Leslie Gordon Speech Coaching
Atlanta, GA

(706) 714-7058

Leslie@LeslieGordonSpeech.com
www.LeslieGordonSpeech.com

Topics:

Communication
Confidence
Speaking Skills
Virtual Presentations

Leslie Gordon, Ph.D.

Dr. Leslie Gordon helps professionals communicate with greater confidence, authenticity, and presence in the moments that matter most. A communication expert, linguist, and executive communication coach, she equips audiences with practical strategies to strengthen leadership presence, presentation effectiveness, and authentic human connection. Blending research, humor, storytelling, and real-time coaching, Leslie delivers engaging, highly interactive programs that audiences can immediately apply. Meeting planners value her ability to help professionals communicate with greater clarity, credibility, and impact, creating stronger leaders, more connected teams, and more confident organizations.

Many professionals quietly question how they sound when they speak, especially in leadership settings, high-stakes conversations, and public-facing roles. In this empowering keynote, communication expert and linguist Leslie Gordon helps audiences move beyond self-conscious communication and toward greater clarity, confidence, and authentic connection.

Participants will explore how pressure, self-monitoring, and fear of judgment can interfere with communication, leadership presence, and team participation. Drawing on her signature T.R.U.E. framework, Leslie shares practical tools for strengthening clarity, trust, and confidence without losing authenticity in the process.

Audiences will leave better equipped to communicate with ease, encourage stronger participation across teams, and create professional environments where more voices can be heard and valued.

Why do intelligent, capable professionals still dread presenting? Often, it is not a lack of expertise, it’s the pressure to perform perfectly and the tendency to hide behind slides, scripts, or too much information.

In this interactive and practical workshop, Leslie Gordon helps participants rethink what it truly means to present effectively. Through engaging exercises and real-time coaching, audiences learn how small shifts in delivery can dramatically improve clarity, confidence, and audience connection. Leslie introduces practical tools for using breath, voice, pacing, body language, and presentation structure with greater intention and impact.

Whether presenting to teams, clients, leadership, or public audiences, participants leave with strategies they can apply immediately to communicate with more ease, presence, and authenticity.

Every voice carries a story shaped by family, culture, geography, experience, profession, confidence, and belonging.

In this dynamic and thought-provoking keynote, communication expert and linguist Leslie Gordon explores how our unique ways of speaking influence identity, perception, leadership, and human connection in professional and personal spaces. Blending humor, storytelling, audience interaction, and practical insight, Leslie helps participants recognize the hidden assumptions people often carry about speech, professionalism, and credibility, and how those assumptions can either limit connection or deepen it.

Audiences will leave with a renewed understanding of communication not as performance, but as a powerful tool for authenticity, trust, empathy, and meaningful connection across teams, workplaces, and communities.

Leslie Gordon, PhD is a speaker, communication expert, linguist, and multilingual communicator who helps professionals communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and authentic presence. Drawing on deep expertise in speech, voice, and accents, and learning development, Leslie equips audiences with practical tools for navigating high-stakes conversations, presentations, leadership communication, and team interactions.

A former faculty member and academic leader with nearly two decades in higher education, Leslie has taught and led programs at institutions including the University of Georgia, Georgetown University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Washington and Lee University. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics and is a Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork®, specializing in voice, speech, accents, and spoken communication.

Known for her engaging and highly interactive style, Leslie blends practical communication strategies with warmth, humor, and real-world insight. She has coached executives, healthcare professionals, attorneys, university leaders, and speakers across industries, helping them build communication that reflects their expertise, values, and humanity. Leslie currently serves as Immediate Past President of the National Speakers Association Georgia Chapter and speaks nationally on communication, leadership presence, and authentic voice.

Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
Corcoran Classic Living
Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education Annual Conference
Georgia Fine Arts Academy
Kennesaw State University
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Deposition Skills Clinic
National Speakers Association Arizona
North Carolina SHRM
Raymond James Annual Valentine's Breakfast
UGA Terry College of Business
University of Georgia Honors College Foundation Fellows Retreat
University of North Georgia
Voice and Speech Trainers Association
WeVolution

“Thank you for bringing the WOW to our annual [Raymond James] Valentine’s Day Breakfast this morning. You delivered exactly what we hoped for and so much more. The room was fully engaged, and the conversations sparked by your insights will stay with this group for a long time. Thank you for helping us find the right voice in any situation and for making this year’s event such a meaningful success.”

“I absolutely loved your presentation and helpful concepts. You powerfully showed us how to incorporate getting grounded but also several key tips to make sure what we intend with our voice is communicated. So great to be in the room for this!!!”

“Often trainers have a presentation with little room to customize to the group and their experiences. Thank you for taking the time to listen to each of us and provide personal feedback.”

“I enjoyed all of the resources presented. [This] was a wonderful learning session!”

“All of it was useful! How she got me out of my head and helped me become more aware of speech! She helped me improve in such a way that that for a moment I actually loved public speaking.”

“This is the second time I have heard Leslie speak. She is fabulous! Engaging. Such important messages. Thank you!”

“Professional, insightful, relatable and actionable!”

“Great intro to breath work for speaking. Quick tips that are helpful.”

“Leslie helped me realize how important breath is to my connection to my audience. Priceless!”

“You are knowledgeable and engaging, making the learning process both enjoyable and impactful.”

“Best session I've attended at this conference!!”

“I recently attended your workshop on public speaking and [these] strategies have already begun to positively impact my confidence and delivery.”

“Fun and interactive, gave me confidence to present in the future.”

“A fun session that involves many exercises! This could shine light on how to improve on your public speaking, but also highlight areas where you are already knowledgeable.”

“Very helpful in becoming comfortable as a presenter. Lots of good tips to help make presenting to groups less stressful.”

“Very practical. Fun, engaging and easy to apply.”

“Great session. I think I have a better understanding of how to tailor presentations to the audience.”

"I enjoyed your presentation very much. Thank you for the guidance and focus, especially for us on the platform. It was one of my favorite presentations that I’ve heard at chapter meetings. Thank you!"

View Speaker Packet

Why choose Leslie?

Helps teams, leaders, and professionals communicate with greater confidence, credibility, and presence
Delivers engaging, interactive programs that strengthen leadership communication, presentation skills, and authentic human connection
Creator of the T.R.U.E. Speaking Clarity™ framework for confident, authentic communication
PhD in Applied Linguistics and Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork®, specializing in voice, speech, accents, and spoken communication
Nearly two decades of experience as a university faculty member and academic leader, including the University of Georgia, Georgetown University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Washington and Lee University
Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Georgia Chapter
Known for combining research, practical strategies, humor, and real-time coaching to create learning experiences that audiences can immediately apply

Photos

Articles by Leslie

When Your Voice Doesn't Match Your Expertise

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info@TheDentalSpeaker.com
480-993-7558