FAQs

We are a niche communication company specializing in professional speechwriting, speech coaching, executive communication, and speaking and training services that help leaders innovate so they resonate when they communicate.

The firm is led by Teresa Zumwald, an award-winning speechwriter, executive speech coach, executive communication adviser, speaker, trainer and author with four decades of experience helping leaders craft and deliver messages that change how people think or behave.

Our core services include:

• Speechwriting: Custom speeches, high-stakes presentations, video scripts, event scripts and training scripts
• Speech Coaching: In-person coaching, virtual coaching and speaker audits
• Executive Communication: Strategic communications, talking points, opinion pieces, statements, ghostwriting, blog posts, LinkedIn articles and more
• Speaking & Training: Keynotes, custom workshops and webinars, panel facilitation and emcee services

We work with leaders at all levels: CEOs, corporate executives, founders, association leaders, nonprofit leaders, and subject matter experts in virtually every industry.

Our clients range from emerging leaders to seasoned executives.

First: We get to know a little bit about you and your project.

We ask you to complete and submit the Potential New Client Inquiry Form so we can review and respond to your needs.

Then we create a plan to work together — whether you need a formal speech or an informal presentation; speech coaching to ensure a smooth delivery; a thought partnership; a fully ghostwritten piece; a custom workshop; 1:1 training — or a mix of professional communication services.

Second: Based on your responses, we will schedule a conversation: a complimentary discovery call via Zoom to understand your needs, goals, audience, timeline and expectations.

In the meantime, if you have an upfront question, feel free to send us a message by filling out the form on our Contact page.

Yes. We have delivered our professional services both in person and virtually to individual leaders, small teams and large groups throughout the United States and in Europe.

Yes. Our website highlights client success stories via the awards we’ve won, the projects we’ve featured, and the case studies and examples we’ve shared in our blog posts and on our page of resources.

Almost every page on our website includes unsolicited direct quotes from clients who have benefited by working with us.

Yes. Because every client and every project is a little different, we develop a custom scope of work and fee estimate for your review — often with options for different budgets — after our complimentary discovery call provides clarity on your needs, goals, audience, timeline and expectations.

We work 1:1 with leaders to write and deliver speeches and presentations that change how people think or behave.

Our process is collaborative and creative, powered by our in-depth interviewing technique used with thousands of leaders over four decades — human ingenuity that AI will never be able to mimic or replace.

This technique is a process of illumination that inspires your best thinking and leads every time to a personal, vivid, unforgettable speech or presentation — one that only you can deliver.

For more details about our entire speechwriting process, see this post:

What’s the process when you work with a speechwriter?

Yes. The role of a speechwriter is distinct: to help you think clearly, understand your audience, identify your intentions, articulate a message and deliver that message in a way that changes how your audience thinks or behaves.

Throughout history — as far back as ancient Greece — the most respected leaders have relied on speechwriters to help them create and deliver messages that get results; often, leaders just don’t talk about it.

No. Most clients come to us with ideas in their head and no words on the page — and that’s fine with us.

We provide value by following a proven process — grounded in audience analysis, research, deep thinking, intentional outcomes and a single message — that leads to a creative concept, a logical framework, progressive drafts and a final speech manuscript, complete with visual cues to ensure a smooth delivery.

Clients tell us time and again they enjoy the entire process because they’re always discovering something new about themselves and their ideas, and together we create a speech or presentation they could not have created on their own.

Absolutely. Our speechwriting process is rooted in careful research, deep interviewing and active listening. During our initial sessions together and every meeting that follows, we continue to learn your communication style: how you think, talk, listen, learn, teach, tell stories, express yourself and interact with others.

In a short time, we learn what you would say and how you would say it — but perhaps more importantly, we learn what you would not say.

We collaborate with clients to write conversational, clear, clever speeches written for the ear, not the eye.

Timelines vary depending on complexity and context, plus your availability and ours.

Truth is: Most speakers wait too long to begin — so they find themselves scrambling too close to the deadline, which shrinks their rehearsal time before the main event.

A good rule of thumb is this: As soon as you have a confirmed date for your speech or presentation, let’s talk — even if that’s six, eight or 10 months from now.

After we have our complimentary discovery call and a confirmed scope of work in place, we provide a project plan with milestones and deliverables so you know exactly what to expect and when, which makes the process productive and predictable, and not stressful.

Because of the process we follow, that rarely happens.

Before the first draft, you’ve already agreed to the audience, intentions and solitary message, along with the creative concept and framework — so the first draft flows from what you’ve already seen, approved and contributed to.

There are no surprises. So the first draft naturally lands.

We help speakers communicate effectively across a variety of delivery formats: live/in-person (keynotes, presentations, panels, fireside chats), live virtual events, hybrid programs, recorded video, podcasts and more.

Yes. We routinely sign nondisclosure agreements when working with clients sharing confidential and proprietary information.

Speeches and presentations that are not confidential and proprietary are shared as work samples only with your permission.

We always respect your privacy.

Absolutely. Our in-person and virtual speech coaching sessions include real-time feedback and delivery modeling so you can quickly address problem areas for immediate improvement both during the sessions and after, for additional practice and reinforcement.

Speech edits and personalized speaker notations may be recommended to improve your delivery.

After every speech coaching session, you’ll leave feeling prepared, confident and exhilarated — fully ready to deliver every word and every line for maximum impact.

Yes. Speech coaching is about the mechanics — plus preparation, preparation, preparation — and confidence. We give you honest feedback in real time so you can deliver your next speech or presentation with presence and power.

Feelings like these are more common among speakers than you think.

Executive speech coaching can help you address nerves and anxiety head on with intentional content that you own, delivery techniques, preparation habits, rehearsal strategies — and a coach in your corner — so you can begin to feel confident presenting in your natural style and ready to deliver for your audiences.

Both. Many seasoned executives work with us because the stakes are high, not because they’re inexperienced.

Once your speech or presentation is ready to go, speech coaching allows you to sharpen every aspect of your delivery: from your opening, transitions and closing, to your pace, tone and emphasis, to your pauses, body language and eye contact.

Often, yes. Our job is to make you successful as a speaker. Speech coaching often reveals lines that need to be tweaked and refined, and visual cues that must be added, to make your words as easy as possible for you to rehearse and deliver well.

To ensure every speech coaching session is as productive as possible, we schedule speech coaching sessions only after you have dedicated sufficient time to rehearsing independently.

After that, in-person coaching has a two-hour minimum, and virtual coaching has a 90-minute minimum.

For best results, we typically recommend two or more sessions — possibly more for high-stakes events.

Always. Every speech coaching session we conduct is a private session.

Leaders who work with us say they:

• Appreciate our methodical process and passion from start to finish
• Enjoy our working relationship, characterized by trust, strong collaboration and attention to detail
• Gain a renewed excitement around their big idea, supported by messages and stories that change how people think or behave
• Feel confident in their improved delivery skills

Executive communication is how you — as a leader — convey ideas clearly, succinctly and strategically to influence people and drive results.

Executive communication is ongoing and can take many forms: strategic communications, talking points, opinion pieces, statements, ghostwriting, blog posts, LinkedIn articles and more.

We’ve even collaborated with executives on business books and worked with subject matter experts to ghostwrite proprietary manuals.

Yes. This is core to our work. We help leaders develop sensitive communications with care — balancing honesty, empathy, clarity and restraint — so messages land as intended and are not misinterpreted.

We expect those. Executive communication often requires navigating competing audiences and viewpoints, hidden land mines and unspoken concerns.

We help you think through how different groups will hear your message and then adjust accordingly.

We’re used to it. We have experience working with legal teams to ensure the final messaging reduces risk while maintaining clear meaning for the audience.

We build this kind of review time into our process.

We deliver speaking and training programs in a variety of formats:

• Keynote-style and breakout session talks
• Workshops
• Webinars
• Hybrid programs

Both. We design custom training for individual emerging leaders, experienced leaders, and small and large groups with a specific communication need.

Over the past few years, here are some of the training programs we have delivered:

• Speak Like a Leader: How to AIM for Impact and Drive ROI
• How to Write Better at Work
• How to Persuade and Influence People
• How to Make All Impressions Count
• How to Frame Your Content
• How to Engage the Audience

Yes. We tailor every training program based on your audience, goals, industry and current communication challenges.

Our training programs typically feature not only presentations and discussions but also frameworks, worksheets, examples, practice exercises, on-the-fly coaching, feedback and practical tools participants can use immediately.

Clients of our past training programs include:

• Schools and colleges
• Professional associations
• Regional and national conferences
• Nonprofit organizations
• Government agencies
• Corporations
• Training organizations
• Leadership development programs
• Business networking organizations
• Chambers of commerce