Speaking up, sharing ideas, or presenting to a group doesn’t need to be the worst part of your week.
Speaking easily in front of others is a skill that can be learned. We’ve got the track record to prove it.
Chicago’s Go-To Public Speaking Trainer for Individuals & Organizations
Fun, practical team workshops.
Learn the nerve-busting secrets to walk into any room (boardroom, wedding reception, or all-hands meeting) knowing exactly how to hold the room. Our simple, repeatable techniques help you feel in control and natural.
Sound too good to be true?
“Marianna's background in Improv was a key qualification for me. Much of my motivational speaking work centers around Improv. More so, Improv drives how I approach each speaking event - establishing a connection to the audience, acceptance, and authenticity. It was essential that Marianna understand these concepts, and then help me develop stronger speaking skills around those elements of Improv. I couldn't be happier with the results! The more we worked together, it was clear that Marianna was seeing and hearing things in my talks, and providing specific, helpful advice…My speeches now have structure and a formula that have helped me prepare for each talk. One benefit of this is that any self-doubt has been replaced by confidence and intention.”
— TOM FARLEY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR | RECOVERY.COM
Your team is awesome. It’s how they communicate that’s the problem.
Rambling updates.
Data dumps instead of recommendations.
Smart people who lose the room two slides in.
Our interactive workshops fix this at the source. Your team learns to present with confidence, get to the point, and frame ideas so people can act on them, whether they're pitching clients, briefing executives, or running a Tuesday meeting.
The fix is upgrading the way your people communicate.
The payoff is a faster, happier team.
Better Team Training Starts Here
A dash of improv. A touch of business savvy. A shot of mindfulness. With a chaser of humor.
Because building effective speaking skills can actually be fun. ⚡️
Clear. Confident.
Done by Lunch.
Be done with meandering meetings and presentations.
An interactive keynote or workshop that sheds light on the skills needed to speak with confidence, get to the point, and make every message land.
Go Off Script & Keep Your Wits About You
No more ‘I forgot to say this and this!’ after the fact.
Drawing on my background in comedy and improv, I’ll teach your team to stay composed, think fast, and respond well when they're caught off guard or put on the spot.
The Heat Is On
& You’ve GOT This
For keynote prep or the pitch that changes everything.
Coaching (for you or your leadership team) to sharpen your message, delivery, and presence. This is personalized, intensive, and tailored for your goals.
The presentations above are our most popular and can be adjusted for groups of any size. We also offer a variety of additional presentations and workshops designed to meet the unique needs of your team, organization, or event. Click below to learn more.
“She reads the room & adjusts on the fly to make sure you get exactly what you need…”
-
![]()
"Marianna’s communication training has become an important part of how we develop our technology leaders, which is exactly why we keep bringing her back. The team left saying it was more effective than other corporate trainings they have been through. We saw real results right away. Leaders started building stronger business cases, writing clearer emails, running more efficient meetings, and having more meaningful 1:1s. It also helped us partner better with the business because our communication became more structured and aligned.”
TONY SCHWINGEL
Vice President, Infrastructure & Service Delivery | Brookfield -
![]()
“We needed a seasoned public speaking trainer to coach our executives for an internal leadership summit. Marianna immediately puts you at ease and quickly identifies areas of opportunity to sharpen your story and delivery. She provides sound counsel on how to overcome challenges and shares that feedback in a way that is productive and respectful.”
JENNIFER DAVIS
Head of Communications + PR | Glanbia -
![]()
“We hired Marianna as a vendor to help build confidence among our individual contributors when presenting data, and to help our senior leaders clearly communicate complex data. Marianna’s energy is contagious. She brings learning to life in a way that makes it engaging and fun. Her training has boosted our team’s confidence in presenting data and helped them embrace storytelling as a compelling way to share their insights.”
JON BOYD
Learning & Development Specialist | Fairlife -
![]()
“We hired Marianna to give a workshop to around ten small business owners. I was most delighted by Marianna's ability to read the room and make adjustments on the fly. She could really tell what parts of the workshop were hitting home for the participants and which were not and as a result she was able to seamlessly spend more time in the areas of interest.”
PAUL CAVALIERI
Associate Director | Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship -
![]()
"The way you presented was super engaging you modeled storytelling and collaboration. The collaboration in the room and conversations afterwards opened up a different avenue for our team – they were engaging with each other in a way they wouldn’t have in the past. We had conversations outside of our usual scope, and that opened the door to more collaboration. The way you prepared and tailored the content – you knew our customer, you knew our positioning."
STEPHANIE JOHNSON
Sr. Manager, Global Education and Training | Advanced Bionics -
![]()
“I just wanted to thank you for all of the instructions on Public Speaking. I really enjoyed the workshops and I have used many of the ideas you have provided me in recent talks. I cannot thank you enough for everything you taught me. It was always a fun atmosphere alongside practical instruction. It was really a great experience. I really felt you provided me with tools that were transferable to almost every aspect of my life. And for that, THANK YOU.”
STEVE SCOTTI
Education Justice Project
“Working with Marianna was like upgrading from a handwritten map to a GPS! She helped me sharpen the core message of our company, so that it landed with clarity and confidence. She encouraged me to distill our story, making every word count. And most importantly she helped me connect emotionally with the audience. Whether you’re pitching or presenting, Marianna is the coach who’ll make sure you don’t just speak, but that you resonate!”
— BRIAN MCGOVERN | CEO | THE BABY ACADEMY
Meet your speak-easy specialist.
Around here, we believe when communication flows, collaboration grows.
Easy-going speaking skills give busy professionals their time and energy back. Because when communication tension and overwhelm no longer fill you with dread—your creativity, ideas, and insights have room to breathe.
If speaking in front of a group makes your palms sweat, you're in good company.
Over the past twenty-plus years, I've met thousands of professionals who would rather do almost anything else than stand up and speak. A root canal? Maybe. Skydiving with a questionable parachute? Possibly. Presenting to a room full of colleagues? Hard pass.
The good news? Speaking to groups doesn't have to feel hard.
My background in improv theater and acting shapes every keynote, workshop, and training I lead. Instead of stiff presentations and awkward participation, you'll find practical tools, engaging activities, and a relaxed atmosphere that helps people learn, remember, and actually enjoy the experience.
Whether you're looking for a conference keynote or team training, my goal is simple: help your people share ideas, lead conversations, and speak to groups without all the tension that usually comes with it.
Keynotes & Conference Speaking →
Workshops & Team Trainings →
Get lightning-fast (FREE) audio lessons to improve your public speaking skills.
THEY ARRIVE IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX + TAKE LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.
✱ HELPFUL LITTLE TIDBITS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE REAL QUICK ✱
