Speaking of ROI

Flying to Barcelona for His First Gig: How Neil Linford-Relph Spoke Before He Felt Ready - EP 006, Speaking of ROI

Neil Linford-Relph, founder of The Design Business and former Design Director at McKinsey, joins Speaking of ROI to share how a single conference talk in Barcelona launched his speaking career. In this episode, Neil reflects on his design legacy—from Barclays to UBS Neo—and how AI is reshaping creativity. He talks candidly about the challenges of stepping out from behind big agency logos to speak as himself, how he curates talks on brand authenticity, and why he's now hosting a sustainability and creativity summit. If you're navigating a career pivot or considering the stage, Neil's story is a masterclass in showing up.

Highlights

Neil on Linkedin

Neil's Website

Martin on Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

From City Trader to HealthTech Pioneer: Neil Taub's Inspiring Journey - EP, 08 Speaking of ROI

In this episode

Neil Taub, Co-founder of ZoomDoc, shares how he moved from 20 years in finance to building a healthtech startup. One powerful story stands out: during COVID, he drove across London to help a cancer patient get the test they needed for urgent treatment. That night pushed him to keep going — and reminded him why this work matters.

Neil talks about how speaking at events like Sifted and Work Avenue helped him grow as a leader and connect more deeply with others. He shows how sharing your story — even if you’ve had a long career already — can open new doors, build trust, and bring your purpose into focus.

This episode is for anyone wondering if their voice still matters. It does. And using it can change everything.

Links

Neil Taub on Linkedin

Website

Martin on Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

Takeaways:

• Neil Taub's transition from a city trader to a healthtech entrepreneur exemplifies the power of reinvention and finding one's purpose.
• The pivotal moment during COVID, where Neil drove a COVID test across London, crystallized his motivation to impact healthcare positively.
• Confidence in speaking can be cultivated through authentic storytelling, which builds trust and credibility with audiences.
• Mid-career professionals can leverage speaking engagements to amplify their visibility and share their unique narratives effectively.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Zoom Doc
• Sifted
• Peugeot
• Volkswagen
• Mercedes
• Nike
• NHS
• Work Avenue

Ditch the Slides, Keep the Story: A New Kind of Speaking ROI - EP 07, Speaking of ROI

In this episode, we explore how speaking becomes a practice of personal growth, not just audience impact. Why Stacey chose to leave behind slide decks in favor of intuitive, audience-centred delivery. From ROI to nervous system awareness, she offers a grounded, empowering perspective on what it really means to show up on stage

Highlights

[00:01:10] Intuition and Self-Trust

“If I get quiet enough, if I pause, if I take a breath… I know exactly what I want and where I need to head.”

[00:02:00] Her Planning Process

“I had built out the components of my story that I knew would resonate with this audience… Then I turned it on to some introspection and some curious questions.”

[00:03:12] Tailoring Every Talk

“Yes, yes, because I’m a new person… new concepts, new insights that I’ve gleaned that might be now relevant.”

[00:05:00] Why Slides Don’t Work for Her

“I am awful behind a slide deck. It doesn’t work for me… I can feel an unnatural tension in my throat.”

[00:06:30] Minimal Prep, Maximum Presence

“I went and walked the dog… I knew I had 30 minutes to prep before the event, and I just grabbed my notebook.”

[00:07:00] Martin’s Take on Conference Slide Culture

“You are present in the two weeks before when you sent the slide decks in… for the convenience of the event organizer. And they don’t get priority. The person on stage gets priority.”

[00:08:43] Trust the Moment

“You are the speaker. You own that space. You own that stage. And it is to the benefit of the audience… Follow your gut. You’re going to learn something either way.”

[00:11:00] The Moment She Let Go of Slides

“Afterwards, I said to her… it felt really off. I didn’t feel myself. The energy didn’t feel right. I didn’t feel comfortable. And she said, ‘Yeah, I noticed that.’”

[00:11:40] Experimenting Until It Clicked

“Let me try it again. Nope. Still sucked. Still felt terrible. So that was, that was the process.”

[00:12:13] Dispelling the Myth of the Polished Pro

“I had some sort of a mindset and a belief that… only the really polished, professional, like Mel Robbins, or the spiritual gurus, right… I didn’t think that was me.”

[00:13:00] Becoming a New Speaker

“I’m really in a very new place… 2025 I’ve been very challenged inside to feel like I need to put myself out there.”

[00:14:00] Audience Connection over Performance

“We’re sharing the behind-the-scenes or the touchline moments… the mornings at the gym where you’re literally just putting the reps in.”

[00:15:50] Nervous System Awareness

“2024 to 2025 has revealed to me how important our nervous system is… If you become very good at really knowing what your nervous system is showing you… when the big opportunities come, you will be ready.”

[00:17:10] Martin’s TEDx Experience

“I spent more time working on the slides and the script than I did the performance… Everything felt like it went black and white… From that point on, forget the slides.”

[00:18:20] Advice for Seasoned Professionals Feeling Stuck

“First ask yourself, why do you want to speak? Like, what is your ethos around it?”

[00:19:10] Pre-Speech Visualization Exercise

“The speech is over, and all the people are walking away… Let’s make a list of the things they are saying about your talk in quotations.”

[00:20:00] On Getting Started

“No event, no invitation is too small. You’re not above it, especially if you’re first starting.”

[00:21:04] Unlocking Stories from Life Moments

“She literally slipped and fell, but the slipping was… you were slipping in other areas. Let’s unpack this.”

[00:21:30] The Power of Verbal Processing

“People need to verbally process. So hiring a coach like you, somebody who can listen to you, help you put some things in a framework—that’s a beautiful place to start.”

Links

Stacey Gonzales, Ed.D. on Linkedin

Website

Other Links

Martin on Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

Flying to Barcelona for His First Gig: How Neil Linford-Relph Spoke Before He Felt Ready - EP 06, Speaking of ROI

Neil Linford-Relph, founder of The Design Business and former Design Director at McKinsey, joins Speaking of ROI to share how a single conference talk in Barcelona launched his speaking career. In this episode, Neil reflects on his design legacy—from Barclays to UBS Neo—and how AI is reshaping creativity. He talks candidly about the challenges of stepping out from behind big agency logos to speak as himself, how he curates talks on brand authenticity, and why he's now hosting a sustainability and creativity summit. If you're navigating a career pivot or considering the stage, Neil's story is a masterclass in showing up.

Highlights

Links

Neil on Linkedin

Neil's Website

Martin on Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

"You're Up": The Moment Todd Cherches Faced 12 CEOs and Found His Voice - Ep 05, Speaking of ROI

In this episode Speaking of ROI, Todd Cherches — TEDx speaker, NYU professor, and author of VisuaLeadership — shares his speaking journey from someone comfortable backstage to a trusted voice out front on global stages. He reveals how public speaking amplified his book's success, translated it into Mandarin, and turned visibility into opportunity. Todd discusses using visual thinking to engage diverse audiences, overcoming fear, and why presence in the room (even when rejected) can change your future. Packed with metaphors, strategies, and real talk. This is a masterclass in the ROI of showing up.

Highlights

[00:01:36] "You enhance your visibility, voice, and value — whether in person or online."

[00:03:45] "Facts and figures don’t move people. Feelings do."

[00:07:08] "Twelve CEOs were waiting. My boss said, 'You're going to have to do it.'"

[00:10:19] "Had I not gone to that TEDx event I was rejected from, I never would’ve gotten the talk."

[00:14:50] "Once you speak, it becomes part of your comfort zone."

Links

Todd on Linkedin

Website

Book: VisuaLeadership

Martin on Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

Curate, Connect, Contribute: The Speaking Mindset That Changed Everything for Dr Shelley James - Ep 04, Speaking of ROI

In this episode of Speaking of ROI, Dr. Shelley James — founder of Age of Light Innovations — reveals how she evolved from over-sharing expert to intentional speaker. Shelley opens up about her global speaking journey, the power of curation, and why showing up early matters more than being perfect on stage. From panel creation to keynote delivery, her story is a masterclass in relational ROI.

4

Highlights

• [00:03:20] "I invited everybody to see that they were light ladies and gentlemen themselves. The energy in the room was just palpable."
• [00:07:40] "My knowledge offers a seed to someone else. And now people are asking me to keynote, to curate, to lead."
• [00:12:10] "Hack someone else's network. Show up. And remember: it’s not about you."
• [00:19:30] "Speaking is a form of service. It's not about the money — it's about the message."

Links

Shelley on Linkedin

Website

Martin on Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

Felling nervous means I'm ready: How Chris Bentley Channels Nerves into Speaking Power - Ep 03, Speaking of ROI

In this energy-packed episode of Speaking of ROI, ex-rugby pro and current event host Chris Bentley reveals how the adrenaline of the pitch became the fuel for the stage. From his early fumbles at a networking group to hosting major awards shows, Chris shares why nerves are essential, why preparation is everything, and how speaking delivers return in both pounds and personal growth. You'll learn about box breathing, bombing on stage, and why a good opener changes everything.

3

Highlights

[00:01:00] "Return on investment? I get paid. But I also grow as a human."

[00:04:00] "My personality is high extrovert, low conformity. I enjoy performing."

[00:06:19] "So to know I'm nervous, to embrace it, but not to be totally over the top..."

[00:10:48] "You were arrogant. You were found out. And I made sure that would never happen again."

[00:13:50] "You've got to be on the button at the beginning and the end. That’s what people take away."

Links

Chris's Linkedin

Thenottys.co.uk

Nwclub.co.uk

building-brands.co.uk/

Martin's Linkedin

ROI From Speaking self assessment

In this episode, Marc Cohen, AI operator turned VC, at unbundled VC shares why speaking is central to how he builds trust, grows deal flow, and stays visible in the founder community.

From embracing improv to rejecting simplistic ROI metrics, Marc unpacks the long game of speaking as a business strategy, as well as why he's also does standup comedy.

[00:01:20] “If you can sit in front of people and build that awareness and credibility, then over time, those things have value.”

[00:05:01] “There isn’t enough information to make a fully data-driven decision.”

[00:08:10] “This is mission critical for me.”

[00:13:49] “I’m going to be here and it will be fine. No matter what the situation.”

[00:16:21] “It was deliberately this, like, put yourself into uncomfortable. And it was deeply uncomfortable.”

[00:23:13] “Always record myself and watch it. However difficult you find it, it works.”

Links

Mark's LinkedIn

Unbundled VC

Martin's LinkedIn

Speaker ROI self-assessment survey

Guest: Jackie Handy – Keynote speaker, facilitator, and expert in workforce culture and belonging.

Topic: The unexpected ROI of speaking when you lead with authenticity and connection.

Jackie Handy didn’t set out to become a professional speaker—but by owning her story and stepping onto small stages, she created ripples of real impact. In this episode, she shares how a five-minute talk evolved into a TEDx, a global audience, and a thriving business rooted in inclusion and belonging. If you’ve ever wondered whether your story is enough, this one will nudge you off the sidelines.

Links

Jackie's speaker reel

Jackie Handy on LinkedIn

jackiehandy.com

TEDx The Exclusive Nature of Inclusion

Martin on Linkedin

15 question self-assessment

Turning points:

• 00:00 – Jackie shares how she transitioned from recruitment and L&D into the world of speaking.

• 05:00 – Her TEDx talk gets promoted to TED.com—and how that changed the game.

• 10:00 – Real-time proof of impact: audience emotion, standing ovations, and ripple effects that lasted years.

• 15:00 – Learning from delivery mistakes: how rushing through a short talk made her sound angry (and what she did differently next time).

• 20:00 – Why connection beats content every time, and how tailoring your message to the audience makes you memorable.

• 25:00 – The golden rule: never rehearse on a paid stage. Jackie shares her story about vulnerability and relatability as tools for impact.

• 29:00 – One tip to move forward today: own your message and shrink it down until it sticks.