I’m Stephanie Thoma, public speaking coach for founders, and creator of the LinkedIn group, Unmute Yourself: Speaker Community.
I stumbled into public speaking while hosting events—giving agenda updates and pointing people to the restrooms. But over time, I found myself curating panel questions, moderating live interviews, and eventually stepping into the spotlight with a talk of my own.
That first talk, Networking for Introverts, filled a room and sparked client inquiries without even a pitch. It took me on tour across the U.S. and internationally, and inspired my first book, Confident Introvert.
Now, I help emerging and established speakers:
🎤 Find and refine their signature talk
đź“š Build structure and storytelling flow
🧠Stay calm and confident under pressure
đź’ˇ Optimize their visibility (think: LinkedIn, Speaker One Sheets, and more)
I’ve ghostwritten for a TEDx speaker with millions of views and supported behind the scenes at TEDx events for 7 years. Whether you’re prepping for your first talk or next big stage, I can help you connect with confidence.
But first—who am I?
Hey, I’m Stephanie 👋. Think of me as your go-to guide for leveling up with confidence, clarity, and connections that actually matter. I help ambitious professionals—entrepreneurs, thought leaders, future bestselling authors—step into their purpose and make their goals real. Like, real real.
I wasn’t born a leadership coach. But you could say there were signs.
I grew up in the Bay Area as the oldest of five kids (yep, chaos), went on to become the first in my family to graduate college (UC Santa Barbara, let’s go!), and spent my early career trying all the things—radio newscasting, women’s choir, running marathons, community affairs, nonprofits, you name it.
Then I did what seemed like the right move:
âś… Get a stable 9-to-5 job
âś… Wear the blazer
âś… Climb the corporate ladder
Fast forward a few years, and I landed a shiny new job at a tech company in San Francisco’s Financial District. The happy hours? Fun. The co-workers? Cool. The work? … soul-crushing.
I found myself staring at spreadsheets, wondering: Is this it?
And then life answered that question for me.
My position was eliminated.
It sucked. But also? It was the best plot twist ever.
I took a week to sit in my feelings (and my PJs). Then it hit me: Work doesn’t have to mean suffering through things you hate. What if it could be fun and meaningful? And that question became the standard.
So, I stopped applying for jobs that only looked good on a resume and started chasing projects that actually lit me up.Â
Around this time, I also stopped socially drinking, which gave me a whole new level of clarity and alignment on loop.
Suddenly, I was:
đź’ˇ A nightlife market researcher
✍️ Ghostwriting for celebrity blogs
🎤 Emceeing events
And then I realized—why exclusively hop between other people’s projects when I could also build my own thing?
Enter: Entrepreneurship.
I started career coaching, helping people land dream jobs with game-changing tweaks to their resumes, cover letters, and interview strategies. Then I joined the board of directors of a networking group in SF, hosted over 1,000 gatherings in five years, and got invited to speak a lot.
One day, a friend suggested I give a talk. About what? I asked.
“Whatever you’re an expert in.”
BOOM. Networking for Introverts was born. I ran the first workshop at a WeWork in downtown SF, packed the room, and within a year, I was touring the country—speaking at Ivy League schools, conferences, abroad.
Then, in 2019, something wild happened.
I wrote a book in SIX WEEKS.
Before heading into a 10-day silent meditation retreat, I gave myself a challenge: Finish my book before I went in. Confident Introvert was born. And just as I was getting ready to release it?
2020 happened.
While the world was flipping upside down, my book hit bestseller status. I started teaching virtual networking workshops, winning entrepreneur awards, and coaching clients who were thriving in chaos. I noticed something:
There’s a difference between people who struggle through uncertainty and those who rise through it.
I wanted to know why, so I dove deeper into subconscious reprogramming, got certified, and started helping my clients at a level that actually changed their lives.
And now?
I’m here to help you break out of the box, step into your leadership, and create work that lights up your soul (and your cred).
Because let’s be real—your voice matters. Your impact matters. And settling for “good enough” in how you spend your time when you know you’re meant for more? That’s not the move.
You’re in the right place if:
🔥 You’re ready to create something BIG—whether that’s a book, a workshop, a career pivot, or a business that lets you know you’re living your purpose
✨ You’re open to trying new things to get the results you really want
🧠You’re done with self-sabotage and ready to clear out the subconscious junk that’s been holding you back
🎤 You want to be on stage, confidently sharing your message, and making waves
🚀 You want that dream work-life balance where waking up excited is the norm
So, what’s next?
Let’s talk about how we can work together. Whether it’s relationship development, coaching, workshops, or getting comfortable on a stage where you belong—I got you.
Click below to get started. 👇
LEARN ABOUT WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
About Stephanie Thoma
Stephanie Thoma is a public speaking coach who helps high-achieving founders own the room and share their message with clarity and confidence. She’s spoken at Harvard, General Assembly, and leadership conferences worldwide, and her work has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, and Good Morning Washington.
Her signature keynote—Network With Confidence: Connect at Conferences—has been a part of hundreds of events for founders, creatives, and mission-driven leaders. It’s rooted in the same principles as her bestselling book, Confident Introvert, a guide to human connection and authentic networking—foundations she believes are essential to building a thriving speaking career.
Since 2018, she’s coached thousands of professionals through 1:1 coaching, workshops, and curated networking experiences that transform nerves into presence and self-doubt into impact.
As the founder of Connect With Confidence, Stephanie supports visionary professionals in getting TEDx talk ready and stepping into their next level of visibility.
Ready to raise your voice? Subscribe to her newsletter or YouTube channel—or grab a free or low-cost training to begin your next speaking breakthrough.
Let’s make your message unforgettable. 🎤✨
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OFFERS
On this page, you will see all offerings with their respective pricing. Go ahead and book what you’d like. Have fun! I look forward to being a part of your transformation journey.
-Stephanie
