How To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

At the Fashion Retail Academy, we know that strong communication can open doors both personally and professionally. Whether you're pitching ideas, presenting projects, or simply building your confidence, public speaking is a valuable skill that helps you share your message clearly and confidently.

Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Emily Luo, the owner of MLE, who delivered an inspiring session to our Level 4 Digital Marketing students. Emily walked us through practical ways to build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and actually enjoy public speaking - even in a room full of strangers.

Meet EMily Luo

Emily's journey into public speaking wasn't always smooth. Growing up with two immigrant parents and a father who came to the UK as a refugee, she developed a passion for empowering others to find their voice. Her first big public speaking moment was addressing 800 people at a Town Hall conference with Beyond Frontiers.

Emily studied English Language and Literature at university before moving into a corporate business development role in the tech industry. There, she delivered presentations regularly, growing her public speaking skills and building confidence with every opportunity.

Today, Emily runs her own company, MLE, delivering workshops that focus on social impact and confidence-building for young people from marginalised communities. Her goal is to inspire the next generation to step outside their comfort zones.

What Does Confidence Really Mean?

Confidence isn't about being the loudest in the room. It's about trusting yourself, your abilities, your instincts and the way you carry yourself.

Emily introduced a simple formula to help our students understand confidence:

Confidence = Preparation + Mindset + Practice

These are all factors within your control. With the right preparation and a positive mindset, anyone can build confidence in public speaking.

Tackling Public Speaking Nerves

Emily encouraged students to reflect on their own experiences with a quick 'temperature check' using these statements:

• "I get nervous when I present."
• “I like presenting / public speaking.”
• “I actively seek out opportunities to speak in front of a group."

Unsurprisingly, most students related to feeling nervous. Emily reassured everyone that nerves are normal, especially in new environments. The key is learning to manage them through preparation and  practice.

By the end of the session, students had a clearer understanding of what confidence means and how to apply it in their own public speaking journeys.

How to Structure Your Speech

Preparation is essential for delivering a clear and impactful speech. Emily shared a simple structure to help students plan their presentations:

• Introduction: Choose your topic and set the scene
• Point 1: What's your main message?
• Point 2: Outline 3 key points (an audience tend to prefer things broken down in groups of 3s)
• Point 3: Include a personal story or example to illustrate your point
• Conclusion: What key takeaway do you want your audience to remember?

Emily's Top Tips for Public Speaking

To further boost confidence, Emily shared her go-to tips for delivering strong presentations:

• Maintain eye contact and a correct posture, and use open body language
• Project your voice with confidence and control
• Use natural hand gestures to engage your audience

She also addressed the negative thoughts many of us experience before speaking. Instead of letting self-doubt take over, Emily encouraged students to recognise those thoughts and reframe them into something positive. With practice, this mindset helps reduce nerves and builds lasting confidence.

Ready to Build Your Confidence?

At the FRA, we're committed to helping our students develop the skills they need to succeed - both inside and outside the classroom. With inspiring sessions like Emily's, we're proud to provide opportunities students to grow, challenge themselves, and find their voices.