What does it really take to speak so people listen in meetings, on stage, and in high-stakes moments?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Deborah Gardner, former Olympic trial swimmer turned renowned keynote speaker and Hall of Fame inductee, to talk about how women can lead through confident, compelling communication.

Deborah breaks down the myths of “professionalism,” shares practical tools for handling confrontation, and helps us rethink what powerful presence actually means.

Whether you’re pitching, presenting, or speaking up for yourself, this conversation is your permission to stop diluting your voice and start owning the room.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to speak up with clarity and presence

• Why female professionals often underplay their ideas (and how to stop)

• Tactics for reframing fear into fuel before a big talk

• How to balance warmth with authority

• How to overcome imposter syndrome in high-stakes rooms

Deborah Gardner is a Certified Meeting Professional, entrepreneur, and the author of six bestselling books. Named Mrs. Arizona 2020 and Mrs. America 2022, Deborah has been recognized as a CNN Top 75 Keynote Speaker, one of Smart Meetings’ Top 50 Smart Women Leaders, and a Top 20 Trendsetter by Meetings Today.

Learn more about Deborah at https://iamdeborahg.com/

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome + Meet Deborah Gardner

03:10 – How sports shaped her mindset and grit

06:45 – Why women struggle to speak with authority

11:20 – What people misunderstand about professional communication

15:00 – Speaking tips for introverts

18:33 – How to stop over-explaining your ideas

21:58 – Pre-speech mindset: What Deborah does before every keynote

25:42 – Navigating conflict with confidence

29:10 – The mindset that helps her walk into any room

34:15 – How to make people feel heard without shrinking yourself

39:40 – Her advice to the next generation of female leaders

🛎️ Subscribe for more weekly episodes that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out.

📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast

🌐 Find out more about Sonia: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia’s journey on Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | Linktree

How do the world’s most successful leaders communicate with confidence and clarity even in chaos?

In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, Oliver Aust: bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and CEO communication strategist, shares his insights on what it really takes to become an influential, unignorable leader in today’s world.

With two decades of experience advising C-level executives, political leaders, and startups, Oliver breaks down the core principles of powerful communication and why confidence isn’t about speaking louder; it’s about connecting with the right message, at the right time, in the right way.

Whether you’re building a personal brand, stepping into leadership, or preparing for your next big moment in the spotlight, this episode offers clear, actionable strategies to help you lead with more intention, presence, and impact.

You’ll learn:

• What every successful communicator does differently

• How to become “unignorable” without being loud

• The mindset shift that transforms how you present yourself

• How to align communication with your goals, values, and audience

• What it takes to earn trust and authority in any room

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome & Intro to Oliver Aust

02:18 Why Most Leaders Struggle with Confidence

05:10 How to Be More Strategic with Your Messaging

09:45 What Makes a Personal Brand Magnetic

14:00 The Myth of Needing to “Be Loud” to Be Heard

18:15 Communication vs. Perception: The Real Battle

23:28 How to Avoid Quick Fixes in Branding

26:20 The Power of “Unignorable” Leadership

26:45 How to Communicate with Empathy Under Pressure

29:50 Authenticity & Its Role in Modern Leadership

30:00 Final Tips for Becoming a Better Speaker

Subscribe for more weekly episodes that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out.

New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST.

- Watch the full episode on YouTube: SMARTA Podcast Playlist

- Find out more about Sonia: www.soniamarta.com

- Follow Sonia's Journey on Instagram: @soniamartaauthor

- All links: linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Feel like you’re behind in life? Or unsure how to make your first job count?

Jacob Karnes has coached hundreds of young professionals, and in this episode, he reveals exactly what he wishes he knew when he started out and how you can master your mindset, your brand, and your career.

Jacob is the bestselling author of Master Your First Job and the founder of Waves Business Coaching. He spent 10 years climbing the ladder at Chick-fil-A before starting his own company. And now, he’s on a mission to help Gen Z build careers with purpose and authenticity.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✓ How to stand out from day one in your career

✓ Why you don’t need to wait for permission to pursue big goals

✓ How to build a personal brand (before your first promotion)

✓ A mindset that makes you impossible to ignore

✓ The mistake most people make when asking for a raise

✓ Why your identity isn’t tied to one job

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– Jacob’s journey from Chick-fil-A employee to business founder

– The #1 thing you must do to be seen as a leader early on

– Why your values matter more than your resume

– His top 2 books that changed how he sees life

– What to tell your younger self (or your future kids)

– Why writing his first book was the breakthrough he needed

📚 Grab Jacob’s book, “Master Your First Job,” on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZW5BZBX

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome & Intro

02:07 3 Life Lessons Jacob Would Tell Every Young Professional

06:27 The 60-Second Pitch: Why You Should Read His Book

08:06 The Turning Point That Sparked His Business

10:51 Building His Dream Job (Without a Job Description)

13:06 How to Ask for a Raise (and Actually Get It)

17:12 What Most People Get Wrong About Promotions

20:43 Branding Yourself as a Teen: What He’d Tell His 17-Year-Old Self

23:17 Building a Reputation That Precedes You

29:19 What Jacob Wants His Daughter to Always Remember

32:17 The Books That Shaped His Life (Atomic Habits & Man’s Search for Meaning)

35:25 The Limiting Belief That Almost Stopped Him

38:30 Final Message: Find Where Your Purpose & Skills Align

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly episodes that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out.

📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

📺 YouTube: @soniamartaauthor

🌍 Website: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | linktr.ee/soniamartauthor