How I Became a Professional Speaker (and Stopped Playing Small)

I never thought "professional speaker" would be on my life bingo card. But here I am, delivering keynotes for global brands like SHRM, Michelin and Vonage. In this episode, I share the raw, unfiltered journey of how I went from giving my very first keynote to an empty room… to standing on the red dot at TEDx… to building a thriving speaking business that now makes up 75% of what I do. My story is proof that you don't need to wait until you "feel ready" - and I hope it inspires you to stop playing small and own the power of your voice. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TIS EPISODE: The messy, real story of how I transitioned from trauma and imposter syndrome to a thriving speaking career Why validation starts with you before anyone else believes in your message The surprising path that took me from unpaid community talks to landing my first paid travel gig How my signature framework, the Overwhelm Culprits™, became the cornerstone of my keynote and upcoming book Four different ways you can get started or grow on your own speaking journey today TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – From being paid to be quiet as a kid to being paid to speak on global stages 01:00 – How trauma, motherhood, and imposter syndrome shaped my speaking story 02:00 – The coach who pushed me to apply for TEDx (and why I thought she was crazy) 04:00 – Giving my first keynote to an empty room 06:00 – Testing my Overwhelm Culprits™ framework in Rotary and Lions clubs 07:00 – Landing my very first TEDx talk in under six months 08:00 – When the world shut down (and I paused speaking for motherhood) 09:00 – Joining Mic Drop Academy while nursing a newborn 10:00 – Landing my first paid travel keynote (and the story that confirmed my path) 12:00 – Why self-validation is the key to becoming a paid speaker 14:00 – Four ways I can help you grow as a speaker - from beginner to established NEXT STEP OPTIONS: ✔️ Mic Drop Club: https://micdropworkshop.com/coupon/longisland25/ ✔️ Mic Drop Workshop: Email [email protected] for a personal introduction ✔️ Mic Drop Academy: Email [email protected] for a personal introduction ✔️ Take the Overwhelm Culprit Quiz: www.corrielo.com/overwhelmculprit ✔️ Connect with Me on Social: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/iamcorrielo Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/iamcorrielo Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/iamcorrielo LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamcorrielo YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/iamcorrielo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcorrielo ✔️ Visit my Website: www.corrielo.com ✔️ Book me to Speak: www.corrielo.com/speaking ✔️ Enroll in Coaching: www.corrielo.com/coaching SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE: Don't miss future episodes where we dive deeper into topics like leadership, personal growth, and turning challenges into opportunities. Hit that subscribe button and join the journey to confident leadership! ✔️ Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify ✔️ Subscribe on YouTube Podcasts: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2iLLfzM7QKFoP2JFPE41hUl1SVHcH3IF&si=Fk3ZsBem6xBLRF1R