For a speaker to leave an indelible impression on the minds of their audience, he must be able to relate to them and connect with them at their level of emotional and intellectual sophistication. He must be able to place himself in their shoes and ask a simple a question - why are they taking time from their busy life to listen to a presentation, participate in a discussion, attend a workshop or a retreat? What are they trying to achieve? What's in it for them? Then, and only then, can a good speaker deliver content from the heart and not from the brain. It's this invisible emotional connection between the speaker and the audience that determines whether the time they spent together will create the desired result for both. 

As a successful entrepreneur and manager in the service industry for the last 32 years, I have figured out the secret recipe to energize people and move them to action. I have developed a keen appreciation for what it takes to overcome obstacles and build resilience to stay focused on personal and professional goals. Like they say, there's nothing like the school of hard knocks! But the tool and techniques still have to be fun for them to be meaningful, enjoyable, sticky, and effective.

Contrary to popular opinion, a speaker's job is not to deliver content in a masterful fashion. That is a bare necessity. A speaker's role is use the content to masterfully to move people emotionally and intellectually to take action that enhances not only their personal well-being and but also that of the community to which they belong - be it a corporation, a charity, a school, a social enterprise, a place of worship, or a family. This is no small task - it's not a surprise, therefore, that many speakers receive high praise but fail to become memorable.

Public speaking has been a part of my life since my middle school years. It has continued to play a significant role in my personal and professional development as an entrepreneur. I have been a keynote speaker, a workshop leader, a teacher, a moderator, a designer of creative programs, and an avid learner in a variety of settings, both large and small. The programs that I have created, led and moderated have received some of the highest scores in audience surveys that have helped solidify my professional reputation as an engaging, credible, and an entertaining speaker. In short, I deliver results.

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And now, I am combining life's experiences, evidence-based science and spirituality from my coursework at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University and the study program in Positive Psychology at UPenn. Business acumen, life experiences, and the psychological studies have placed me in a unique position to bring these one-of-a-kind and fully customizable Experiences to you. The goal of the chocolate effect™ Workshops, Retreats, Coaching and Conversations is singular - effective stress management using simple, fun and free interventions so we can become and remain happy, engaged and productive in both our personal and professional lives!