How Consultants and Coaches Become Confident Speakers with Dr. Christina Madison

If you’ve been thinking about stepping onto a stage, but something keeps holding you back… this conversation is for you.

I hear it all the time from consultants and coaches:

“I want to speak, but I don’t feel confident.”
“I don’t know if I’m a natural.”
“I don’t even know what I’d say.”

That’s exactly why I wanted to bring Dr. Christina Madison onto the Consulting Matters podcast.

Because her journey doesn’t start with confidence.
It starts with a message.

From Clinical Pharmacist to Keynote Speaker

Christina spent over two decades as a clinical pharmacist. She taught in medical schools, worked directly with patients, and built a career rooted in research and expertise.

So on paper, her transition into speaking might look like a complete pivot.

But as we talked, it became clear that this wasn’t a reinvention. It was an evolution.

She was already:

• Teaching
• Explaining complex ideas
• Advocating for patients
• Leading with expertise

Speaking simply gave her a bigger platform.

And that’s something I want you to really take in.

You don’t need to become someone else to be a speaker.
You need to expand what you’re already doing.

“I’m Not a Natural Speaker” (Let’s Talk About That)

One of the most important things Christina said is this:

Speaking is a learned skill.

Yes, she had a background in dance and performance. But she was very clear, that’s not a requirement.

What actually matters more is whether you feel comfortable in your own body.

Because if you don’t feel comfortable, your audience will feel that immediately.

That’s why her advice surprised me a little.

She didn’t say, “Start by writing a talk.”

She said, “Start by getting into your body.”

Take a dance class. Try improv. Do something that helps you feel present and expressive.

Because before you ever command a stage, you have to feel at home in yourself.

Start Smaller Than You Think

Most people assume the path to speaking starts with a big opportunity.

It doesn’t.

It starts small. Really small.

Christina talked about practicing in living rooms. Inviting friends over. Trying ideas out in safe environments where there’s no pressure to be perfect.

From there, she moved into more structured spaces like Toastmasters and speaker communities; places where you can practice, get feedback, and refine your delivery without high stakes.

And only after that did she begin raising her hand for bigger opportunities.

There’s a progression here that matters.

You don’t build confidence by waiting.
You build it by doing.

You Have to Say It Out Loud

At some point, you have to let people know:

“I want to speak.”

Opportunities don’t appear if no one knows you’re available for them.

Christina shared how important it was to start having those conversations, even before she felt fully ready.

That meant saying yes to opportunities that weren’t paid yet. Recording herself. Learning from each experience.

Not because she had it all figured out, but because she was willing to figure it out in real time.

The Turning Point: When the Message Becomes Personal

What really shifted Christina’s path wasn’t just her expertise.

It was her experience.

After the birth of her second child, she went to the ER and was dismissed. She wasn’t believed. She was sent home.

By the time she was finally treated, she was in full sepsis and nearly died.

That moment changed everything.

Not just how she saw healthcare, but how she showed up in her work.

Because now it wasn’t just about knowledge.

It was about advocacy.

This Is Where Your Speaking Message Comes From

If you’re trying to figure out what you would speak about, start here:

What frustrates you so deeply that you can’t ignore it?

What have you experienced that made you think, “This shouldn’t be this way”?

For Christina, it was the gap in healthcare. The bias. The dismissal of patients who weren’t being heard.

Her expertise gave her credibility.
Her story gave her conviction.

And that combination is what makes a message powerful.

You Don’t Need Confidence to Start

This might be the biggest takeaway from our entire conversation.

Christina didn’t wait until she felt confident to apply for TEDx.
She didn’t wait until everything was polished to start speaking.

She answered questions people were already asking her and that opened doors for speaking opportunities.

She decided to go for it and then built the confidence along the way.

Confidence isn’t the starting point.
It’s the result of taking action.

What Makes a Speaker Memorable

At the end of our conversation, we talked about what really makes someone stand out on stage.

It’s not just delivery.
It’s not just storytelling.

It’s the feeling you leave people with.

When someone walks up to you after a talk and says,
“I felt like you were speaking directly to me.”

That’s when you know you’re doing it right.

If You’ve Been Holding Back…

Let this be your nudge.

You don’t need:

• A perfect message
• A polished talk
• Or a natural performer personality

You need a starting point.

And a willingness to take the first step before you feel ready.

Because if there’s something in you that’s been saying,
“I think I’m meant to do this…”

You probably are.

Next Steps

1. Clarify the message you feel called to share
   1. Christina’s journey didn’t start with confidence, it started with conviction.
      Ask yourself what you’ve experienced or observed that feels like, “this shouldn’t be this way.”
      That’s often the beginning of a message worth speaking about.
2. Start practicing your voice in low-stakes spaces
   1. Before the big stages, Christina practiced in smaller, safer environments.
      Look for opportunities to share your ideas… whether that’s with peers, small groups, or local organizations, so you can refine both your message and your presence over time.
3. Align your message with a clear brand position
   1. Once your message starts to take shape, the next step is making sure your brand reflects it. This is where working with Betsy can help you connect the dots, so your speaking, your content, and your offers all reinforce the same clear, compelling position in the market. Book a discovery call or explore my services.

Other articles you may enjoy:

• Do You Love Consulting or Coaching but Hate Marketing?
• The Consultant or Coaches's C.U.R.E. for Fear & Self-Doubt
• Starting a Consulting Business: How to Get It Right from Day One
• The Trust Factor: Why Brand Clarity Matters for Consultants and Coaches with Dr. J.B. Adams
• The 3 Types of Expertise Every Consultant and Coach Needs to Name and Claim

About my guest:  Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP is a TEDx speaker, clinical pharmacist, and Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist®, a public health consulting firm. She specializes in communicable diseases and has over 15 years of experience in public health, along with 200+ national TV appearances sharing her expertise. A recognized leader and award-winning advocate, she has played a key role in vaccine education and distribution, including administering over 12,000 COVID-19 vaccines in Southern Nevada. Dr. Madison is also an Associate Professor at Roseman University and a passionate advocate for underserved and vulnerable communities. https://www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com/ 

About me: Betsy Jordyn is a brand messaging strategist and business mentor for purpose-driven consultants and coaches. With a background in organizational development—including a consulting career with Disney—she helps experts clarify their unique value, position themselves strategically, and build businesses that deliver impact, income, and personal fulfillment. Connect with Betsy Jordyn to clarify your message, elevate your brand, and attract the clients you're meant to serve. Start here → betsyjordyn.com/services