Does your voice disappear in certain rooms?

You know your stuff. You're confident with your team. But around senior leaders — or when the stakes are high — everything you prepared just... disappears.

The unpredictability is the worst part

“After this work, I’m more in sync with myself. I feel more confident and capable, like I can talk to anyone.” — Creative Entrepreneur

Public speaking coach, Lee Bonvissuto

I'm Lee Bonvissuto. I built this work because I needed it.

I kept meeting brilliant people who were considering leaving careers they loved because of speaking anxiety.

They weren't lacking confidence. They were lacking focus.

This isn't a communication problem. It's a focus issue.

And focus is a muscle you can strengthen.

AS SEEN IN

Before an important meeting, do you...

  • Over-prepare obsessively — then still feel unprepared when it matters?

  • Dread it for days, replaying every possible way it could go wrong?

  • Worry you'll be "found out" — even though you know your stuff?

And in the moment: Does your mind go blank? Your chest tighten? Your train of thought just... disappears?

You're not alone. And there's nothing wrong with you.

Public speaking coach presents to a corporate workshop

This isn't a communication problem.

You communicate perfectly when you're comfortable — with your team, in familiar settings, one-on-one.

When your voice disappears, it's not because you don't know what to say.

It's because your attention splits: half trying to remember what you want to say, half monitoring "do I sound confident? do they think I know my stuff?"

That split is what causes the brain fog, the lost train of thought, the racing heart, the shortness of breath.

These are focus issues. And focus is a muscle you can strengthen.

(Yes, even if you learn differently — it's about building your own framework, not following someone else's script.)

Public speaking coach waits to speak in public about managing speaking nerves in front of a large crowd

Why is this happening?

If you're here, you're probably mid-career with deep expertise. You're empathetic. Detail-oriented. Conscientious. These are strengths — they make you excellent at your work.

But in hierarchical workplaces, they can work against you:

  • Your empathy picks up every micro-signal → you absorb the anxiety in the room

  • Your detail-orientation makes you over-prepare → you can't access your expertise under pressure

  • Your conscientiousness makes you deferential → you shrink around authority

public speaking coach lee bonvissuto speaks in public

This isn't impostor syndrome.

You're responding rationally to systems that reward dominance over depth.

The solution isn't to fix yourself. It's to build capacity to access who you already are — even when the room makes you want to disappear.

Testimonials

  • "My work with Lee has been life changing, as a result of our sessions together I feel more confident publicly speaking, poised to take on any conversation topic, and in touch with the inner strength that I bring to the table. Additionally, I opted for the 3-month package which enabled me to experience 1:1 training and group sessions over a longer span of time, allowing me additional time to refine my communication style. I would highly recommend working with Lee, they will transform your communication skills."

    — Jamal, VP of Operations

  • "'How do I say more with less, whilst retaining empathy'. This became a question that was at the heart of my coaching journey with Lee. The work with Lee offered me room to think and improve at a pace that respected my goals and challenges. Beyond this time, I'm continuing to master clarity and pragmatism in my communication which is 'always on' but now with the foundations and scaffolding I needed. The beauty of this process was the flexibility - addressing what was going on the moment whilst building skills and confidence for the future. I now communicate with more intention and less noise."

    — Mark, HR Leader

  • "This work was about committing to my own voice, being present in my life and preserving my ability to value my perspective while taking up space in the world. I learned how to ground myself and to be comfortable being seen by people."

    — Director, Systems Improvement

  • "Lee has given me practical tools that have changed my day-to-day life. But more importantly, they have situated that guidance in a broader context that brings those tools to life and imbues them with purpose. In other words, this isn't *just* about communication. It really is about finding your voice in a world that needs it more than ever."

    Sarah, General Counsel

  • “After this work, I’m more in sync with myself. Before my mind and body were at different speeds. Now I feel more confident and capable, like I can talk to anyone.”

    — Music Entrepreneur

  • "Within just a few weeks, my speaking nerves dramatically diminished and I felt more confident presenting to clients and speaking off the cuff. Lee arms you with tangible speaking tools, which I found so helpful, and also creates opportunities to practice and get more comfortable. They’re a master at helping people who struggle to speak confidently find their voice. I can't recommend them or this work enough."

    — Alex Honeysett, CEO at Human at the Helm

  • "I never realized how much the fear of public speaking hindered my professional growth. After working with Lee, so many doors and opportunities opened up for me. I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to jump on the chance to work with them earlier."

    — Medical Executive, United Health Services

  • "Working with Lee is a game changer. They personalize the learning plan based on your unique skills and challenges and iterate to adapt as you grow. There's no shortage of other professional development opportunities but they don't even come close to delivering the same value of time spent with Lee."

    — UX Director, SalesForce

  • "Lee is a gifted coach and skilled communicator. They clearly listens to their clients and is intent on providing practical and impactful tools to help them communicate better. I appreciate Lee's individualized, tailored approach to helping me improve my comfort and confidence in effectively communicating in various settings. Coaching with PresentVoices is a worthy investment in your personal/professional development."

    — Makeba Williams, MD

  • "Lee and PresentVoices bust every myth of public speaking there is. They help you be *more* of yourself when speaking, not less. And, they give you brilliant tools to do so. One session with Lee will change how you show up and speak to any room - in person or virtual."

    — Christina Ferguson, Founder and Chief Storyteller, Parable

  • "The single best professional development training I have taken part in."

    — Zachary Rosen, CEO at Pantheon

  • "Our work together went way beyond the voice to embody the whole picture of my communication message unfolding. It was incredibly supportive, knowing I could turn to Lee for guidance on all facets of communication to deliver my most authentic voice in all forms."

    — Physician

  • "Working with Lee from Present Voices was truly life changing. The work has allowed me to communicate in ways I never before realized, both in professional and personal settings. I thought I was a good communicator coming into this work, only to find out the opposite, that there was so much room to develop my communication skills and use it in ways that aid both myself and those around me. I highly recommend this work to anybody looking to increase their understanding of their own communication style and who want to be able to use communication in more meaningful ways."

    — Sales Leader at Square

  • "Before my work with Lee, I was convinced something was “wrong” with me and that I was a “bad communicator.” Lee helped me learn to trust myself and my voice, to be more present with others, to understand and manage my nerves, and shared fantastically easy and practical tools that I know I’ll be using for years to come!"

    — Sarah, Psychotherapist

  • "Working with Lee was transformative. They helped me acknowledge the deeper issues underneath my speaking anxiety while also offering easy and actionable tips to speak with more confidence and clarity. Lee is an incredible resource and I’m so grateful for our time together, highly recommend them!"

    — Susanna, Product Manager

  • "During individual coaching, I have become clearer on who I am and what my purpose is - and how to communicate the impact I can have on my clients. This work was highly personalized and worth every penny. I came away with tangible outcomes. I highly recommend Lee and look forward to working with them again."

    — Alex, UX Leader

  • "Lee was fantastic! They’re so insightful and gives direct and specific feedback. Within 15 minutes I felt like they really understood me and my challenges around communication, and had practical and easy-to-implement recommendations to improve. Lee has changed how I approach casual conversations, and how I feel about them. My coworkers have noticed my increased confidence, and more importantly, I feel it. Thank you Lee!"

    — Erin, Veterinarian

  • "I work in a fast-paced environment. The ability to quickly distill multiple concepts and convey complicated messages competently, concisely, and confidently is expected and essential. Time and time again, I noticed myself falling short of this obligation. I explored different communication coach options, and for several reasons, Lee was the best fit for me. Within three sessions of working with Lee, I saw and experienced significant growth. They are both passionate and well-versed in their craft. They are flexible and cater their approach to you. Lee's theoretically, empirically, and practically supported methods have helped arm me with tools to strengthen, empower, and trust in my distinctive voice. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with them, and I look forward to their continued support in my communication journey."

    — U.S. Military Officer

  • "While I've taken communications courses off and on for years and for various reasons, this is the first time that I've had a one-on-one communications coach. It was worth the time and money! Lee's focus on providing various tools to disrupt the behaviors and habits that trigger my nervousness and anxiety when public speaking was novel to me. I was initially skeptical about this behavior disruption approach, but as I implemented and discovered which approaches / tools worked for me, the subtlety between "managing" and "disrupting" habits was a game changer for me. I plan to utilize the tools I've acquired from Lee, and I look forward to continuous improvement in my communication skills."

    — VP, Actuary

Ready to explore this approach — and learn what actually helps?

Start here: a free, fast micro-course to discover:

  • Why trying harder makes it worse

  • Why you feel confident in some settings but not others

  • How to shift from performance to presence