Strengthen your confidence, strengthen your voice – WIN Event Recap

6 May

On Thursday the 1st of May, our WIN Breakfast, Strengthen Your Confidence, Strengthen Your Voice, offered a powerful reminder of the importance of self-belief, strong communication, and owning your presence—whether in a boardroom, on Zoom, or behind a microphone.

Chaired by Yvonne, the event featured insights from two media veterans: Julia Barry, who spent over 30 years at the BBC, most recently as Deputy Editor of BBC Breakfast, and Keith Doyle, a Dublin-born journalist whose career spans the BBC, ITN, Channel 5 and RTÉ. Together, they’ve shaped the narratives of countless others—and today, they focused on how we can shape our own.

"We are all broadcasters now." That was one of the key takeaways from the morning. In today’s world, every conversation, pitch, or Zoom call is a form of broadcast—and learning how to present ourselves with confidence and clarity is no longer optional, especially for women whose voices are still underrepresented in public and professional spaces.

Julia set the tone early: “Women often fear failure—men typically don’t. We have to change that.” She and Keith kicked off the session with a focus on presence—starting with physical exercises to shake off tension and find our footing. Shoulder rolls, gentle stretches, and breath work helped everyone feel more grounded. A small shift, but one that made a big difference.

Keith highlighted the power of body language—how using our hands, eyes, and posture communicates volumes before we even speak. “Walk proudly. You have the right to be there,” he said. A practical tip we loved: if nerves cause your mouth to dry and there’s no water nearby, press your tongue to the back of your front teeth—it helps more than you'd think!

When it came to content, the advice was sharp and actionable:

Avoid acronyms and insider jargon.
Keep language simple, relevant, and relatable.
Use short, punchy sentences.

Test your message on someone outside your sector—if they don’t get it, revise it.

The digital age has turned us all into presenters. Julia and Keith offered brilliant broadcasting tips for remote settings: make sure your Wi-Fi is stable, sit facing a window or a good lighting source, and position your camera at eye level - small things, big impact.

The morning wrapped up with a lively Q&A—and left us all with a renewed sense of purpose: to speak up, speak clearly, and speak like we mean it.