“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Mastering communication is one of the most important building blocks for reaching your full potential. We are fortunate to have many brilliant communicators in our community and we asked some of them to share their lessons and advice be

Raja Roy Diyach Thebo

I wasn’t always a great communicator. I was the quiet kid, shy, anxious, always trying to blend into the background. Talking to someone new felt like skydiving without a parachute. But life kept pushing me out of my comfort zone. I changed schools, moved to a different city, and eventually left home to study film and television in a different part of Pakistan. Each move meant meeting new people and starting fresh, again and again. Read More>>

Cassian Bellino

Believe it or not, I used to hate speaking in public. 8 years of professional classical training as an opera singer, yet here I am paralyzed with fear when asked to present in the company all-hands. It was weird for me and worse for everyone else who had to endure it. I was a Business Development Manager and would look at a 60-minute client call and shake with anxiety, wondering how to fill that time with conversation. Read More>>

Vivek Kumar

My communication skills came from experience: from being in situations where it really mattered, like pitching investors, engaging with clients, leading teams and hiring. I had to learn how to read the room, listen carefully and express myself clearly. It’s still something I work on all the time. Read More>> 

Sophie Mutiara Nova

I think writing comes easier to me than speaking. That’s always been the case since I was a kid. I don’t think I put a proper verbal sentence together until I was seven (preferring to read and write instead). Speaking out loud was really difficult for me (neurodivergence). I was really, really shy. I always much preferred to listen. Read More>>

Beverly F Chandler

My Dad was a wordsmith. He went to college as a journalism major; not sure exactly how he planned to use his degree. When his life took a different direction, he never lost his aspiration to write – to put thoughts on paper. That’s the Dad I always knew: a good, solid, creative communicator. My childhood bedroom was above his basement office, and I can still hear the clicking of those typewriter keys. I often wondered, “what is he typing?” Little did I know the incredible messages he was putting into words. Read More>> 

Monica Reyes

To me communication is an act of care, where efficiency takes the lead and empathy rides alongside. I’ve learned that my brain often moves faster than my speech, so I make a conscious effort to slow down, ground myself so I can be very intentional with my words. It’s an ongoing learning process to communicate clearly, succinctly, and with impact. Read More>>

Olivia Smith

I developed my ability to communicate effectively through a unique blend of experience, curiosity and a passion for storytelling. From the moment I wrote my first front-page exposé at 15 for the local newspaper, I was hooked on the power of words and visuals to influence, inform and inspire. Over the past two decades, I’ve honed my communication skills across platforms – TV, digital, social media, AI and academia – working with organizations like ABC News, Good Morning America, Meta and USC. Read More>>

Daniela Barrera

I still have a long way to go in terms of communication, but I’ve always loved languages. Every language I’ve studied and understood has helped me connect with different ways of thinking. Exploring new cultures, traditions, and languages is a deep passion of mine.

Spanish is my mother tongue. I grew up in Tijuana, a border city with the United States, where I learned English. It hasn’t always been easy — learning, improving, and becoming confident enough to teach my native language, Spanish, through a foreign language like English has been both a challenge and a gift. Read More>>

Brendan Berndt

In my opinion, effective communication hinges on deep listening. While delivering a specific message is crucial, it’s equally important to pay attention to the listener’s perspective. What do you listen for? What does their body language convey? How does the energy of the room change after you’ve shared your message? Remember, communication is a two-way street, and if you’re not willing to listen to and understand your audience, it’s likely a waste of time. Read More>>

Susaye Greene

As a child, I was given the opportunity to read everything. I was fascinated by words and language. I read stories from around the world, as well as dictionaries and thesauruses. I asked questions about words and where they came from. Read More>>

Nikki Almanza

I didn’t develop communication skills because I was naturally gifted — I learned because I was lonely.
Growing up, I definitely got in trouble a lot — not because I was a bad kid, but because I was trying to be seen. One year, my dad made me read How to Win Friends and Influence People as punishment, but it ended up being one of the greatest gifts he ever gave me. That book became my survival guide for connection. Read More>>

Aaron Mostow

The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the years is the power of listening. It’s by truly listening that I’ve been able to find the right words to express myself. Read More>>

Alex Trendler

What I do is strange. I’m a psychic and psychic entertainer. I have a few dozen regular clients who come to our readings with serious questions and they deserve serious answers.
I also have a stage show where I engage with and entertain theatres full of people with demonstrations of hypnosis, mind-reading and bizarre experiments. Read More>>

Evan R

I was quite the talker from a very young age, and it stuck with me up through college where I decided I would go to college for it. I learned there that the way a message is conveyed has just as much importance as the message itself. I find it best to communicate transparently. When all parties involved are on the same metaphorical page as the other, there is less room for error in communication.  Read More>>