coach

→ My 1st presentation exposed me in front of my class
→ My 2nd one was reading word for word from slides
→ My 3rd one made me insult a class-fellow for laughing

(I still feel bad for him and for my older self)

But 15 years later... 

I spoke to 300+ strangers at The Moth Stage, Denver
and got unforgettable cheering and applause.

But what if I gave up? 

It woulda been a huge mistake and..

I would've missed out on:

- Restoring my self-confidence, my worth
- Speaking at The Moth Stage 4x
- Speaking countless times at Toastmasters
- Building my very own coaching business
- Coaching/training 100's of professionals
- Hosting workshops on speaking confidence
- Growing my LinkedIn audience to 21k
- Growing my Newsletter audience to 1.5k

And most importantly:

This belief... 

I can achieve anything humanly possible if I have burning desire for it.

Now I live, breathe and teach public speaking every single day.

🔵 If this interests you.. 
Hi, nice to meet you and I'm happy to have you here.

➕ Follow me Waqas, P. for more of confidence public speaking.

Yesterday, I wrapped up my January workshop.

2 days. 4 hours. Diving deeper into public speaking fear

I’m grateful for:

→ people who showed up fully
→ honesty in the Zoom room and
→ The trust people place in me when they talk about something as personal as speaking anxiety.

3 things stood out for me:

1. When you’re doing what actually matters, time flies
  - 4 hours felt like minutes (not for my back tho 🥲)
  - Not because it was easy
  - But it was meaningful.

2. Emotional safety comes before confidence
  - Once the room felt safe, people stopped performing
  - They reflected. They shared. 
  - And the work went deeper than just frameworks.

3. Awareness alone doesn’t fix anxiety
  - People didn’t just learn about triggers
  - They practiced noticing them in real time
  - They experienced what it feels like when the nervous system actually settles.

The biggest shift isn't about learning more skills.

It's this realization:

“Oh, I’m not broken…
I just never understood what was really going on.”

This alone changes how someone walks into meetings, presentations, and high-stakes conversations.

If this hit close to home…
February workshop waitlist is now OPEN:

📅 Feb 15 & 16 | 12–2pm EST
📍 Live on Zoom
Price: your attention & commitment

🟢 Comment or DM "Workshop".

I Coach Mid-Senior Tech Leaders to Speak with Confidence & Authority… Without Changing Who You Are | Engineer-Turned Public Speaking Coach | From Silent to Seen

My manager thinks I’m a lost cause: 
→ I suck at tech (even tho I have a PhD in Engineering)
→ I suck at coding (AI can easily replace me today)
→ I suck big time at climbing the corporate ladder

Sometimes I don't even know what I'm doing with my life & career.

But I also feel that’s okay…

Cause I’ve got a few things that I REALLYYY love doing and lose track of time:

- Public speaking with storytelling (AI will never replace it)
- Teaching ins & outs of speaking anxiety & confidence 
- Investing big $$$ on self growth (even after getting “burned” big times)
- Not giving up on my passions & life’s mission

I strongly believe..

Most of us have 2 types of passions:

→ One that others found for you 
(and you work on it to please everyone BUT you)

→ 2nd that you stumble upon on your own 
(some never get to know this one ‘cause they are too busy with the first one)

I wake up every morning 5:40am to work on the one I stumbled upon myself 5 years ago.

And I do 95% of things that I suck at (or hate doing) so I get to do the 5% of what I love doing.

Because when I'm 65, I don't want any regrets… 
I wanna know I tried.

If this resonates with you , I'd love to connect - Waqas, P.

It was the last Friday of September 2021. 
My FIRST day of my internship at Tesla. 
Remote work era...

Which is a bit of a letdown as I wanted the full US in-person experience. 

But hey, it’s Tesla. I’m in.

I log into my first team meeting on Microsoft Teams.

30-ish people. All strangers. All brilliant.
The team lead is hosting.

Then it begins: INTRODUCTIONS
You already know where this is going...

And even though I know they’ll get to me eventually, I’m still not ready…

I’m sweating.
I’m rehearsing in my head.
I’m smiling nervously at names I can’t pronounce.

I’m thinking:
“Please don’t mess up. Just say something smart. Have a perfect first impression.. Don’t sound like you don’t belong.”

I’m the last to go. 
My heart is pounding...

“Hi, I’m Waqas…
I’m a PhD student at Missouri University of Science and Technology...”

So far, so good.

But then I try to casually share what I do in my free time:

“…I like reading books on Audible” 👀

Wait.
What?
You don’t read on Audible.
It’s an audio app. You listen. That’s literally the point.

Panic kicks in..
I try to fix it… but I’m in a spiral.

Words come out that don’t even make sense in my own head.

It’s like I’m speaking in alien code.
I abruptly stop...

Silence.

People are confused if I’m done or buffering.

Then finally, the team lead graciously thanks me for “introducing” myself and moves the meeting on.

Looking back…

That wasn’t just a flub.
That was the weight of limiting beliefs doing their work:

- “I have to be perfect or I’ll be exposed.”
- “I need to impress them or I don’t belong.”
- “They’ll find out they hired the wrong guy.”
- “One mistake = career suicide.”

I was so wrapped up in trying to “perform” I couldn’t just be myself.

And ironically, trying to sound perfect is what made me sound FAKE.

What I learned and what might help you:

→ Your PRESENCE is powerful than perfection.
→ It’s NOT about having perfect intro or smooth lines.
→ It’s about being GROUNDED in who you are... even when you stumble. Especially when you stumble.

Mistakes aren’t proof you don’t belong... 
they’re proof you’re human.

When you mess up, audience gets a glimpse into REAL YOU..

Stay human!
Build connection and trust… Use humor when fitting.

QUESTION for You:

Think back to a moment where you messed up when speaking..
What belief were you carrying at the time?

I’d love to hear your story.
(Share below one sentence or the whole thing)

Let’s normalize the messy moments that make us real. 
You never know who needs to hear it.

➕ Follow Waqas, P. for on public speaking confidence.

“Just speak up more” is a terrible advice.
Here’s a step-wise guide to build visibility if you’re starting from Zero:

Many introverts live with a quiet frustration of invisibility everyday.

NOT because they don't have what it takes

But they were never taught how visibility actually works.

I spent almost 30 years staying invisible.

In 2025.. I’ve spoken in front of 300+ audiences 3 times without the old anxiety running the show..

The shift wasn’t “be more confident" or "Speak louder" 🚫

Here’s exactly how I’d build visibility and get promoted through public speaking (if I had to start from zero):

1. Admit the real issue → not lack of skill, but fear of being exposed
2. Stop calling it “confidence problem” → it’s nervous system threat response
3. Expect & embrace initial spike of nerves → everyone experiences it
4. If anxiety keeps returning → identify root causes, not surface symptoms
5. Address anxiety triggers bfore learning more skills (don't reverse the order)
6. Kill the myth early → “good work speaks for itself” (it just whispers)
7. Realize cost of invisibility → missed promos, stolen ideas, vague feedback
8. Redefine public speaking → meetings, updates, opinions, reviews
9. Identify where promotions are shaped → recurring leadership convos.
10. Pick 1–2 rooms that matter → staff meeting, sprint review, leadership sync
11. Build visibility there → repetition beats one-off act of bravery
12. Stop "faking" confidence → aim to sound clear and present
13. Stop copying extroverts → visibility ≠ volume. visibility ≠ noise.
14. Speak within first 5–10 minutes → don’t wait for permission
15. Replace “Do they like me?” → with “What value can I add?”
16. Maintain eye contact 3-5 seconds → like you’re conversing with them 1-1
17. Prepare points, not scripts → use examples, analogies, stories
18. Rehearse strategically → never memorize word-for-word
19. Practice out loud → physically moving as if in front of audience
20. Minimal text on slide → use it as visual aid, not the main thing
21. Use this framework for Updates → What. So what. Now what.
22. When caught off-guard → Use PREP: Point. Reason. Example. Point.
23. Make one grounded contribution per meeting → micro-wins compound
24. Normalize imperfect delivery → don’t sweat every single filler word
25. Track progress differently → Being in-control  >  perfect delivery
26. Make public speaking part of identity → “this is how I contribute”
27. Stay consistent → promotions reward patterns, not one-off moments
28. Learn from someone who’s done it before
29. (Do you wanna add anything?)

This is how I'd do it if I had start from zero.
(No Fake-It-Till-You-Make-It BS 😃)

But you must not forget this: 
Be intentional and make it part of your daily life.

You will remain invisible and stuck if you keep waiting for your work to speak for itself.

💾 Save it for future reference
♻️ Share it with your network
➕ Follow Waqas, P. to gain visibility with public speaking.

I Help Mid-Senior Tech Leaders Speak with Confidence & Authority… Without Changing Who You Are | Engineer-Turned Public Speaking Coach | From Silent to Seen

Most speakers confuse their audience & don’t realize it
It’s not that your audience isn’t smart. 
Or your topic is too "technical".

Most confusion comes from how speakers think, not what they know.

15 reasons audience get lost even when speaker is capable:

1. You’re not clear yet, but you start speaking anyway
→ If an idea is fuzzy in your head, it becomes chaos in theirs

2. You overestimate what audience already knows
→ You’re deep in the subject. They’re hearing it for the first time

3. You skip the “why this matters” part
→ Great ideas fail w/o context. People need a reason to care before they follow

4. You try to solve multiple problems in one talk
→ One talk = one core problem. Everything else is noise

5. You confuse complexity with credibility
→ Clear speakers sound confident. Confusing ones "sound smart"

6. You explain everything instead of focusing 'what matters'
→ More info doesn’t equal more clarity. It's often the opposite

7. Your 'transitions' exist only in your head
→ You know where you’re going... they don’t. Guide them

8. You talk in concepts.. instead of concrete examples
→ Concepts float. Examples land

9. You rely on jargon to sound professional
→ Jargon impresses peers. It loses everyone else

10. You don’t anchor your talk to one central idea
→ If they can’t summarize it in one sentence, it's not clear

11. You use stories that don’t serve the point
→ Stories add weight. Side stories dilute it

12. You hide the structure - intentional or otherwise
→ Audiences relax when they know where they are & where they’re going

13. You slides are text heavy
→ Slides are visual aid, not the message. Too much text splits attention

14. You speak like you’re being evaluated
→ When you’re focused on "sounding good".. you stop being understood

15. You never check if clarity actually landed
→ Silence doesn’t mean understanding. It often means confusion.

And remember...
No topic is too complex or technical

And it's not an excuse to being vague or confusing others.

As a speaker/ presenter, it's our responsibility to make it simple & digestible  for any type of audience.

(also know your audience and prep accordingly)

💾 Save it & revisit it before next talk or presentation.

♻️ Share with your network if it resonated.
➕ Follow Waqas, P. for more on public speaking confidence & clarity.

Most tech professionals don’t do these 4 things:
(That's why their career plateaus, even when they’re great at what they do)

It's rarely because they lack skills. Or talent.

It's because their expertise never becomes visible to decision makers.

After witnessing first hand, I noticed 4 things most tech pros consistently avoid.. and it quietly keeps them stuck:

1. Speaking up in meetings
(I wanted my work speak for itself. Often it never did)

2. Asking for promotions
(I waited for 'permission' to ask for promotions. No one ever gave it to me)

3. Storytelling, analogies, examples in presentations
(The bar is so low that even my bad storytelling attempts made me stand out)

4. Learning to communicate with clarity under pressure
(This is what actually changes how decision-makers perceive your value)

Because..

They don’t promote based on technical ability alone.

They promote based on what they can clearly understand, trust and advocate for.

I saw this at my previous role at Lucid Motors:

One of the most technically experienced person on the team had over 15 years in the industry. Everyone would go to him to solve hard problems.

But in meetings with decision makers, he struggled to communicate. 

A LOT.

And over time, that invisibility mattered more than his experience.

If your work isn’t speaking for itself, it’s not a talent problem. It’s a visibility problem.

That’s why the 4 shifts above matter. 

➕ Follow Waqas, P. to gain visibility with public speaking.

I stayed silent for 30 years because of public speaking anxiety. It took me 2 years & more failures than I can count to solve this mystery.

“Just speak up more” and
“be confident” is terrible advice I’ve ever heard.

(don’t even get me started on “practice in front of a mirror” BS)

In 2025…

I spoke 3x in front of 300+ audiences at The Moth without old anxiety running the show.

So.. to save you the headache 

I’ve put together a Step-by-Step Guide to gain public speaking confidence even:

→ If you're starting from scratch
→ If you’re feeling lost where to start
→ If you’ve tried every thing but still feel stuck 

Swipe the PDF below & enjoy 👇🏻

💾 Save it for future reference
♻️ Share it with your network
➕ If this resonated.. let’s connect: Waqas, P.

How to gain public speaking confidence 

Mid-senior introverted Tech professionals:

You solve hard problems but feel invisible in meetings.

You build Great products but..

Someone else gets the credit.

You tell yourself to 'speak louder' and somehow… 

Confidence disappears right on cue.

You wait for your work to be noticed.. while decision-makers promote louder voices in the room.

I know this feeling.
Heck, I lived it!

Tech pros are rarely taught how to gain visibility
or communicate the value of their work.

So they wait for their work to 'speak for itself'.

And often… it DOESN'T.

That’s why I’m on a mission to change this.

I’m hosting a FREE live 2-Day 'Silent to Seen Workshop' for introverted Tech professionals who are done staying silent & invisible.

We’ll dive deep into:

1. Reducing fear of judgment when you speak
2. Understanding what’s causing your speaking anxiety
3. Handling anxiety in the moment without losing your train of thought
4. Guided, practical exercises on all of above topics

You'll walk away with practical tools you can implement immediately.

When: Feb 15 & Feb 16, 12PM – 2PM EST (both days)

🟢 Register here using the link on main page (Registration is must)
🔴 Seats are limited and typically are gone in first 2 weeks after announcement.

Helping Tech Leaders Move from Freezing Under Pressure to Staying Grounded in 60 Days | Engineer → Speaking Anxiety Coach

View event: Public Speaking Confidence for Mid-Senior Professionals

Public Speaking Confidence for Mid-Senior Professionals

Sun, Feb 15, 10:00 PM - Mon, Feb 16, 12:00 PM PKT

What part of public speaking stresses you out the most? (Be honest 😄)

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