My name is Georgina Kirk and I'm a freelance public-speaking coach, based in Manchester (UK). I love this job and have been doing it for more than 20 years. During this time, I have helped a wide variety of people to find their voices, both literally and metaphorically. These include businesspeople, politicians, brides, grooms, best men, magicians, clergypeople, charity organisers, postgraduate students, a Miss Great Britain contestant, academics preparing to present papers at conferences, writers preparing to promote their books and many individuals preparing to speak at parties or to groups sharing their interests.
I have a BA (Hons) degree in Italian & Russian and an MSc in Personnel Management & Industrial Relations, both from Manchester University. As an undergraduate, I was active in politics and cut my public-speaking teeth during heated debates at the students' union.
After university, I worked in London, training corporate clients in the use of mainframe computer systems and, later, training up in-house trainers to take over from me. I then moved to Milan and spent a couple of happy years teaching English and presentation skills to corporate clients there.
Since then, I've worked as a freelance trainer, mainly in Manchester and the surrounding areas. As well as the public speaking coaching, I've taught languages, communication skills (listening, people management, interview techniques) and self-actualisation (along the lines of life coaching).
A great believer in expanding both my horizons and my comfort zone, I continue to push myself in pursuit of a range of interests and hobbies - amongst them journalism, psychotherapy and outdoor survival. Another of my enthusiasms is magic and I perform from time to time as compère for magic shows around the north-west of England.
Public speaking coaching
The training I provide is mostly on a one-to-one basis, completely customised to meet the needs of the individual client. As well as teaching the techniques of effective public speaking, I can help, if required, with the composition, writing and structure of a speech or presentation and with overcoming excess nerves and psychological barriers to success.
For more detail, please see the public speaking coaching page.
Public speaking ebook
Over the years I've been speaking in public and coaching others in public speaking, I've learnt a great deal about what works and what doesn't work. Finally, I've distilled all this into an ebook, which you can download, should you wish to, in less than five minutes. It took me over a year to write but it shouldn't take you more than an hour or two to read. I like to think this ebook is the next best thing to a personal coaching session and will give you everything you need to become a successful, confident public speaker.
For more detail, please see the public speaking ebook page.
Public Speaking Coach: About me