In 2013, Luisa Montalvo says she remembers walking into a Toastmasters meeting in South Texas having seen a flyer put up on the door of a library. “Everyone there immediately introduced themselves. It was very inviting, and an automatic warm feeling,” she recalled.
While she had briefly been a part of a Toastmasters Club for a few years from 1989 at her workplace, the club wound up, and she did not join another club until 2013. “I realised I should have gone looking for a club then, but once I walked into the library meeting, I knew I should be a part of this again,” she said.
Recognised as the World Champion for Public Speaking by Toastmasters International in 2024, Luisa was in Chennai over the weekend to be a part of Toastmasters International District 120’s annual conference Discover 2025. Comprising over 4,000 members from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, District 120 spans 175 community, corporate, and college clubs.
The people in Chennai, Luisa said, were warm and receptive. “What Toastmasters often winds up being without you noticing is that you become part of a family. You can go anywhere in the world and meet people, and when you come back the next year, all of you once again catch up and bond,” she said.
Stating that the beauty of Toastmasters is how supportive they are as a group, Luisa said that they do not believe in shame, guilt, or embarrassment and instead, thrive in a positive environment. “The reason most people join is to become a better public speaker and the best way to do that is to be able to practice in front of an audience and get constructive feedback. This is done in the Toastmaster club meetings, where the evaluators tell you about what you did great and where you can improve,” she said. “While many people do think they will become a good public speaker and then leave, they never do. They end up becoming so much more,” she added.
At the conference, several young members took up the stage, to participate in the finale of the district championships speaking contests in different formats. Luisa too emphasised on the positive impact this would have on youngsters, enabling them to build confidence and leadership roles.
“When you go job hunting with Toastmasters on your resume, it sets you apart since it tells the employer you are looking to improve yourself, she says. “Whether you are a teacher looking to improve your confidence, or someone who wants to do presentations better at work, this will help any kind of fear with regard to public speaking,” she adds.
The Hindu was the print media partner for this event
Published – May 28, 2025 04:40 pm IST