Growing up, being told I was "holding court" was an accusation; a polite way of saying I am taking up too much space and showing off. I have finally realised having the confidence to stand up in front of a room full of people, or start a casual conversation with a stranger, is a superpower that’s been fundamental to my career.
When we reframe room presence from "showing off" to audience stewardship, everything shifts. It transforms public speaking from a one-way performance into a practice built on trust, narrative clarity, and real-time connection. In this opening post of my new journal series, I explore the five core pillars of audience stewardship, and why mastering them matters for far more than just big-stage presentations.

I’ve been in many conversations over the years with people who feel very strongly that people should always have cameras on during meetings even when they’re not actively participating.

There is an assumption that ‘cameras on’ equals engagement. If we can see faces, people must be paying attention.

But is that actually true?