I haven’t always loved public speaking.
I was 15. Giving a speech in front of my high school English class. My teacher embarrassed me by saying “That was underwhelming.”
I vowed to never put myself in that position again.
That offhand comment stayed stuck in my head. It held me back for decades.
.
But, like many of my clients, my career took some unexpected turns. In my 40s, I had the opportunity to start fresh. I enrolled in a Communication Studies degree at Royal Roads University.
I knew it was time to get past my fear of public speaking.
Every time a volunteer was needed to give a speech or presentation, I put my hand up. It was nerve-wracking. I did it anyway.
Little by little I learned to transform nerves into energy. Fear into influence. And as I honed my skills, I found my voice.
At graduation, my classmates chose me to give the valedictory address.
I nailed it. I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t blank out or have the shakes.
The positive feedback was overwhelming.
The moral of my story:
Public speakers
are made,
not born.
Your Story is Not Done Yet
Now, as a public speaking & communication coach, I help other people along their path to public speaking success.
In the last fifteen years, I’ve helped thousands of people ideate, write, and deliver all kinds of speeches.
Keynote addresses
Presentations to the C-Suite
TED Talks
Investor pitches
Commencement addresses
And every other type of speech that matters
My clients come from a wide range of industries, from tech to the trades, psychiatrists to politicians.
I’ve worked with religious leaders, entrepreneurs, professors, investment bankers, and activists.
People who have always wanted to take the stage. And people who say they are deathly afraid of it.
I help leaders, thinkers, and changemakers refine their message so they can communicate their ideas clearly and confidently.
To teach them how to own their beautiful, powerful voice.
To watch as they amplify their influence in off-the-cuff conversations and from the stage.
To receive their first standing ovation.
When you speak up, you’re stirring the pot. Making ripples. Effecting change.
I am a speech & communication coach because I believe everyone has a powerful story that needs to be heard.
Karen Chopra,
LPC CCC NCC
Eman Zabi,
Founder, The Scribesmith
Jeeti Pooni,
Professional Speaker, Founder jeetipooni.com
Margarita Quihuis,
ESG Advisor, ED: Peace Innovation Institute,
The Hague Peace Innovation Lab Stanford
I don’t follow a one-size-fit-all system for teaching people how to become impactful communicators. Everyone’s path is different.
My services are one-on-one and completely personalized to what you need to get to the next level.
If you have a speech or presentation coming up, I’ll guide you as you identify and develop your ideas, refine them, and transform them into a speech with a clear, key message that’s exactly what your audience needs to hear from you.
If your goal is to speak up confidently in any situation—whether that’s with media, in meetings, or one-on-one with a team member—then what you need is communication coaching. We’ll work together to identify the root causes of your challenges and work through them together.
Wondering if I’m the right fit
for your goals?
The Q&A
Toastmasters follows a templated process. I don’t.
I work with people who want to deliver unique, memorable, surprising speeches. People who are driven use their authentic voices for good. I don’t count umms and ahhs, and nor should you.
When you work with me, you get the full attention of a communications expert, not a roomful of learners forced to give you “feedback.”
Coaching is the fast path to public speaking success. I’ve helped over a thousand people to develop and deliver compelling speeches. I can help you too.
If you don’t have months to prepare your speech, that’s OK. I have a specific package called “Crunch Time” that makes the most out of the time you have left—whether that’s two weeks, one week, or just days.
Truly, I’m in my element when we’re up against a tight deadline. Let’s work together and make them most out of the time you have.
You’d be amazed at how many professional actors are terrified of public speaking. The truth is, acting (playing a part on stage) and public speaking (being yourself on stage) are quite different skills.
You can’t hide behind a persona when you’re giving a speech. If you try to, your audience will feel cheated. You won’t connect with your audience and your message won’t land. You can’t fake authenticity.
I’m a communications expert, not an actor. I’ll teach you to show up on stage as yourself, because that’s the only way you’ll be able to connect with your audience and compel them to action.
Often when someone gets promoted or is being asked to take on new responsibilities at work they need to brush up their communication and/or public speaking skills.
Get in touch about your needs. I often work with corporate clients with team members who need to develop or refine their communication skills.
© 2025 Janice Tomich. All Rights Reserved.
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