Empowering voices: introducing ‘The Inclusive Speaker’ and its premiere at axe-con

Some of you may already have seen some of this over social media earlier today, especially on LinkedIn and on Facebook, but today is a big day for me, and I’d like to tell you all about it. So many stories to tell, so many memories to share, so many anecdotes to quite frankly edit, just so this remains a “suitable for work” space.

Yup, so, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that today marks a monumental day in my life – the launch of my very first book! “Writing a book” had been sitting at the top of my bucket list for as long as I can remember, so this is a really big deal for me. Yes, I’ve been talking about it for a little while, and I know that some of you have been keeping tabs on the progress, and for that I really want to say “thank you”. But some of you might not know yet. I’d like to change that!

As anyone who’s written a book knows, when you’re deep into the weeds and you can’t quite figure out how you’ve ever going to pull yourself out of the rabbit hole you just dug yourself into, these small words of encouragement and appreciation make a big difference. As I’ve mentioned before, this journey has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, spanning five years of hard work, self-doubt, and perseverance. But I am ecstatic to say that I’ve made it, and my book is finally here!

Cue audio track. Yay, me.

And so, another book is born

So today, in this post, I want to officially introducing “The Inclusive Speaker – How to truly connect with ALL OF your audience without leaving anyone behind” to the world. This book is aimed at empowering speakers and other communication professionals to embrace inclusivity and ensure that every member of their audience feels seen, heard, and valued. But this is not just another feel-good book about making people feel “special”.

This is a book about recognizing that over 40% of any given audience is, at one point or another in any live, in-person or virtual setting, at a high risk of disengaging from the conversations that are taking place, because their needs, expectations, and preferences aren’t being met.

Not met by us. The speaking and communication professionals doing our dog and pony show from the platform.

This book is about helping speaking and communication professionals broaden their reach and impact on their audience, yes, but first and foremost, this book is a wake up call. It’s an attempt at fixing a broken system, where those among us who live with disabilities or disabling circumstances can still get a fair shot at fully participating in some of the best things our society has to offer.

I truly believe that by fostering inclusive communication, we get to create more meaningful connections and positive change in the world. Curious to learn more? Very cool! Then head over to the books section of this site to get a sneak peek of what you can expect in “The Inclusive Speaker.” And for those of you eager to dive right in, the Kindle version of my book is now available on Amazon at the special launch price of just $1.99 on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and a bunch of other domains. Be on the lookout for the paperback edition too, which will be released early next week.

Help me make this an Amazon bestseller!

Here’s my ask of you. I humbly ask for your support in helping my book become an Amazon best-seller, a milestone that would make my mom incredibly proud! In all seriousness, she doesn’t really understand what I do for a living, but still, your purchase would mean the world to me. And if you feel inspired after reading it, then an honest review on Amazon would be fabulous! Your feedback will not only help me grow as an author, but it will also spread the message of inclusivity to a wider audience. And those of us who know, know that the inclusivity message could certainly use a bit of a push these days.

Want to hear me talk about this book?

And now, for some more truly exciting news – I am honoured to announce that I will be presenting on the topics covered in this book today at 5:00 pm Eastern at Axe-Con 2023, the largest accessibility conference in the world! This incredible opportunity allows me to share my passion for inclusive communication with a global audience of around 25 to 30,000 people (yes, you read that right), and engage in thought-provoking discussions with fellow accessibility advocates and supporters.

If you’re attending Axe-Con, then I warmly invite you to join my presentation, “How To Truly Connect with All of Your Audience Without Leaving Anyone Behind”, where we will, among other things, explore some of the principles and strategies outlined in my book, such as how many people in our audience we run the risk of losing every single time, how much money we’re leaving on the table, how inclusive do we really think we are as speakers, etc. Together, we will reflect and learn on why and how we collectively can create a more inclusive and accessible speaking environment for everyone.

The awesome thing a bout Axe-Con too, as that its completely free! So just register for the event, grab a few snacks and something to drink, and let me take you on a journey of belief-shaking, bias-busting isights about inclusion in a 1-hour, tightly-packed session that will leave you transformed… for the better.

So, friends, let’s embark on this exciting journey together. Grab your copy of “The Inclusive Speaker,” and let’s work towards a world where every voice is heard and celebrated, and no one is left behind. Thank you all in advance for your support, and I can’t wait to see you some of you at Axe-Con! I look forward to connecting with you and exchanging ideas that will shape the future of inclusive communication.

Update: Recording of my axe-con talk is available

The wonderful team at Axe-Con operated their magic, and a few minutes after we wrapped up my talk, the recording was already available on my presentation page! If you want to watch it, all you’ll need to do is register to the event for free as explained above, all not only will you be able to access my talk, but you’ll also access dozens of others from this year’s edition as well as last year’s. I highly recommend it.