Dr Margie Warrell: From a Gippsland Dairy Farm to Closing the Courage Gap

Connect with Carmen Sederino Website: illuminatedstory.com LinkedIn: Carmen Sederino YouTube: Illuminated Story Instagram: @illuminatedstory Free Masterclass: Beyond the Keynote MasterclassConnect with Dr Margie Warrell Website: margiewarrell.comLinkedIn: Margie Warrell Instagram: @margiewarrell Podcast: Live Brave with Dr Margie Warrell Book: The Courage GapDr Margie Warrell: From a Gippsland Dairy Farm to Closing the Courage GapEpisode Description Carmen Sederino sits down with Dr Margie Warrell, courage expert, leadership advisor, and bestselling author of six books including The Courage Gap. From a dairy farm in East Gippsland to advising leaders at NASA, Google and US Special Operations, Margie's path to the world stage was anything but planned. She didn't even know paid speaking existed until she was in her thirties.Margie also unpacks why she now welcomes broken slide decks, how to read the difference between Australian, American and Singaporean audiences, and the three-word framework she runs every talk through before stepping on stage.Key MomentsGrowing up the eldest of seven on a dairy farm in Nungurner, where crossing the border to NSW was such a big deal the whole family piled out for photos under the welcome signThe $729 trip to Bali at 21 with her friend Kelly, saved up working three bucks an hour at the local takeawayThe armed robbery in Papua New Guinea with a gun to her head, and losing her baby at 20 weeks just ten days laterLanding in Dallas with three kids under three the day after 9/11, feeling like she'd moved to MarsHer first ever keynote at her kids' preschool, where the only attendees were the cleaner and the woman who ran the schoolGetting the unexpected call into NASA in her first week in Virginia, running emotional intelligence programs for rocket scientistsQuotes to Remember "Make your mission bigger than your fear.""It's not that we don't know what to do. It's often that we don't do what we know. Our fear creates the gap between our insights and our impact."Margie's Journey Margie grew up the eldest of seven on a dairy farm in East Gippsland, went to high school in Bairnsdale, then on to a marketing degree in Melbourne. After backpacking the world at 21, she moved to Papua New Guinea at 26 where deep personal challenges sparked her interest in psychology. She returned to study, had four children, then followed her husband's job to Dallas, Virginia, back to Melbourne, Singapore, and finally Virginia again. Along the way she wrote six bestselling books, served as a Senior Partner at Korn Ferry, became a Forbes columnist, and built a global speaking career across more than 30 countries.Advice for Speakers Margie's core advice is to make your mission bigger than your fear. Nerves are a sign you care and you're growing. Set your highest intention to serve the audience before you walk on, and get clear on what you want them to think, feel and do. Stop being held hostage by the slide deck. Speakers who connect emotionally are the ones who move people to act, because emotion drives behaviour, not logic. Stay authentic, read the room, and trust your instinct when the moment calls for something unplanned.Free Resource Beyond the Keynote MasterclassAbout the Host Carmen Sederino is the founder of Illuminated Story, transforming high-stakes presentations into unforgettable performances. With a background in theatre and corporate leadership, she helps leaders create impactful, memorable speaking experiences.Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and host, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Illuminated Story.