You're Not Alone If Public Speaking Feels Harder Than It Should
If public speaking feels like the one thing standing between you and the career you know you're capable of, you're in the right place.
You're a senior professional, executive, or leader who's excellent at what you do. You're smart, accomplished, and experienced.
But the moment all eyes are on you, in a high-stakes meeting, a presentation, a pitch, a podcast, or even a Zoom call, something shifts.
Your throat tightens.
Your heart starts racing.
Your palms sweat.
Your mind goes blank.
Suddenly, the confidence you have everywhere else disappears.
And you're left with two options:
Push through the anxiety and hope no one notices…
Or avoid visibility altogether.
Either way, the outcome is the same. Missed opportunities, stalled growth, and the quiet frustration of watching others get promoted, recognized, or chosen, not because they're better than you, but because they're more comfortable being seen and heard.
Why Even Accomplished Professionals Lose Confidence When Speaking
Loss of confidence under pressure has very little to do with competence and everything to do with how your nervous system responds when visibility and judgment feel high.
That's why public speaking confidence often breaks down only in moments that matter most.
At Brilliant Speakers Academy, I work with senior professionals and leaders who feel tense, anxious, or disconnected when they need to speak publicly, lead the room, or assert authority, even though they are highly capable and experienced.
This isn't just a communication skills problem. It's a confidence-under-pressure problem.
Hi, I'm Victoria!
I'm a leadership presence and public speaking confidence coach, and the founder of Brilliant Speakers Academy®.
I help executives, senior professionals, and leaders build calm, grounded confidence when speaking so they can communicate with authority and impact when it matters most.
But that's not where my story started.
Decades ago, I ran off a stage in tears while the audience giggled, convinced that something was fundamentally wrong with me.
That moment stayed with me for a long time. It shaped how I saw myself every time I was asked to speak, present, or take the spotlight. No matter how prepared I was, fear took over.
At the time, I was a senior software engineer and had started a web development company on the side. I knew I was smart, accomplished, and highly capable.
But every opportunity that required visibility, like presenting, pitching, or leading a meeting, felt like a wall I couldn't get past.
Why Traditional Public Speaking and Communication Training Falls Short
Like most professionals, I tried everything.
Toastmasters.
Presentation courses.
Public speaking books.
All the "expert" advice.
And yet, the anxiety never went away.
I kept practicing… and I kept panicking.
Most public speaking and communication training focuses on performance, not transformation.
It teaches you how to sound polished, but not how to feel confident.
It teaches techniques, but ignores what's happening internally under pressure.
At Brilliant Speakers Academy, I focus on what traditional training misses and what professionals actually need.
I help you build real confidence when all eyes are on you and, at the same time, develop the communication and presentation skills that make people lean in, listen, and see you as a leader.
How I Help Professionals Find Their Voice and Lead with Confidence
Inside Brilliant Speakers Academy®, I work with leaders who want more than surface-level confidence or generic presentation advice.
At the core of my work is helping people overcome public speaking anxiety so they can feel like themselves when they speak.
Confidence alone is not the goal. Confidence is the foundation.
Once that foundation is in place, I teach my clients how to communicate and present in a way that feels natural, grounded, and compelling.
That includes learning how to:
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Prepare for presentations in a way that helps you feel steady and in control, even when things don't go as planned
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Structure ideas and messages so they're clear, engaging, and easy to follow
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Present in a way that feels conversational rather than performative
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Read the room, adapt in real time, and actually connect with the people you're speaking to
This work is not about memorizing scripts, performing confidence, or copying someone else's speaking style.
It's about learning how to think differently when you speak, how to trust yourself in the moment, and how to communicate with clarity and presence when the spotlight is on you.
That's when people stop just hearing your words and start seeing you as an expert and a leader.
What Becomes Possible When You Speak with Calm Authority
Through Brilliant Speakers Academy, I've helped hundreds of executives, senior professionals, and leaders strengthen their communication and eliminate public speaking anxiety.
They speak with authority in meetings, lead presentations with calm confidence, and communicate clearly under pressure. They're seen and recognized as the leaders they already are.
Not louder. Not forced. Just grounded, confident, and credible.
If This Sounds Like You
If you're tired of managing anxiety, avoiding visibility, or pushing through fear, and you know your ideas, experience, and voice deserve more space…
Brilliant Speakers Academy was built for you.
I'm here to help you develop the kind of communication confidence that doesn't disappear when the spotlight hits.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE STRATEGY SESSION WITH ME
Victoria is super talented and owns the KEY to public speaking. She is responsive, supportive, and has excellent problem-solving skills. She communicates in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. And she doesn't stop at teaching, she follows up to ensure you achieve your purpose. She uses all the tools necessary to move participants to their goals.
Victoria, you are amazing, very few people have these traits. I am super happy and grateful to be part of this program!
Kafilat Nafiu
Pharmaceuticals
Brilliant Speakers Academy gave me the tools to step in front of an audience with confidence and passion. It taught me the framework to craft a talk, to prepare for a presentation, and to overcome my fears.
Once I implemented the strategies from the program, my presentations became a lot better. In fact, I started looking for opportunities to present instead of hiding from them.
Alex Yuz
Marketing and Sales
A Few Things You Might Not Expect About Me
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English isn’t my first language, and after 30 years in the U.S., I’m still proudly rocking my Eastern European accent.
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I’m a massive introvert (which surprises most people once they hear me speak).
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My background is in Computer Science and Communication, with graduate degrees in both. I started as a software developer in the late ’90s. Yes, back when AOL dial-up ruled the world.
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I previously founded the Houston location of Nutty Scientists, a worldwide kids’ science education brand, which grew to become the #1 Nutty Scientists franchise in North America.
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I also spent a few years in film school simply because I loved it and wanted to better understand storytelling and communication from a different angle. In 2010, as part of that work, I directed and produced a short documentary, African-American Cowboy: The Forgotten Man of the West. The film was screened at events across the country and has been viewed more than 300,000 times on YouTube.
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I’m a proud fencing mom to two teenage sons who compete at the national level, and my oldest also represents the U.S. internationally. I even did a bit of fencing myself when they were younger.
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I’m a huge Elvis Presley fan. Both of my boys have dressed up as Elvis for Halloween at least once, and I named my rescued pups Elvis and Presley... which probably tells you everything you need to know.
5 Proven Steps You Can Take to Boost Your Public Speaking Confidence Right Now
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