Taking My Speaking Skills to TV

When I joined Toastmasters, I never imagined speaking on national television. Then, over 10 years later, I found myself pitching my business, History By Mail, on the American show Shark Tank, facing five investors and millions of viewers.

What began as a way to improve my communication skills turned out to be essential training for one of the most high-pressure speaking situations I have ever faced. Toastmasters helped me develop a steady, clear, and adaptable communication style that made all the difference in the “tank,” where you present your business proposal and answer questions with the goal of persuading one or more of the investors to back it financially.

My business is a subscription service that delivers replicas of historical documents paired with guides that provide context and bring the stories of history to life. It is a product rooted in storytelling, and much of what I learned through Toastmasters prepared me to tell that story clearly and confidently on TV.

A barrage of questions followed my pitch. The sharks, as the investors are known, wanted to know everything, from our business margins to customer acquisition costs and long-term strategy. I had only seconds to respond to their rapid-fire questions. This is where my experience with Table Topics kicked in. Years of impromptu speaking practice helped me stay calm, listen fully, and respond with clarity and confidence. Toastmasters gave me the tools to think under pressure.

Not everything was off-the-cuff. In the months leading up to filming, I practiced my pitch for hundreds of hours. I watched past episodes, cataloged every question ever asked on the show, and practiced my responses out loud. I even made life-size cutouts of the sharks so I could simulate delivering my pitch in front of them, even when they looked skeptical. This level of preparation was intense, but it built on skills I had already refined through Toastmasters: tightening language, crafting an opening hook, using vocal variety, and mastering transitions.

It wasn’t just the words I said, it was how I carried myself. At Toastmasters meetings, I learned how body language shapes perception. Standing tall, making eye contact, and smiling were habits reinforced again and again through evaluations. These nonverbal cues became second nature and helped me communicate trustworthiness and competence.

Many sharks say they invest in the person as much as the business. I knew that when I walked into the room, I needed to come across as someone they could see themselves working with—hardworking, coachable, and trustworthy. The ability to project presence and authenticity came from practicing these skills in Toastmasters over the years.

After every Toastmasters speech, I received feedback—honest, specific, and structured. Over time, I learned not to take constructive criticism personally. That resilience helped tremendously during my Shark Tank prep when friends, mentors, and producers gave me blunt input. I could absorb it, adjust, and improve quickly.

On Shark Tank, everything is live to tape; there are no do-overs. You get one chance to deliver. Thanks to Toastmasters, I was ready. I didn’t have to think about my posture or pacing, which were now instincts. I could concentrate on connecting with the sharks and delivering the message with clarity and conviction. In the end, my preparation paid off. I secured a deal with investors Barbara Corcoran and Daniel Lubetzky.

I still drew on my Toastmasters skills after the episode aired. Demand for my business surged, media attention and customer feedback poured in, and History By Mail grew quickly. I found myself fielding media requests and new business opportunities I had not anticipated. The confidence and clarity I developed in Toastmasters helped me navigate all this with intention.

Toastmasters is not just for public speakers. It’s also for entrepreneurs who need to pitch their vision. In my case, it helped me tell the story of History By Mail in a way that resonated with investors and viewers alike.

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