Public Speaking Skills

Speak Out's comprehensive approach is tailor-made to suit each participant's level and needs, and provides both the fine points and basics of content and delivery. Clients acquire the tools and knowledge they need for speaking to one or one thousand.

Speak Out! is available for training sessions in San Francisco, the greater Bay Area and New York City.

  • Even the brightest, most highly skilled executives often have insufficient oral presentation skills. After all, few have ever received any training in this specific area, and even fewer are natural speakers.

    These custom-tailored, two-hour Individual Coaching Sessions focus on a speaker's specific needs. They provide a private coaching environment for mastering the fine points of public speaking and presentation. Coaching addresses all aspects of content and delivery, as well as integrating visual aids and matching the message to the company culture.

    Busy professionals preparing to speak at an upcoming event can use these sessions to refine and polish their talk in a concentrated manner. Ms. Rainero also offers these private sessions to those who wish to strengthen and refine their general presentation skill set. Sessions may be videotaped for an additional layer of feedback.

    Ms. Rainero is available to coach individuals at either her San Francisco studio or the client's site. She will create individualized programs for organizations wishing to train a number of their key executives.

  • Speak Out! Group Workshops offer organizations concentrated training in speaking and presentation skills for key employees or project teams. The workshop format provides the additional benefit of emulating an actual presentation situation.

    Diagnostic feedback from the group and the instructor provides objectivity and is an essential first step. The workshop then takes the more vital step of prescription and correction: participants not only learn to identify areas of weakness, but also gain the skills for improvement. The focus is on ten critical aspects of content and delivery that enable a speaker to engage an audience, deliver a dynamic message and project conviction and capability.

    Participants prepare five minutes of speaking material that will be used for developing a full set of presentation skills. All workshops are given by Speak Out! founder Ruth Rainero. Sessions may be videotaped.

  • Ruth Rainero is available to address your organization on the art of presentation and public speaking. An engaging and accomplished speaker herself, she offers several different talks and will also work with your organization to develop a topic of interest for your event. These talks may include interactive components and are suitable for conference breakout sessions.

    • Compaq Computers

    • Deloitte & Touche

    • Federal Reserve Bank

    • Great Place to Work Institute

    • Herman Miller

    • Landor Associates

    • MacWorld

    • Oracle

    • Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro

    • PricewaterhouseCoopers

    • Providian Financial

    • San Francisco City

    • Signia Capital Management

    • Sofinnova Ventures

    • K101 Career Fair

    • Lawyers' Club of San Francisco

    • Littler Mendelson

    • UC Alumni Career Conference

Testimonials

  • “In my work, I must persuade others, conveying credibility and warmth. An authentic and assured voice is essential. Ruth encouraged me to realize my own vocal power and taught me to speak naturally - but better. She made me conscious of the image I was projecting, and of how to improve it in the moment. Her teaching methods are founded on empathy, intuition and humor.”

    -Sue Merrilees, UCSF

  • “As a result of working with Ruth, my presentations now have a much greater impact. They are crisper, more succinct, and targeted to the audience. My colleagues are enthusiastic about the improvement in my communication skills. They report that I'm now lively and engaging, that I exude confidence, and that I deliver a powerful message. The Speak Out! approach has helped me become more successful in my career.”

    - Bill Huffaker, Director of HR at major US companies

  • “Ruth’s Speak Out! approach to public speaking brought creativity and clarity to my technical and legal presentations. I have acquired new confidence in speaking to groups, and I now have enjoyment and pleasure in making presentations or participating on panels.”

    - Kerry Francis, Partner, Deloitte & Touche