Senior Leader Overcomes Severe Public Speaking Anxiety
From avoidance to confident, high‑stakes presentations
Summary
A senior leader (Head of EMEA and APAC at a global financial services firm) transformed their relationship with public speaking. After years of debilitating anxiety and unsuccessful skills coaching, they engaged Olivia James to address the nervous system drivers and the root causes of fear. Within weeks, they delivered multiple large‑audience presentations and boardroom talks with confidence.
Client
Head of EMEA and APAC, global financial services company.
Challenge
Severe anticipatory anxiety with physical and psychological symptoms:
Vomiting
Disturbed sleep and rumination
Avoidance of in‑person meetings and speaking opportunities
Context
Referred by a top presentation coach after a year of skills‑based training failed to reduce uncontrollable anxiety.
Impact
Significant mental and emotional cost
Remote attendance at key meetings to minimise exposure
Declined high‑value opportunities
Approach
Bespoke treatment plan to calm and regulate the nervous system
Identify and address root associations linking speaking with danger
Preparation for initial high‑stakes events using proprietary techniques to keep the system in a safe, social state so cognition stays online (no “glitching” or freeze)
Delivery
We rehearsed together and used nervous‑system regulation techniques ahead of:
Town Halls
Fireside chats
Panels in front of thousands
Boardroom presentations
Results
Rapid reduction in anxiety symptoms
Confident delivery to audiences of ~1,000 and larger
Invitations to present on behalf of the company
Expanded capacity and renewed enjoyment of work
What the client valued most
“Firstly, no words can explain what Olivia has achieved for me nor could I express in words just how significant a change she has made to me, and within me. But I’ll give it a good go.
I’m 50. I’ve had a lot of childhood trauma. I’m a senior person in a very responsible global job with a lot expected of me. And I was utterly terrified of public speaking and presenting, mainly to boards meetings.
Enter Olivia. A few sessions in (just past the ‘get to know you’ stage) I’m asked to present in front of nearly 1,000 people—a first. We get to work. The only hard part for me is putting my faith in the process and going forth and presenting. I nail the presentation. So much so that I’m being asked to present in front of thousands on behalf of my company because I was ‘so good’. We carry on working. I nail this too—with zero clue where my nerves, the puking, the miserable worried person walking the house at night for weeks prior, the obsessive preparer—have gone!
The side benefit: release from trauma, happiness and contentment I haven’t felt in a long time. This kind, gentle, skilful lady works utter magic. A world of possibilities and potential has opened up thanks to her. It is astounding! I still cannot believe what is being achieved and that this is really me!”
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