Engage on Stage
Conference and keynote coaching for subject matter experts invited to speak at a conference, seminar, panel discussion or industry event
You've been invited to speak at a conference, present at a seminar, or contribute to a panel discussion. You know your subject - probably better than most people in the room. But turning that expertise into a talk or contribution that lands clearly with an audience is a different skill.
That's what this coaching is for.
I work with subject matter experts and professionals who have been invited to speak at a conference, seminar, industry event or panel discussion - people who know their subject inside out but want support turning that knowledge into a contribution that lands clearly with an audience.
This coaching is a good fit if:
● You're an expert in your subject but find it harder to know what to leave out — and what to lead with.
● You've been invited to speak at a conference, seminar or industry event and want to get it right.
● You present regularly but this talk needs to land differently.
● You're confident in your content but less certain about your delivery.
● You've been asked to join a panel discussion and want to feel more confident making your point clearly when the discussion moves quickly.
● You want a clear structure and a process for rehearsing it properly
.● You've never quite felt you did yourself justice on stage.
One-to-one coaching, tailored to your talk and your timeline
Online or in person
Preparation – We start with a discovery call to talk through your talk, your audience, and what you want to achieve. Where possible, I'll review previous presentations or existing content. From there, I design a coaching plan built around your specific needs and the time you have available.
Coaching sessions - The programme is flexible. Some clients work with me over several sessions building toward a specific date. Others need focused support in a shorter window. We'll work out what makes sense on the intro call.
Sessions cover whatever is most relevant to your talk or panel contribution:
● Shaping and filtering your content — knowing what to keep and what to cut
● Identifying your core message and how to open strongly
● Building a clear, logical structure your audience can follow
● Adapting complex content for a general audience
● Working with slides effectively
● Delivery — voice, pace, presence and how you come across
● Managing nerves and thinking on your feet
● Handling questions from the audience
● For panel discussions — making your point clearly when the conversation moves quickly
● Rehearsing properly and building confidence before the day
You'll have the opportunity to practise your delivery and receive specific, practical feedback.
Presenting soon and need focused support?
If your conference talk, panel appearance or seminar presentation is coming up quickly, the Power Session may be the right starting point. It's a focused 90-minute session where we work on whatever is most pressing - the structure, the opening, how to cut the content down, or simply feeling more confident about your delivery.
Many subject matter experts come to me knowing their content well but wanting support shaping it for a general audience, or feeling more confident delivering it. If that's where you are, the Power Session is designed for exactly that.
What clients say
I've never walked off stage as happy with my performance.
I worked with Maureen to prepare for a talk I was giving at a big conference. I speak and present regularly, but this one needed to land differently, and I wanted to get the structure and delivery right.
Maureen gave me a clear process for organising the content, rehearsing it properly, and feeling confident on stage. She didn't try to change how I speak. She helped me be more intentional about it.
The talk couldn't have gone any better.
I also came away with a framework I can now use for future talks and videos, which, for me, is just as valuable as the talk itself.
If you're preparing for a presentation, a pitch, or any kind of public speaking, I'd highly recommend working with Maureen. Practical, no-nonsense, and she gets results.
— Micheál O'NeillFrequently Asked Questions
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This coaching is for subject matter experts and professionals who have been invited to speak at a conference, seminar, panel discussion or industry event.
Most clients are highly knowledgeable in their field but want support turning that expertise into a talk or contribution that lands clearly with an audience.
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Often yes. Presenting to colleagues or clients is different from presenting to a larger conference audience. The structure, the pacing, and the way you manage nerves all need to adjust.
Many clients who come to me present regularly but find that a conference talk needs to land differently and want support getting it right.
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Ideally four to six weeks gives enough time to work through the content, structure and delivery properly.
That said, if your talk is coming up sooner, a focused Power Session can help you get clarity on the most important elements quickly.
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The most common challenge for subject matter experts isn't knowing enough. It's knowing what to leave out, how to open strongly, and how to make complex ideas accessible to a general audience. That's usually where the coaching adds the most value.
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Panel discussions require a different kind of preparation - thinking on your feet, making your point clearly when the discussion moves quickly, and knowing how to contribute without losing your thread.
That's something I work on specifically with clients preparing for panel appearances.
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It depends on your talk and your timeline. Some clients work with me over several sessions building toward a specific date. Others need focused support in a shorter window. We work that out together on the intro call.
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Yes. Many of the people I work with are subject matter experts who have been invited to deliver a keynote speech at a conference, seminar or industry event. Coaching focuses on shaping the content, creating a clear structure, and helping you deliver it with confidence.
How it works
Book a free intro call — we talk through your talk, your audience, and what you want to achieve.
