As an executive coach and business team building consultant, Marilyn Brown often prescribes a strong dose of Toastmasters to leaders who want to make a bigger impact and boost their own careers.
See the replay of Marilyn’s workshop from July 28, 2023.
“I tell people Toastmasters is the least expensive thing they can do that will make the greatest difference,” says Brown, a former human resources and customer experience executive at American Express. Since 2011, she has worked with PeopleTek Coaching of Plantation, helping businesses and business leaders improve their performance.
Brown will be the featured speaker at Club Awesome Toastmasters on Friday, July 28, and guests are welcome to attend this free workshop. You may have to get up early, as club meetings run from 7 am to 8:30 so busy people can fit them in before work.
“I tell people Toastmasters is the least expensive thing they can do that will make the greatest difference.”
— Marilyn Brown
This Coral Springs club offers an online attendance option via Zoom — although Brown would always encourage people to show up in person if possible.
“Showing up is a big part of establishing presence as a speaker and leader,” she says. “And if you’re going to show up online, you still need to turn your camera on and make your presence felt!”
As a former member, Vice President of Education and President of Club Awesome, Brown started with the club as she was just starting her second career as a consultant. She went on to speak at many leadership events and lead sessions of PeopleTek’s signature training program, The Leadership Journey.
“Some people join Toastmasters to overcome a fear of public speaking. That was never me — people who know me know I’m not exactly a wallflower — but I wanted to improve my skills. And once I got into Toastmasters, I wished I’d done it much earlier in my career. It’s not just about making ‘the big speech’ at a company meeting. You get impromptu speaking practice that teaches skills you can take into regular business meetings or even in a job interview,” Brown says.
She also had fun and made friends. In 2015, her speech “Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies” won the humorous speech contest at the club, area, and division levels — and won third place at a Toastmasters District 47 conference, where she competed with speakers from across South Florida and the Bahamas.
When you register online, the confirmation message you get after registration will include directions to the meeting room at the Panthers Ice Den (near the Sample Road exit from the Sawgrass Expressway in Coral Springs) as well as a Zoom link for remote attendance. The workshop is being held in conjunction with Club Awesome’s monthly free breakfast meeting.