CHRISTINE CLAPP
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
“Transitioning from a hesitant and fearful public speaker to a poised debater throughout my college years marked a profound turning point in my life. That’s why I established Spoken with Authority in 2008 with the mission of helping others experience the life-changing power and transformative impact of effective oral communication skills.”
As the Founder & President, Christine:
Leads the Spoken with Authority team
Understands client needs and matches coaches / facilitators to projects
Explores the intersection of public speaking and inclusion
Is a thought leader in the realm of presentation skills, executive presence, and public speaking as well as the use of technology and learner-engagement techniques to teach these skills
Is the author of three books, podcast host, and contributor to various publications
MEET CHRISTINE
Christine is the author of three books on public speaking, a seasoned instructor and facilitator, and a presentation-skills adviser to law firms, trade associations, companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
You might assume that Christine was “presenting before she could walk.” But the truth is that throughout her childhood and into early adulthood, she dreaded giving presentations.
In fact, to avoid the agony of a semester-long public speaking course in college, she chose what she thought was the lesser of two evils: participating in two debate tournaments. Technically, you might say that she had a perfect record over her first dozen debates: 0 wins, 12 losses.
For some people, frustration is the proverbial Mother of Invention. For an over-achiever like Christine, who excelled in just about everything else, disgrace did the parenting duties: because in the aftermath of an especially humiliating defeat, she suddenly realized that her opponents weren’t smarter or better prepared than her. Rather, they had a set of skills that she lacked, and that made ALL the difference: they were articulate, confident, and could present with authority.
At that moment, she dedicated herself to becoming a world-class presenter and empowering others with the presentation skills they need to achieve their personal and professional potential.
Since then, she has earned two communication degrees — a bachelor’s from Willamette University, and a master’s from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also served as a communications director on Capitol Hill, taught public speaking to several thousand undergraduate and graduate students, co-authored three books on presentation skills and leadership communication; and started Let ‘Em Speak, a podcast about the risks and rewards of real talk by real people in the real world. Most importantly, in 2008 she launched Spoken with Authority.
And so, if you dread the thought of presenting — or even if you’re reasonably good now, but want to be truly outstanding in the near future — then be assured: she and her team can help you speak with authority whether you are communicating to an audience of one, several, or many, as well as communicating in person or online.
In 2008, Christine Clapp founded Spoken with Authority, a Washington, D.C.-based leadership communication and presentation skills consultancy that elevates the presence and expands the influence of professionals, and promotes inclusion in their organizations.
Since then, Christine and her diverse team of presentation skills experts have provided online and in-person training programs and coaching engagements to hundreds of organizations and thousands of leaders, emerging leaders, and subject-matter experts.
Christine is the co-author of Presenting Now: A Guide to Public Speaking and Leadership Communication Online, in Person, and Beyond (2022), Presenting Virtually: A Guide to Public Speaking in Online Contexts (2020) as well as Presenting at Work: A Guide to Public Speaking in Professional Contexts (2014), and a collaborator on Let ‘Em Speak, a podcast launched in 2020 that explores the intersection of presentation skills and inclusion.
She holds two degrees in communication: a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University, and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also taught public speaking to undergraduate and graduate students at George Washington University for 13 years.
