Meet Lynn and The Team
Founder
Lynn Kirkham
I’ve been where you are.
Trembling at the thought of telling my story.
Horrified to stand in front of a crowd expecting inspiring words.
Afraid to embrace my own voice and share my message with the world.
But all of that changed on a trip to India - where, taking care of 36 “voiceless” orphans I committed to helping as many people as possible find their voice and speak with confidence, for the rest of my life.
From shy wallflower to woman on a mission - I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to unleash thousands of brilliant voices, empowering them to command whatever stage they’ve been given.
Whether it’s an interview for your next job, the boardroom at work, or a stage in front of thousands - I am here to help professionals like you, overcome the fear that holds them back from fully stepping into their executive power.
Whether I’m working with clients on perfecting a powerful TEDx talk or helping someone interview like a pro, my secret sauce is always uncovering the hidden strengths within my clients.
I have been given the unique ability to see people in ways they’ve never been seen before, call out their gifts, and speak new life into their passions, so they can overcome the fear and doubt that makes speaking publicly terrifying.
My credentials - because those things matter…
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Prior to launching my company, I spent 20 years as a top-producing commercial printing executive/manager.
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I am the speaking coach for TEDx Berkeley and have helped many TEDx speakers craft the perfect talk, then execute with precision, confidence, and connection.
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I’ve helped countless women create authentic signature talks that sell.
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I’ve been brought in by corporate to work with teams at Google, Facebook, Intuit, IBM, Veritas Technologies, VMWare, Applied Materials, Liftoff and MobileIron.
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I’ve helped over 2,000 high-tech CEO’s, solopreneurs, small business owners, executives, and marginalized women to get over their fear of public speaking, and communicate with passion, influence, and power.
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I am the co-founder of The Inspired Heart Foundation – a non-profit organization helping low income, at-risk, Bay Area women find their authentic voice.
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I spent 7 years traveling the world: serving, learning, and creating change.
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In 2017 I was inducted into the Happiness Hall of Fame
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I studied at the Strozzi Institute for Embodied Leadership
Klaudeen Shemirani, M.A.
Lead Trainer
Klaudeen found her authentic speaker’s voice as a graduate of Yes You Can Speak’s 2015 training program. After experiencing the life transformation so many clients experience through this training, she joined the Yes You Can Speak team. Today she works as a lead trainer and communications coach for our clients.
Klaudeen brings her expertise in trauma release, along with her heartwarming mama bear presence to every workshop and coaching session. She helps students easily step into their true voice with ease.
In addition to her work with Yes You Can Speak, Klaudeen facilitates conversations that teach individuals and couples how to feel, speak, heal, connect, and transform in extraordinary and meaningful ways. She is a modern-day healer, communication coach, and mistress of ceremonies and rituals.
She founded her own business, SoulBody Rituals. Klaudeen has a Master’s degree in Women’s Spirituality from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Peace & Conflict Studies from UC Berkeley.
She’s trained in trauma bodywork from the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute and studied at the Strozzi Institute for Embodied Leadership. As a certified massage practitioner and Reiki II practitioner, Klaudeen is able to help clients connect their thoughts and feelings to their bodies, for maximum confidence when it comes to public speaking.
Melinda Lee, M.A.
Lead Trainer
Melinda approaches her professional mission with an infectious sparkle in her eye, having guided more than 50 different corporate teams toward masterful communication. She is an inspiring speaker, speaking coach, and story-telling expert. She joined the team after being drawn to the unique methods of the Yes You Can Speak approach to speaker training.
With captivating exuberance, Melinda brings heart and expertise to the Yes You Can Speak team as a communications facilitator for over a decade. As a lead trainer for Yes You Can Speak, she is passionate about helping the corporate community tell stories in a way that engages and connects them with audiences of any size.
Melinda helps corporations develop techniques in strategic messaging so they can achieve their desired results based on their unique needs. She also mentors small business owners to leverage the power of speaking to achieve next-level results.
Her vision: Increase the number of successful and profitable small business entrepreneurs around the world. Her mantra: "Hope alone will not grow your business, but a unique and compelling message can and will!"
Melinda holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance, and an Insights Practitioner.
She's been called "the people whisperer" and helps corporate groups empower their team to speak authentically, confidently, and impactfully so they can add positively to the culture and expand their organization.
Sarah Cruz
CORE Repatterning Coach
Sarah has a gift for listening and a natural curiosity about what moves people to be the way they are. This led her to studying psychology and the vibrational patterns of trauma and healing, which has been her focus for over 10 years now, along with her joyful expression as a singer/song writer. Much of Sarah's healing has been through learning to express herself with her voice.
Sarah is a certified practitioner of the CORE Repatterning Technique with Yes You Can Speak. She approaches her work as a CORE practitioner, gently guiding others simply and playfully towards truth, healing and attunement. Her journey into the healing arts began at a young age when she found that she could perceive the energy patterns in others and became fascinated with learning the art of sound healing.
Sarah believes that every person is their own best healer and that when we collaborate in healing, miracles happen. She is grateful and excited to work as a CORE practitioner, which she defines as a precise and loving pathway to freedom.
When she’s not working with CORE clients, she loves to teach mindfulness and believes so much in the profound power of the voice that she founded and is the lead singer of a very fun band called Ya Ya’s Kitchen!
Aliki Helman, CPC, SPHR
Lead Trainer
Aliki is an accomplished, industry-certified executive coach and consultant with 20+ years of management, consulting, human resources, staffing, and employee engagement experience. She’s worked with everything from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Aliki holds an M.S. in both Education and Chemistry from Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, Russia.
She is a graduate of the Yes You Can Speak program and has helped many speakers ascend to new heights. Her passion is growing companies that positively change people’s lives. Aliki’s clients include Mindosphere, Abaxis, Micrus Endovascular, Avantis Medical, NeoGuide Systems, as well as early-stage start-ups such as Optimizing Mind and Data Weekends. Her social impact clients include Singularity University and Kiva.
Aliki has presented at events and conferences including a recent workshop on “Exponential Human Technologies” at Singularity University Global Summit.
Aliki uses a wide range of coaching methodologies including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), neuroscience, and Core Energy Coaching. Aliki draws on her vast range of experience and training to help Yes You Can Speak clients speak in an impactful way without fear, overwhelm, or paralyzing stress.
Lynn Kirkham shares about the orphan girls who inspired her mission - speaking at her induction to the Happiness Hall of Fame
I believe…
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Every single person on the planet has a unique gift, a beautiful story, and the power to create an authentic connection.
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Learning to execute public speaking well doesn’t have to be harsh, scary and boring. I strive to make every coaching session/training fun, light-hearted, and highly supportive. No videotaped critiques in front of large groups of people here - just constructive, positive feedback in an environment that is completely safe.
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Fear around public speaking is best combated by returning to the source of that fear, and repatterning your nervous system and your thoughts - so you don’t just learn to cope with fear, you eliminate it altogether.
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Leading with love, speaking with kindness, and serving the people I’m speaking to, is the only way to operate.
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Gaining the confidence to speak publicly will trickle into every aspect of your life, and removing the fear surrounding it, will transform your life in ways you can’t imagine.
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In using proven strategies, to help my clients reach goals far beyond what they dreamed possible.
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Infusing heart-centered magic, along with a sprinkle of my own special pixie-dust to help my clients feel completely at ease and safe during trainings and coaching.
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Helping people find their voice, making them feel truly seen, and encouraging them to step into their power is my greatest gift and calling in life.
I am here to kindly, lovingly, AND effectively help my clients gain the confidence they need to command any audience from a place of flow, ease, and certainty...be it an audience of 1 or an audience of 5,000.
I am fortunate enough to have the most incredible team around.
Here’s a bit more about the trainers at Yes You Can Speak…