The BostonSpeaks Mission
To help professionals overcome the fear of public speaking and become influential speakers.
Discover how you can take your speaking to a whole new level.
Quick BostonSpeaks Facts
The year BostonSpeaks was established. It all started with a dream.
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Workshops, events, and gatherings held so far in the City of Boston and online.
Individuals who've gone through our training and events to become confident and influential speakers.
Our Philosophy
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On Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety - Mindset Before Skillset
At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that addressing public speaking anxiety requires a deliberate focus on one's mindset before diving into skill development.
You see...there are two types of audiences that you're always speaking to.
The external audience (the people in front of you) and the internal audience (your mindset).Â
Most speaking coaches and programs focus only on helping you get better at engaging the external audience hoping that will change your internal state.Â
This is backward.
The truth is that your inner game runs your outer game.
Understanding the Power of Mindset Towards Your Speaking Success:
- We recognize that the way individuals perceive and approach public speaking plays a pivotal role in their success. Mindset encompasses the beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes one holds regarding public speaking. It can either be a supportive force or a significant hindrance.
Speaking Skills and Learning Development:
- While we emphasize the importance of mindset, we do not downplay the significance of skill development. Once an individual has cultivated a public speaking mindset that gives them the confidence they need to excel in their speaking situations, they can then work on developing the necessary skills, such as message development, using effective body language, and engaging the audience.
Our philosophy on overcoming public speaking anxiety places a strong emphasis on mindset before skillset. We believe that by addressing the psychological aspects, individuals can build the resilience and confidence needed to become effective and engaging speakers. Once your speaking mindset is nurtured, the development of the necessary speaking skills becomes more attainable, ultimately leading to greater success and fulfillment in public speaking endeavors.
On Becoming A World-Class Speaker - Mindset, Manner, and Matter
Once you've taken the time to work on your speaking mindset so you can speak with confidence in any situation, the key to becoming a great speaker lies in the continuous improvement of these three core areas (in no particular order):
Mindset - This is knowing how to communicate with yourself - your thoughts, your feelings, and the actions that shape you as the speaker and leader that you are.
Manner (Delivery and Presence) - This is your body language, voice, and presence. You'll focus on refining and elevating the way you present yourself through how you deliver.
Matter (Content) - This is what you say. When you speak, is your message clear, coherent, and convincing to your audience?
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Meet The BostonSpeaks Team
Gina Rapaport
Head Public Speaking Coach
(Berkeley, CA/Virtual)
gina (@) bostonspeaks.com
After conquering her own fear of public speaking, Gina Rapaport became passionate about empowering others to find their voices and speak with confidence. Now she has helped hundreds of professionals—from emerging leaders to senior executives—transform their communication skills and command any room. Whether she’s coaching a client to deliver a keynote in front of 1,000 people or to speak up with confidence in a meeting, Gina provides the tools and mindset shifts needed for lasting impact.
An ICF Certified Professional Coach and certified mediator, Gina blends the mindset and mechanics of public speaking to create sustainable confidence and influence. Her holistic approach is shaped by a master’s degree in integrative health and a background in corporate wellness, giving her a unique perspective on overcoming fear and fostering authentic presence.
When she’s not coaching, Gina is playing with her two daughters, tackling a new home DIY project, or curating the perfect Spotify playlist for every occasion.
Steven English
Public Speaking Coach
(Austin TX/Virtual)
steven (@) bostonspeaks.com
Steven English is an ICF Professional Certified Coach dedicated to empowering introverted leaders to find their authentic voice and make a lasting impact. With a 22-year background in engineering management at companies like Samsung, Cirrus Logic, and STMicroelectronics, Steven recognized that effective communication is the key to leadership success. This realization led him to establish multiple Toastmasters clubs, where he mentored professionals in honing their public speaking skills.
Transitioning fully into professional development, Steven has coached hundreds of individuals and delivered keynote speeches, including a TEDx talk in 2021. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to emerging startups. Holding an MS in Materials Science and a BS in Physics, Steven combines technical expertise with a passion for personal growth.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Steven enjoys mountain biking, exploring topics like meditation and positive psychology, and cherishing time with his partner and their three sons.
Cassandra Powell
Public Speaking Coach
(Philadelphia PA/Virtual)
cassandra (@) bostonspeaks.com
Cassandra began performing and speaking at just 10 years old—voice shaking, heart racing, and terrified of messing up. Over the years, she transformed that fear into confidence, a journey that now fuels her passion for helping others do the same.
With a background in theatre and performance, over 3,330+ hours of coaching, and 9+ years of experience in personal development, Cassandra has helped hundreds of professionals step into their power and tackle challenges with confidence.
Blending psychology, neuroscience, and authentic exploration, she helps speakers break through mental blocks to be seen and heard, feel empowered, and share their voice with the world. She believes public speaking isn’t just about words—it’s about energy, connection, and impact. Her work has been featured in Forbes, O Magazine, and Buzzfeed.
When she’s not coaching, you can find Cassandra traveling the world, regretting starting a 3,000-piece puzzle, and discovering new ways to help people build resilience.
Hazel Mara Conti
Creative Director
hazel (@) bostonspeaks.com
Hazel oversees both the back-end operations and the creative direction of the business. With a keen eye for design and a passion for innovation, Hazel has helped shape BostonSpeaks into the premier destination for cutting-edge ideas and public speaking thought leadership. Hazel helps in developing new branding strategies and building out the company's digital infrastructure, she is always pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Hazel is a mom of a bubbly little girl and a coffee lover. On the weekends, she likes going on long early motorcycle rides with her husband to connect with nature and eat good food.
Vanessa Burns
Executive Support Manager
vanessa (@) bostonspeaks.com
Vanessa ensures the seamless operation of executive functions, providing essential support to the leadership team and ensuring efficient communication and implementation of projects. Her organizational skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn make her an invaluable asset to the company.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Vanessa has a passion for exploring new destinations, challenging herself with CrossFit workouts, and indulging in diverse culinary experiences. Whether she's discovering hidden gems in a new city, pushing her limits at the gym, or savoring delicious dishes, Vanessa brings a vibrant energy and excitement to everything she undertakes.
Marie Fazio
Speaker Success Specialist
marie (@) bostonspeaks.com
Overcoming her anxiety around public speaking was a turning point for Marie, inspiring her to help others unlock their full potential and change their lives - one of the many reasons she joined the BostonSpeaks team. Â
With a background in corporate education and sales enablement, she specializes in designing impactful training programs and creating growth opportunities. As VP of Education at her local Toastmasters Club, Marie mentors individuals in communication and leadership skills.Â
Hayleigh Bailey
Chief Operations Officer
hayleigh (@) bostonspeaks.com
Hayleigh is our Chief Operations Officer, our eye in the sky. She is a strategic force with a talent for making all our dreams come true by keeping us organized and focused on our goals. She specializes in creating efficiencies in our business so that we as a team can provide our clients with an exceptional and un-matched coaching experience, while also expanding our business so that we can help more and more people overcome public speaking anxiety year after year.
The active adventurer on our team, you can find Hayleigh enjoying a plethora of outdoor activities whilst traveling the world, including climbing, skiing, yoga, dancing, and acrobatics. She's a firm believer in personal development, meaningful connection, and healthy living.
Kit Pang
Founder
kit (@) bostonspeaks.com (Learn more about Kit)
Kit has helped hundreds of leaders and high-performing professionals speak with greater confidence and influence. His experiences include being the founder of BostonSpeaks, a Harvard Business School Public Speaking Coach, a TEDx Speaker and a 3-Time TEDx Speaker Coach.
In this phase of the journey, Kit is pouring his energy into three key facets:
1) Propelling BostonSpeaks to new heights of success
2) Nurturing the growth of each team member
3) Fine-tuning the solution to the public speaking anxiety cure
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Who We Are - Our Core Values at BostonSpeaks
- Expansion: Embrace Growth Beyond Comfort
We thrive by stepping outside our comfort zones and pushing past limitations. Growth comes with discomfort, and greatness lies in moments that challenge and even make us nervous. By embracing these opportunities, we position ourselves to reach new heights, continuously moving beyond our edges.
- Authentic Communication & Transparency
We value honest, open, and real communication. This means challenging our own perspectives, being open to others’ ideas, and actively listening, even when it’s uncomfortable or something we don't agree with, because we're open minded. We speak our truth, express how we genuinely feel, and foster a culture where being human, vulnerable, and upfront strengthens our connections and work.
- Enjoyable Excellence
We are committed to producing high-quality work while enjoying the process. Striving for excellence doesn’t mean sacrificing joy. Instead, we aim to create an inspiring, collaborative environment where we work within our genius zones, balance ambition with fun, and celebrate our collective success.
- Self Care, Team Care, Speaker Care
Care is at the heart of everything we do. We prioritize self-care, recognizing that we can only give our best to others when we take care of ourselves first. We nurture our team’s well-being and create meaningful, supportive connections. And we go above and beyond to care for the speakers we serve, ensuring they feel valued and supported.
- Measured Progressive Movement
Numbers are a way for us to measure progress and see our journey clearly. They show us where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. Without them, it’s easy to feel stuck or lose sight of how far we’ve come. When we can track our progress, we’re reminded of what we’ve overcome, giving us the motivation to keep moving forward. Numbers give us the opportunity to celebrate wins, big and small, and acknowledge the growth we’ve already made. They show us the real, measurable steps we’ve taken toward our goals, turning abstract ideas of progress into tangible evidence of success.
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