AWS New Voices Training: 5 Weeks That Changed My Public Speaking

When I signed up for AWS New Voices training, I was already a little brave. I had a chance to speak at my work twice among 10-ish people. So I thought, “Okay, I know a few things about public speaking.”

Well… after these five weeks, I realized there is always more to learn, more to practice, and more to enjoy.

And honestly? This training did not just teach me how to speak. It helped me feel more confident even English is not my first language, more prepared, and more like myself when I stand in front of people.

One thing I will always remember is the feeling from the moment I arrived each week. There was a special kind of energy in the room. You could feel that this was a place to learn, try, laugh, and sometimes be a little awkward together.

And of course, there was one important tradition: jazzhands. from Meridith Grundei (our beloved instructor) and Gary (facilitator)

Our instructor and all of us kept doing jazzhands, and somehow it became the perfect symbol of the training. Fun, supportive, a little silly, and full of encouragement. Sometimes public speaking can feel scary, but jazzhands made it lighter. It reminded us: relax, enjoy it, and celebrate every small win.

From the very first week, I really enjoyed the breakout room activities. They helped me connect with other people and practice in a smaller, safer space before speaking to the full group. It made a big difference.

Week 1 was also about becoming aware of ourselves:

The breathing technique was one of my favorite things. It sounds simple, but it really works. Before speaking, taking a moment to breathe helps slow down the nerves and makes the voice sound stronger and steadier.

And then came the fun challenge: tongue twisters.

Tongue twisters are a great way to warm up the mouth and wake up the brain and also a great way to laugh at yourself. We love this, "You know New York. You need New York. You know you need unique New York".

I learned that public speaking is not only about serious content; it is also about preparing your voice and feeling loose enough to speak naturally.

Then we had the 3-minute lightning talk. That was a big moment. Speaking for only three minutes sounds easy… (not for me) . You actually have to do it clearly, confidently, and with structure. It taught me how to focus, how to choose what matters most, and how to get to the point.

In Week 2, I learned something very important: good speaking is not just about what I want to say — it is about what the audience needs to hear.

This week helped me think more carefully about:

This sounds basic, but it changes everything.

When you know your audience and purpose, your talk becomes clearer. You stop trying to say everything, and you start saying the right things. That is such a useful lesson, especially for work presentations, conference talks, and even everyday meetings.

Week 3 gave me tools that make a talk stronger from beginning to end.

I learned about:

The hook is so important because first impressions matter. If you begin in an interesting way, people want to listen. I started thinking more about how to open with something memorable — maybe a question, a story, or a surprising fact.

The introduction helped me understand how to guide the audience into the topic clearly and confidently.

And then the call to action reminded me that a talk should go somewhere. Even if it is a short presentation, it should leave the audience with something: an idea, a next step, a feeling, or a reason to act.

This week felt like learning the secret recipe for a great 3-minute lightning talk. First, I discovered that a short presentation still needs a clear structure: an introduction, three key takeaways, a conclusion, and a call to action. Then I learned how to create a strong introduction by using a hook, building credibility, and explaining why the topic matters to the audience. I also explored the S.T.A.G.E. framework—Set it up, Tell them the one thing, Anchor them, Give it space, and Ensure everything matches to make slides and visuals support the message instead of distracting from it. Finally, I realized that successful presentations are not about sharing more information, but about helping the audience remember one clear idea and act on it.

This week felt like learning the secret recipe for a great lightning talk. First, I discovered that a short presentation still needs a clear structure: an introduction, three key takeaways, a conclusion, and a call to action. Then I learned how to create a strong introduction by using a hook, building credibility, and explaining why the topic matters to the audience. I also explored the S.T.A.G.E. framework to make slides and visuals support the message instead of distracting from it. Finally, bundle everything we learned. The best way to improve is to practice, learn from the brave people who step up to speak in public, and use feedback as a tool for growth. Their examples showed me that confident public speaking is built through preparation, practice, and continuous improvement.

Even though I had already done trainings and spoken at AWS Summit for the very first time, these five weeks helped me in a different way.

They helped me:

Most importantly, the training reminded me that public speaking is not about being perfect. It is about being prepared, present, and connected to the audience.

And sometimes, it is also about doing jazzhands with confidence.

New Voices training has been a fun and valuable experience for me. I learned practical skills, met supportive people, enjoyed the breakout room activities, and gained more confidence step by step.

If someone asks me what I gained from this training, I would say:

And yes also a lasting habit of celebrating with jazzhands. A big thanks to AWS and everyone who have been involved for creating this program.

For people who are reading until this and interested to join the program. Wait for this program application open next year. We will strengthen our communication skills and make a positive impact on the community.