In this Q&A feature, we have the pleasure of speaking with Maddie Clingan who currently works as an Agile Coach in the field of cloud native security. Maddie discusses her experiences with public speaking and shares how Couch to Conference has aided her in her journey. She also offers insight into the course’s workshops, buddy work, and mentoring sessions.
Q: Where were you in your public speaking journey when you started Couch to Conference?
A: Prior to the course, I had been involved in public speaking whilst at university and then in the world of work - I’d won multiple international debates, represented a UK delegation of students in China and delivered many workshops and training sessions internally - but I’d never been able to translate that to the confidence to speak publicly within the Agile field. I think one of the key things holding me back was understanding the professional public speaking space and knowing how to start.
Q: And how would you describe where you are in terms of public speaking since finishing Couch to Conference?
A: I’ve made huge strides and am really proud of where I’ve got to in a relatively short amount of time. I’ve delivered two different short talks: one which I presented at Woman in Agile London (online) and Aspiring Speakers Lunch Time Lightning Talks (online) and another that I presented at Devoxx UK conference (in person). Going through the process of choosing a topic, preparing and refining the material, getting feedback and delivering the talk has allowed me to prove to myself that I can do it and now I feel that this is just the beginning.
Q: How has being a part of the course helped you in your public speaking journey?
A: The course equipped me in multiple different ways. It gave me the starting point of focusing on Lightning Talks (although short talks can be highly challenging too!) and gave me the accountability to put myself forward for opportunities to deliver these talks. For example, Women in Agile London has an annual Lightning Talk session and last year I wanted to apply but it was easy to let it slide. However, the cohort had such a focus on delivering talks that I couldn’t let myself off the hook this time!
Another meaningful way the course helped me is that it gave me further inspiration on how to structure and put together talks, which allowed me to bring new ideas into my planning. Once I’d got my talks off the ground, the feedback I got from Barry and Abbi was invaluable. They were the eyes that could see things that I couldn’t whilst also being exceptionally supportive.
Finally, being in a space where being on the journey towards professional public speaking is normalised is also a game changer. It was a space where you could bring all of your questions and leave feeling motivated. When doing it alone, it’s easy to tell yourself it’s too hard or not worth the time but I always found encouragement during those times within the community.
Q: As part of the programme, you participated in 5 workshops including, but not limited to, lightning talks and building slide decks. What did you take away from these workshops?
A: For me, these workshops were a great insight into possible ways to go about constructing a talk. Some things that I was already doing were reaffirmed, which built my confidence, and I was also able to take away new suggestions, incorporate them into my planning and make them my own. I think it’s rare to have the opportunity to go into this level of detail and really get into the mechanics of talk preparation so these sessions were a great building block for the wider journey.
Q: As part of the course you participated in 4 mentoring sessions. What did you think of these sessions?
A: The mentoring sessions were the highlight for me as it was an unprecedented opportunity to ask questions to women who were further along in their public speaking journey. It was clear how much the mentors wanted other women to succeed and their answers always helped me to get closer to the next step that I was trying to achieve, often in a very timely way!
It’s also great to now be connected with many of the mentors on LinkedIn to follow their journeys and vice versa. I’ve been able to pull up a conference speaker list and recognise someone and I’ve had a couple message me recently to congratulate me on my achievements to date. It’s been another powerful way to create community.
Q: During the programme you were given a buddy, could you tell us what your buddy experience was like?
A: Having Abbi facilitate the sessions and then check in with you during the week helped me to feel very connected to the program from the outset. She became a familiar face and I knew I could always contact her with any feedback or questions. The best part was meeting her in person at Devoxx and her introducing our talks. It was a special way to bring together the whole experience.
Q: Finally, what would you say to someone considering the Couch to Conference programme?
A: As with any opportunity, what you get out of it will be largely determined by how much you put in. If you’re in a place where you are looking to invest time and energy into your public speaking journey and would like to be supported by a brilliant community whilst doing so, I don’t think you could find a better opportunity!
It was a pleasure to speak with Maddie Clingan and hear about her experiences with public speaking. Maddie has made great progress since joining the Couch to Conference course having already delivered lightning talks at three events. It is clear that Maddie has greatly benefited from the Couch to Conference course and is excited to continue on her public speaking journey.
Maddie Clingan
Agile Coach & Practitioner
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