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On Becoming a (Bilingual) Public Speaker
And how you can do it too
After representing Facebook Design on stage, I reflected on what takeaways I could share for those wanting to tackle new speaking challenges. Years later, those takeaways remain true as ever: be prepared, jump at opportunities, and bring your whole self to the stage.
In this updated version, after years of more public speaking experience, I share some additional considerations and tips when early in your public speaking journey. I also delve deeper into the additional set of challenges present when English is your second language (as is my case).
Consider your reasons
When I was first asked to be my college’s alumna commencement speaker and address over 2,000 people, I knew it would be a challenge and I jumped in with both feet. I completely fell in love with the process of introspection and the art (and practice) of conveying my thoughts in a clear and persuasive way (still working on that!).
As I continued my career in design and did more public speaking, my reasons evolved from loving the process to wanting to represent people like me. After all, how many times have you seen a Latina immigrant design leader on stage? I wanted to share my experiences and let others see themselves reflected in me (and I still do!).
