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From Technical Talks to Inspiring Keynotes: Finding Your Authentic Speaking Style with Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Release Date: 08/25/2025

From Technical Talks to Inspiring Keynotes: Finding Your Authentic Speaking Style with Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur show art From Technical Talks to Inspiring Keynotes: Finding Your Authentic Speaking Style with Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur

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How do you go from giving short, tip-focused talks to inspiring audiences with a full keynote? 

That’s exactly the journey our guest has taken and it’s one so many of us can learn from.

Our lead speaking coach Diane Diaz talks with Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur, a senior project engineer who has spent over 20 years in the theme park industry, including at Disney.

Elaine thought of herself as “the tip girl” - packing her presentations with lots of helpful advice. But when she was invited to give her first keynote, she realized she needed a new approach.

With the help of a VIP Day and our in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop, Elaine discovered how to weave stories into her talks, connect emotionally with her audience, and step into her authentic speaking style.

The result? Not only did she deliver a powerful keynote to a room of young women engineers, she also caught the “speaking bug” and has continued landing and delivering talks that inspire.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

  • Elaine’s transition from sharing only tips to becoming an inspiring keynote speaker

  • How storytelling makes even technical topics more engaging and memorable

  • The role of authenticity in building confidence and audience connection

  • What Elaine gained from practicing in community and receiving real-time feedback

  • How she continues to grow her visibility and speaking career through LinkedIn and pitching opportunities

Elaine’s story is proof that you don’t have to change who you are to be a great speaker - you just need to unlock the authentic voice that’s already within you.

 

About Our Guest: Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur is a Senior Project Engineer at AOA and has over 22 years of experience in the entertainment industry, leading projects in engineering, design, and technical management for major theme parks. She balances big-picture strategy with technical detail to bring projects to life. Outside of work, she’s a certified sommelier, teaches wine classes, and mentors with the Society of Women Engineers. Passionate about STEM outreach, she loves inspiring the next generation.

 

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. 

 

Links: 

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/439/ 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Attend our next 1-day Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/  

Create your signature talk with us: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/coaching/ 

 Connect on LinkedIn:

 

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