I’m like you. I wasn’t born into an English-speaking family. I was illiterate, and I started school at the age of nine.

We had very little. My mum decided to take my siblings and me to England for one reason. Education.

That was the most important thing to my mum. To provide an education for her children.

Not only did I not have access to education, I also didn’t know how to read or write in any language.

Twenty-six years later, I am sitting in a cafe in London, England, drinking a flat white and thinking about my educational journey. Where I started and where I am now.  I remember going to school and wanting to learn everything in a single day. I wanted to know the name of everything and how to talk to everyone. However, soon the lack of language affected my other subjects. I started to feel resentment towards school. Things went from bad to worse. I remember one particular day at thirteen years of age. I was in science class, and the teacher asked me a question, and I felt like I knew the answer, so I eagerly put up my hand to answer it. The students around me laughed, and I couldn’t understand why. It turned out that I misread the question. That moment affected me a lot.

Later, I discovered my love for books and libraries, and I’d secretly go to libraries every day on my own. I didn’t tell a soul, and I got into trouble a lot. Reading helped me develop my language skills considerably.

I learned thousands of words this way. I couldn’t believe that reading had existed for so long and no one had told me about it. I continue to read to this day.  I’m also a big believer of personal development and consistency. It’s all about the small actions you take regularly that really makes a difference. 

So, you see, I know what it feels like to be you. I know the struggles you go through wanting to communicate powerfully and carrying anxiety and low self-esteem whenever you start to speak.

I know what it feels like to feel stupid because you don’t understand your boss or your colleague.

I know how ridiculous I felt all those years ago when I thought my English level was equal to my intelligence.

Now, I present/teach thousands of people each year, and I feel confident and powerful when I communicate. When I speak, people stop and listen, and I’ve never felt so strong when I speak. If I could tell the nine-year-old that one day she’d become a teacher/presenter, she would think you were making fun of her and that you were lying. I’m now mistaken for a native speaker and I think If I can reach that level, then anyone else can as well. In the present, I now run courses, workshops to empower women to communicate effectively in the workforce. 

I’d love to invite you to join my programs so we can work together to take your communication to new levels.