Meet Marie Miller

We recently connected with Marie Miller and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marie , thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

Wow, so many good questions here – I think I have a response or story for many of these… I selected the communication question as it’s been a constant thread or theme in my life, and it’s my formal academic background, as well as something I am currently pursuing professionally and scholastically again in my early 50s. It’s take me a lot of years to fully understand my passion and deep drive to communicate effectively, as well as my focus on fostering that in others in all aspects, and it stems from a desperate need to be heard and seen. It’s really that simple and human. I’ve always known I was a naturally a good communicator: winning speech contests when I was in high school or winning boards early in my miliary career, but I wanted to polish the skill and go on to feed that desire to write, speak, ghost write and teach – it’s always been there. And, as I look back, and with the benefit of loads of intensive therapy for cPTSD from a long history of childhood trauma, abusive & dysfunctional failed relationships, corporate experiences that would set your hair on fire, and military sexual trauma & mistreatment, I have always felt a clear sense of being unseen, unheard, discredited, invalidated and invisible – unless I could use use my communication skills adeptly and effectively, and better than anyone in the room. It has always been the one ability, talent, gift that I have been able to rely on in all of my chapters – and it still is. My writing, speaking, leadership, advocacy, blogging, social media, video shorts, teaching, coaching – all of it – has given me the platform to finally be heard, to tell my story, to weave in aspects of life, lessons, fails, wins, advice, coaching, little bits of support and authenticity about life that I wish I would have had (or would have been able to give to my younger self) to others. So, for me, communicating effectively has given me the profound ability to serve myself, but more importantly, to give back to other humans.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Professionally, I am currently focused on furthering my academic pursuits in communication theory and rhetorical studies again after recently sunsetting the first mobile coffee business here in Central Iowa rolling in an old, restored VW Bus, which also pioneered offering cannabis and plant-based health & wellness products. I am an adjunct faculty member, a professional speaker & former corporate executive. Later in 2025, I hope to be more actively involved with my video blogging and writing social platforms: “MarieMillerSpeaks,” where I will share the honest, gritty insights collected from over 30 years in various industries and across a number of personal and professional topics, with a particular focus on Empowerment & Advocacy for Women & Veterans & Mental Health, with (of course), some organizational and communication theory included for good measure.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience
Discipline – Work Ethic
Integrity

Probably more on these when we chat….

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Boundaries. Boundaries. & more Boundaries. This has been the biggest area of growth by far, and one (that for me) needed (and still needs) a great deal of work and daily practice – it’s a tough one, but once you crack the code on Boundaries, you can appreciate how deeply rooted Boundaries are (or lack therof) in your life.

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