Presenting with Impact: Advancing Your Whole Self through Confident, Authentic Public Speaking

Morning Breakout Session I

It may not be surprising to learn that roughly 75% of individuals have a fear of public speaking. Regardless of how you feel about presenting, our work frequently demands it—from faculty meetings and classrooms to high-stakes podium moments. This gap between fear and professional necessity can hinder career advancement, especially for women. The ability to demonstrate our expertise with our authentic voice is vital to promote and celebrate our whole self in the workplace. When we align our inner expertise with a confident outer voice, we embrace our power to advocate for ourselves, our teams, and our communities, ensuring our contributions are not just heard, but, more importantly, valued. 

Shelby Miuzzo, MSW, draws on a background in competitive debate and hundreds of professional presentations to help professionals bridge the gap between their technical expertise and their public presence. In this session, she’ll share her insider strategies to deliver impactful, thoughtful presentations, and feel confident (or at least less anxious!) doing it.

Join us to explore the many elements that contribute to strong public speaking skills:

  • Content that is clear, organized, and tailored for your audience

  • Body language and hand gestures that add impact without distracting

  • Tips and tricks for vocal clarity and confidence

  • Presenting your best professional self from head to toe!

In this interactive session, attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a “micro-practice” session to briefly test out several techniques with partners or small groups.

Attendees will leave with a toolkit of concrete methods to share their confident, authentic voice every time they take the microphone.

Learning Objectives: 

  1. Develop content tailored for your audience and setting.

  2. Identify and apply a personalized preparation framework to reduce anxiety and ensure readiness for high-stakes presentations.

  3. Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication techniques (body language and vocal inflection) that reflect personal authenticity and professional confidence.

  4. Attendees will practice these techniques in a low-stakes, supportive environment during this session.

Shelby Miuzzo, MSW

Shelby Miuzzo, MSW, leverages her social work background in service to underrepresented students and families and promoting equitable higher education access and success. In her current role as Director, Nonprofit & Agency Partnerships at Granite Edvance, an education-focused nonprofit, she leads efforts to form and sustain relationships with organizations and state agencies to share knowledge and resources, break down silos, and address challenges around education access and equity in NH. A graduate of the Hoffman Haas Fellowship Program Class of 2025, Shelby serves on the Board of Trustees of the Friends Program and the Recruitment Advisory Committee of City Year New Hampshire. She has extensive public speaking experience and has delivered hundreds of presentations at local, regional, and national events, including the annual conferences of the NH School Counselors Association (NHSCA), the New England Association of College Admission Counselors (NEACAC), and the American College Application Campaign (ACAC). Shelby holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Hispanic Studies from Boston College, where she graduated from the honors program, and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in leadership and macro practice from Fordham University.