I’m Lana, founder of The Lucid Speaker, a skills-building consulting firm aimed at improving communication skills for ambitious professionals. For nearly three decades, I have managed ever-changing audiences as both speaker and observer—and I’ve learned a few things.

 

Having spent my career in corporate environments, I have been part of monumental changes in technology: from cabled terminals to servers; to the world wide web, mobile tech, and now AI. My journey evolved as the times changed.

 

In those early days, I was terrified of speaking in front of others. I used to lose sleep over it. I barely said two words throughout university, yet a decade later I managed to travel North America to deliver training to Fortune 500 companies like Walmart, Boeing, Monsanto, and the Ford Motor Company. I eventually became a spokesperson for a government agency, interfacing with thousands of stakeholders. My audience have been finance professionals, government officials, associations, law enforcement, clients, and the general public.

 

Over time, those audiences became more diverse. I wrote speeches for executives and prepared them for media. I mapped out moves for thousands of employees undergoing organizational transformations. I learned how to speak in front of others, and my career grew because of it.Throughout the years, I've taken many presentations skills courses as part of schooling and while working they were all beneficial and what i learned is that only when you're challenged do you seek to learn

 

Looking back, I see my trajectory more fully. When I landed on Bay Street, it was common for me to be in spaces where I was the only person who looked like me. I was an OG who was determined to break through barriers.

 

While so much has changed in corporations over the last 30 years, public speaking programs have not. To me, public speaking and giving presentations is a learnable skill and my aim is to provide you with the right tools and strategies to help flex vital skills that develop and grow your career.

 

You will see results, I guarantee it.