Michelle Bowden

While I’m fully booked for the first half of the year, I’m seeing a worrying trend across some organisations. Access to public speaking and presentation skills training has quietly dropped. Not because leaders don’t want to improve. But because learning how to communicate better has become harder to ask for, harder to justify, and harder to fit into already overloaded days. I’m fortunate to work with organisations that do make space for public speaking training in Sydney. They see the return quickly - clearer thinking, stronger influence, more confident leaders and better outcomes. And because they see the impact, they keep investing. The contrast is what concerns me. “We’re presenting online now — does it matter as much?” One explanation I often hear is that because more people are presenting online, leaders assume the art of presenting matters less. It doesn’t. If anything, online presenting demands more skill, not less. When ... Continue reading →

Let’s be honest. You’ve probably sat through more than a few presentations that made you wish you’d brought a pillow… or at least a good escape plan. The lights dim, someone in a suit clears their throat, and 47 slides later you’re wondering what day it is. Michelle Bowden is here to make sure that never happens again! When organisers are searching for keynote speakers who actually keep audiences awake (and wildly engaged), Michelle is the one they call. She’s been lighting up stages for more than two decades — teaching professionals how to communicate persuasively without sending anyone into a PowerPoint-induced coma.   The perfect mix of smarts, sass and sparkle As a female keynote speaker, Michelle brings equal parts intelligence, humour, and authenticity to every event. She makes complex communication psychology simple, practical, and hilarious. Audiences don’t just nod politely. They lean in, laugh out loud, and often have ... Continue reading →

Let me update you on something I've learned after psych testing professionals using my Persuasion Smart Profile. Smart people often think that if they're right, they'll get the 'yes' - the approval. The budget. The headcount. The sale. Actually, the data and real-world experience tells us that being right isn't enough. Because people don't make decisions based on facts alone. They're influenced by emotion, clarity, confidence, trust, likeability, and that deep human sense of "I feel like you get me." Here's what my comprehensive research shows: there are four main persuasive styles we tend to use (and respond to): Wise Owl - Logical, detailed, and cautious Commanding Eagle - Assertive, direct, results-focused Friendly Budgie - Warm, inclusive, relationship-driven Captivating Peacock - Expressive, passionate, story-based These types shape how people like to be persuaded. The catch is that you don't always know which ... Continue reading →