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Finding Your Voice: Expert public speaking tips from Executive Voice Coach David Pope

Blog post graphic shows Aurora50 and NOORA logos with strapline Aurora50's women's network, plus headline ‘Finding Your Voice: Expert public speaking tips from Executive Voice Coach David Pope’ and an image of a microphone in front of a large crowd.
Suzanne Locke 12 May 2025
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Small changes in how you speak can have a big impact on how people perceive you in professional settings. We spoke to David Pope, Executive Voice Coach at All Voice Talent, who works with business leaders globally to help them develop effective public speaking skills and find their authentic voice, and who recently ran a workshop for Aurora50’s NOORA members.

Q: What are the most important elements of public speaking and presentation skills?

A: Public speaking is not just standing in front of a group of people delivering speeches.

Any form of communication where you’re effectively showing up is public speaking – panel interviews, speaking on boards, keynote presentations, conferences, being a moderator or on a panel, podcasts and even networking events.

It’s about that strength, energy, warmth and engagement you bring to the communication piece. Effective public speaking skills are essential for career advancement and leadership development.

There is pressure on all of us not only to perform well in our jobs but to sound good while doing it. As we climb the ladder it’s important to understand the voice, and the ramifications of being a good communicator.

The good news is we don’t have to make drastic changes – even small changes can have a big impact. So, for example, If your voice sounds just a little bit stronger, people begin to see you as a stronger person.

Graphic for Aurora50 blog post ‘Finding Your Voice: Expert public speaking tips from Executive Voice Coach David Pope’ shows Aurora50 logo and NOORA - 'Aurora50's women's network' logo. The image is a quote from David Pope, which reads: “There is pressure on all of us to not only perform well in our jobs but to sound good while we’re doing it. As we climb the ladder it’s important to understand the voice, and the ramifications of being a good communicator.” The graphic includes a photo of David Pope with the text David Pope, Executive Voice Coach, All Voice Talent.

Q: What are the foundations of voice essential for being an effective public speaker?

A: Understanding the foundation of the voice is crucial for confident public speaking. This involves vocal training exercises around posture, diaphragmatic breathing, voice projection and articulation.

It’s about having volume in your voice to help you speak with authority. You also need clarity in the way that you deliver your message.

Speaking clearly centres around good articulation, which is basically enunciation and pronunciation – an essential skill for being a good public speaker.

For women climbing the leadership ladder, it’s especially important to understand the voice and the ramifications of being a good communicator when speaking in public. This is why I work a lot with women’s groups such as DBWC (Dubai Business Women’s Council), JP Morgan’s Women on the Move, Goldman Sachs, Women In Law, Risky Women (for women in risk and compliance), WISTA (for women in maritime) and many more – and now NOORA.

Graphic for Aurora50 blog post ‘Finding Your Voice: Expert public speaking tips from Executive Voice Coach David Pope’ shows Aurora50 logo and NOORA - 'Aurora50's women's network' logo with headline ‘’Key speaking techniques’. The graphic shows five rows: in the first, an illustration of dials moving up and down on sound equipment inside a speech bubble, with the text “Intonation and pitch variation”. In the second, an illustration of exclamation marks and stars inside a speech bubble with the text “Vocal emphasis and stress.” In the third, an illustration of a clock and arrow moving clockwise inside a speech bubble, with the text “Speech pacing and rhythm.” In the fourth, an illustration of a pause button inside a speech bubble with the text “Strategic pausing for impact.” In the fifth and final row, an illustration of a sound wave inside a speech bubble, with the text “Dynamic volume control.”

Q: How does vocal variety transform someone’s public speaking ability?

A: Vocal variety is what turns a good speaker into a great public speaker. This includes key speaking techniques:

  • Intonation and pitch variation
  • Vocal emphasis and stress
  • Speech pacing and rhythm
  • Strategic pausing for impact
  • Dynamic volume control

When you master these public speaking elements, you create a more dynamic and engaging presentation style that captures audience attention.

This is particularly important in leadership positions and professional speaking engagements where command of the room is essential for persuasive communication.

Q: Who do you consider exemplary public speakers and why?

A: Obama is often called the ‘poster boy’ for gravitas in speech. He’s good because he is slow but not ‘boring-slow’. A lot of people make that mistake – they think having a slow, steady pace all the time has gravitas. What we need is to vary the pace.

Obama holds space, slows down for key messages to make them land, then speeds up, then slows down again. Notice how he uses pauses – his pausing and pacing are very effective. He’s had years of voice coaching and that’s why he comes across as so natural – he’s got the foundation.

Another exemplary speaker is Brené Brown. She speaks from the heart, with authenticity in her delivery. Obama has gravitas – pitch, resonance and oratorial style. The key thing with Brené Brown is authenticity.

She’s really exuding that, with a tone that’s gentle, warm and engaging. She’s also using pacing and pausing to great effect.

Graphic for Aurora50 blog post ‘Finding Your Voice: Expert public speaking tips from Executive Voice Coach David Pope’ shows Aurora50 logo and NOORA - 'Aurora50's women's network' logo with headline ‘Exemplary public speakers’. The graphic shows two columns. On the left, the header Barack Obama and three bullet points: “‘Poster boy’ for gravitas; Oratorial style; Holds space, slows down for key messages to land,” with an image of Barack Obama speaking in a circle cutout. On the right, the header Brené Brown and three bullet points: “Speaks from the heart; Authenticity in her delivery; Gentle, warm and engaging tone,” with an image of Brené Brown speaking in a circle cutout.

Q: What are your tips for making an impact on video calls?

A: One of the most important things is eye contact. To have impact and authority at the beginning of meetings, look directly into the camera because that engages people from the get-go. That shows your authority and sets the scene for the meeting.

We also need to be conscious of aesthetics and camera presence. Is your head cut off? Are you tipping to one side? People do this and aren’t aware. The whole image is really important.

Sit a little bit further back to allow your hands to come into the screen if you want to use them – so you don’t end up with tiny ‘T-Rex hands’. Having space allows you to engage properly.

This is about holding the room and commanding attention – not just in a big physical space, but from that tiny little screen we’re looking at.

A practical tip: To help yourself look at the camera instead of the screen, draw a big arrow on a post-it note and stick it by your camera. Every time you switch on the screen and see the sticker with an arrow, it forces you to look at the camera.

Q: What advice do you have for non-native English speakers in professional settings?

A: First, keep your language simple. Don’t try to use overly complex vocabulary – keep it simple.

Second, keep your messaging brief as well. If people don’t understand, they can always ask for clarification.

Third, work on articulation. If you’re speaking to regional or global teams and have specific technical terms you must use (like AUM or ‘assets under management’), practice those phrases beforehand.

Treat them like tongue twisters and do a targeted warm-up with acronyms and terms: for instance, keep saying “assets under management, assets under management” and slow the pace. Get your mouth moving so when you’re on the call, you’ve warmed your mouth up with key vocabulary.

Q: How can storytelling improve business communication?

A: There’s a slight disconnect about this word storytelling’ – people think it means a long, convoluted story. No. If something sparks emotion and contains a learning, that can be a story.

Business stories should always have an outcome, objective, or goal – to inspire and influence an audience. They help you connect with people on a human level by showing vulnerability and humanity. We can all tell stories.

Stories help sell products or services (think about how advertising does this), win customers and clients and make pitches more effective. Begin a pitch with an origin story rather than dry facts. The bottom line is that stories make facts and data more interesting.

Business stories need positive outcomes because you’re trying to get somebody to do something or buy into your idea. Stories of showing resilience, courage, or transformation are particularly powerful.

Remember: voice, presence, delivery and storytelling – put all these together and you’re a great communicator.

Find out more about David Pope’s coaching programmes, workshops and online video courses at allvoicetalent.com/.

NOORA is the Aurora50 community for talented and ambitious corporate women in the GCC who lead with impact. You can purchase a corporate package or buy membership as an individual. Find out more at aurora50.com/noora.

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