Ep. 190 How to Be Utterly Brilliant at Public Speaking Even If the Thought Terrifies You with Benjamin Thiele-Long

Show Notes:What if the single greatest skill standing between you and the career or business breakthrough you have been chasing is not strategy, not funding, not connections, but simply the ability to walk into a room and communicate with confidence, clarity, and conviction? In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Benjamin Thiele-Long, a UK trained barrister turned global communications consultant and newly published author, whose career reads like a masterclass in reinvention. From arguing cases in courtrooms to advising C-suite executives at companies like Target and Petco, Benjamin has spent over two decades studying what makes communication irresistible. And now he has put everything he knows into one remarkably practical book.Benjamin shares the courtroom philosophy that changed the way he thinks about persuasion, why most people stumble not because they lack ideas but because they lack structure, and what a Royal Shakespeare Company director taught him about feedback that every business leader needs to hear. He also gets refreshingly honest about the challenge of selling a book in 2026, why TikTok is now part of his marketing strategy whether he likes it or not, and how he almost forgot to count writing and publishing a book as an achievement when reflecting on his year.Bio:As both a qualified barrister and a communications consultant, BENJAMIN has over 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor to the leaders of some of the world’s largest organizations. With a career spanning time as a courtroom advocate, PR agency leader, and Chief Communications Officer, he is a respected industry expert known for his uniquely practical yet relatable approach that can instill the confidence to turn anyone into a compelling and persuasive public speaker.==Benjamin began his career as a barrister, completing pupillage and tenancy at 2 King’s Bench Walk and Furnival Chambers before joining the international law firm Pinsent Masons.He later moved into PR and communications, with agency roles including Pagefield and Cognito in London and the United States. He was initially based in New York before moving to San Diego to lead Cognito’s West Coast offering, working with founders and executives in the technology, professional services and finance sectors.He was appointed Managing Director of Financial Communications for international PR and communications consultancy Ketchum, serving as a strategic advisor and presentation trainer to C-suites and boards of multinational businesses in the retail, technology, FMCG, hospitality, and financial services sectors. He most recently served as Petco’s Chief ESG and Communications Officer based in California.To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminthielelong/Website:  https://www.benjaminthielelong.com/Grab the book:  How To Be Utterly Brilliant at Public Speaking, Presenting and Talking to the MediaConnect with me:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint