How to Speak With Confidence: Insights From a 3x TEDx Speaker Coach | #107: Nausheen I. Chen

Nausheen I. Chen is a public speaking coach, TEDx speaker, ex-filmmaker, and former Fortune 50 manager who’s helped over 500 leaders speak with clarity and confidence on stage and on camera. She’s trained execs at Google, Amazon and SAP, coached LinkedIn creators like Sophie Miller and Ruben Hassid, and teaches public speaking at Central European University and on LinkedIn Learning. From film sets in China to TEDx stages across the world, Nausheen brings a rare mix of storytelling, improv, and leadership to her work.

In this episode, she shares how to build unshakable confidence, even if you’ve always feared public speaking. We talk stage presence, nerves, pre-talk rituals, and what it really takes to connect with an audience, whether it’s a packed theatre or a laptop webcam. Nausheen also opens up about her filmmaking years, her first TEDx talk, and why confidence has nothing to do with personality and everything to do with preparation.

Connect with Nausheen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/
https://www.speaking.coach/

TEDx Talks:
https://youtu.be/_MFdHrWvU0E?si=U7OqhwPWDXHepFVx
https://youtu.be/wUm23k29-5Y?si=N7yvJXOYZH8HQcM5
https://youtu.be/trUz9wh-arE?si=0jsSBYuWhJ8XvVvG 

Timestamps:
00:00 – Confidence is a skill
01:16 – Nausheen’s story and start
02:04 – From filmmaker to coach
03:10 – What public speaking really means today
04:28 – Nature vs nurture in confidence
05:23 – Speaking up as the youngest child
06:52 – Realising her value as a speaker
07:39 – Building a film business in China
09:30 – Working through language barriers
10:12 – Directing, filming, and why she pivoted
12:32 – Stage or camera coaching?
13:30 – How COVID changed public speaking
15:41 – Stage vs camera: which is harder?
18:01 – Teaching both styles of speaking
20:36 – Why she prefers directing over acting
22:08 – Pressure and hierarchy in film
23:56 – Managing nerves before big talks
26:16 – Her pre-stage rituals
27:29 – Why speaker energy sets the tone
32:48 – Cultural surprises on stage in China
35:19 – TEDx prep and the power of fun
38:56 – Sharing personal stories on stage
40:16 – Why she did more TEDx talks
41:40 – Dream of speaking in French
42:57 – Hobbies and downtime
44:49 – Where to find her and her resources
46:24 – Final advice: you’ve got more control
48:48 – Wrap up and thank you

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