Her Story
About Linda
I'm an actress and singer who has performed around the world with my own show, and about 10 years ago I started my own business as a communications coach specializing in speaking skills. I believe that voice was the original social media, and in this increasingly visual world with AI, it's really important for people to keep up with their vocal abilities. I work predominantly with women, but also with men, teaching speaking skills, mindset work, and presentation techniques. I often work with people who are from other countries or who have predominant accents. I originally taught French and Spanish, but I gave it up when I was given an offer I absolutely couldn't refuse to be backed and go into singing and theater. I incorporate a lot from my performing background into the speaking skills coaching that I do. I just finished a show about 6 weeks ago, and there's another one coming up in September. What gives me the most satisfaction is when I have the incredible pleasure of transforming someone who is working with me, who is either terrified of speaking in public or really shy and reticent, and they flower and become basically a different person.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Linda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say some excellent mentors, number one. Also, believing in what I'm doing, having the passion for going after what is important to me, what nourishes me, what feels like a calling, I guess, is the best way to put it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do what you love. Do what you love, find the passion in what you love, and don't listen to anybody who tells you not to do it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think you have to be confident, clear, and also very empathetic. I think it's important for you to be able to put yourself in the shoes of either one or more that you are going to be appearing in front of, or at least trying to help. The listening skills are terribly important.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In the coaching industry, I have really felt that instead of taking on anyone, there is the kind of person that I want to coach. You want people who are eager to learn, people who really are there to widen their perspectives, to get whatever knowledge that you can impart to them. The challenges include enlarging the practice and having a balance in life so that, yes, it's very important for me to continue coaching and working with people that I love, but it's also important for me to have a life balance with my husband, with my dog, with people that I love to be around. I'm always looking for that balance because it's pretty easy for me to get burned out, that I take on too much and find it difficult to say no.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Passion is most important to me. Honesty, being able to be open to others' opinions even if they're not exactly your own. Not giving up or giving in quickly, being persistent, going after what you want, having commitment to what means something to you.
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