January 05, 2026

Building Confidence and Communication Skills in a Multicultural World with Maria Rincon

54 minutes

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Have you ever wondered what it really takes to become a confident communicator across cultures, generations, and languages? In this episode, I talk with Maria Rincon, a multilingual public speaking coach with roots in Colombia and China, a background in TV hosting, and experience as a communications consultant for the United Nations.

We kick things off exploring Maria’s journey—how she transitioned from television to her meaningful work with the UN, and what it’s actually like inside such a global, multicultural organization. Maria shares stories of teamwork across continents, adapting to cultural diversity, and the powerful lessons she learned navigating different communication styles, both professionally and personally.

Maria opens up about her move to public speaking coaching, detailing what she’s learned in her first year as an entrepreneur, including marketing challenges, building confidence, overcoming imposter syndrome, and establishing her unique approach. We discuss working with technical professionals worldwide and dig into foreign language speech anxiety—how it manifests and the practical techniques Maria uses to help clients overcome it, like embracing your accent and slowing down your speech.

We also dive into generational communication differences, debunking stereotypes about Gen Z and Millennials, and discussing the importance of empathy and building bridges across age groups. Maria provides a look at how work-life balance differs globally, especially after experiencing the Nordic approach firsthand.

Finally, we talk about the power of storytelling for leaders and professionals. Maria provides actionable tips on developing a story “bank,” the importance of practicing stories in different formats, and how to make stories resonate authentically in any setting.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

What it’s really like in the UN’s multicultural environment

Navigating direct and indirect communication across cultures

The ups and downs of starting a coaching business—and lessons in marketing and self-confidence

Common obstacles like imposter syndrome and foreign language speech anxiety (with tips to overcome them)

Generational communication differences and how to bridge the gaps

Cultivating work-life balance across cultures

The crucial role of storytelling in leadership and communication

You don’t have to be perfect to be an impactful communicator. From personal stories to practical advice, this episode is packed with insights to help you find your unique voice and show up with confidence, no matter the audience.

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