Helena Bowen, 49499 Eisenhower Dr (2026)

25/01/2022

If you ever get a chance to go to TEDWomen, DO IT 🔴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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TEDWomen is by far my favorite of the TED Conferences - why? Because of the people. And I say that as an introvert who spends the majority of each day alone in front of a computer 👩‍💻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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After nearly 2 years of COVID, TEDWomen2021 was especially meaningful -- and to be honest, I was so eager to catch up with everyone that I never stepped foot in the theatre once - whoops! I'm glad they're available online 🙃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But for good measure, here are some of my favorite TEDWomen talks of the past:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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💜Nora McInerny - We don't "move on" from grief. We move forward with it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💜Priti Krishtel - Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent system⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💜Rayma Suprani - Dictators hate political cartoons - so I keep drawing them⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💜Paula Stone Williams & Jonathan Williams - The story of a parent's transition and a son's redemption⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💜Emily Quinn - The way we think about biological s*x is wrong⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
💜Cleo Wade - Want to change the world? Start by being brave enough to care⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's the best event you've ever been to? Let me know in the comments below ⬇️

25/01/2022

Looking for help with a speech? 🎤Let me make it simple. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉Here are some of the results past clients have experienced after working with me:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1) You leverage your strengths as a speaker instead of pretending to be someone you’re not. Reminder: you don’t have to be a hype man, or a Tony Robbins, or an extrovert, or an actor to be a successful speaker!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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2) You show up consistently & authentically (real authenticity -- not the fake sh*t you see here on Instagram). Speaking on camera is easy because you don’t have to “perform.” You’re confident & charismatic.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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3) You book new speaking opportunities -- perhaps a TEDx Talk, a keynote, virtual summits, or guest spots on podcasts. You’re happy to say “yes” to any opportunity that drops in your DMs because you know how to prepare.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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4) That increased visibility EXPLODES your career, mission, or cause. Publicity, marketing, and sales get easier. If you’re a service provider, that means more clients at higher rates. If you’re a course creator, that means more students & better testimonials.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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5) You become the thought leader you were destined to be. People want your opinion and they respect you deeply. Your days of “like for like” and “follow for follow” are over because people can’t stop talking about you. Word of mouth is my favorite type of marketing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🤓Sound exciting? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You can book a call with me at helenabowen.com/call or ✨link in bio ✨

25/01/2022

Can I do a TED or TEDx Talk during COVID? 🎤It's a question I get all the time - and the answer is YES! ✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This talk by Leslie Herod is one of dozens of TED & TEDx Talks I've produced during the pandemic. I coached Leslie virtually and we never even met in person -- until the day we recorded it in Nov 2020.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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That was before anyone was vaccinated, so it was just me, Leslie, and a small camera crew in a giant empty building.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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BUT - over 10,000 people tuned in to the broadcast from around 22 different countries! 🤩 That's one (of many) advantages of a virtual event.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now, Leslie's talk has 1.3 M views on TED.com! 🤯⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In 2021, I had a few in-person events. The biggest was TEDxMileHigh in October, with nearly 1,000 people in attendance -- all attendees had to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test, and wear a mask inside the theatre.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What will happen in 2022 is anyone's guess, but I'm expecting there to be lots of hybrid events -- with a smaller, masked audience in person + people tuning in virtually.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But the all-around good news is that TED's audience is GROWING! Even if you're speaking to fewer people in PERSON, you're likely to find a bigger audience online - and that's where the real impact happens.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌ If you want to become a TEDx Speaker this year, check out the link in my bio for my 15-page guide, "How to Get Booked to Speak at TEDx," featuring insider tips & proven strategies I’ve learned working with hundreds of TEDx Speakers and reviewing 10,000+ TEDx Speaker Applications ❌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✅How to research & identify suitable TEDx events⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅How to apply, audition, pitch, or nominate yourself⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Why most TEDx pitches fail⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅How to pitch a TEDx Talk successfully⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅What to do once you're confirmed to speak!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Link in bio or tedxguide.com 🔴

25/01/2022

Don't even get me started on all the BAD ADVICE about public speaking online 🙄 If you're wondering whether I can help you with your next big speech or presentation, here's where I stand:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✨Content is king. It doesn't matter if your stage presence, delivery, body language, and voice are perfect if your speech is BORING AF.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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😤Most people spend way too much time on the above ^ instead of creating a presentation with a clear, compelling MESSAGE that is tailored to your audience. You want your speech to land, right?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✍️I don't love my title, "Speaker Coach" because too many people assume my job is telling them to stand up straight, stop saying "like," and drop the vocal fry. Quite the opposite, actually - I spend most of my time with my clients on their MESSAGING, and how their speech is structured & written.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌I don't believe most of the advice I read online (and from other coaches!) on how to sound more professional. Most of that advice is rooted in white supremacy (don't sound black), misogyny (don't sound like a woman), nationalism (get rid of your accent), homophobia (don't sound gay), transphobia (sound like you look to me), and ableism (modulate your voice & body to make me more comfortable).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉For too long, public speaking has been very white, very male, and very heteronormative. You shouldn't have to fit yourself into that box if it's not how you identify (I'm looking at you, every single TV broadcaster on earth).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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MODERN speakers, the speakers that I work with -- don't pretend to be someone they're not. They share their expertise confidently because we've put the time & effort into crafting a great speech 🙌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🎤micdrop 👇

25/01/2022

Wanna hear how a TEDx Talk can supercharge your career?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉In 2019, I came across a feature about Dr. Chris Fisher's archaeology work on a local public radio station.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉I talked to Chris about his idea for an "Earth Archive" -- basically, his plan to scan the entire planet with LiDAR so scientists of every variety could combat climate change with better data.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉We confirmed Chris to speak at TEDxMileHigh in June 2019, and then got to work on his speech & slides. The biggest challenge was translating his Chris's very technical scientific work into something that was both entertaining and educational for a lay audience. Luckily, Chris has a great sense of humor & wild stories that make his work fun & accessible.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉It's rare that a TEDx Talk LAUNCHES a project - usually you're sharing about something that happened already or IS happening, but Chris launched The Earth Archive from the TEDx Stage.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉Yes, I insisted that he wear this jacket (and was I right or was I right?)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉The week of the event, we bought the URL for the Earth Archive, we designed a quick website using copy from his TEDx script, and snatched up the social media handles.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
👉2.5 years later, The Earth Archive has come to life through a variety of government, NGO, and corporate partnerships - and Chris is now preparing to scan the Amazon!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Here's what Chris had to say: “My TEDx Talk was a transformative experience. Helena completely reworked and translated my script to make it accessible for a general audience. She spent hours with me practicing my delivery. After the talk was released online, we received media coverage from around the world on major sites like The Guardian, LiveScience, the NY Post, and NBC News. It helped bring in new funding and launch The Earth Archive.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Be sure to watch Chris's talk on TED.com (it's one of my favs) and to learn more about his work, follow 🌎

25/01/2022

Let me give you 5 good reasons you should prioritize public speaking:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌You’re virtually unknown. When past clients offer up a glowing referral for your services, their friends are most likely to say, “Who?! Never heard of them.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌You post consistently on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn but nothing seems to hit. Sure, you get likes & comments, but that doesn’t pay the bills.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌You know that you’re the real deal -- but every time you jump on a sales call, your potential client is so skeptical that you start to doubt yourself. Even hot leads feel cold.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌Your competitor is featured on a top-rated podcast. They have LESS experience than you, and a lot of their advice is straight-up bad -- but the host hangs on their every word. If one more person compares YOU to THEM, you’re gonna lose it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌You started this whole thing because you love what you do. But now, you spend most of your time on marketing & sales. And for what?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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❌Your career (and your mental health) took a heavy hit in the pandemic. Meanwhile, you watch other entrepreneurs online booking high-ticket packages, selling out their programs, and speaking on podcasts -- as if nothing happened!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🎤Speaking is the answer to every single one of these problems. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And it’s a lot easier than you think. Here’s why:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✅The bar for public speaking is shockingly low. Lower than any other media (books, blogs, articles, posts, etc.) -- meaning you can learn & improve fast.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✅Plus, most people don’t want to do it! Even if you have hundreds or thousands of competitors in your niché, I bet that only a handful are taking full advantage of YouTube, IGTV, TikTok, virtual summits, live events, and podcasts.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✅Social media is on your side - nearly every platform is prioritizing VIDEO in 2022.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Like if you agree ❤️

25/01/2022

Aside from this incredible suit 💄(shout out to Charline of .wardrobe.stylist), here are 3 weird reasons we should work together on your speech 🎤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1) Do you love gossip? I’ve been to Nick Offerman’s real woodworking shop, I’ve been in bathrooms with Reese Witherpoon and Michelle Pfeiffer, I stole a vase from a Steven Spielberg premiere, and Shailene Woodley gave me a vegan carrot cake once 🍰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I was a stand-in for Bob Odenkirk, I was a body double for Ethan Embry, I got yelled at by Cary Elwes (sorry to ruin the fantasy), and I once had to relay to Martin Short that Tom Hanks had his phone. I spent a decade working in film and television & have a lot of fun stories 🎥🍿🎞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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2) I worked in Hollywood but I was not an actor. I didn’t burst from the womb ready to perform, to be seen, to be perceived, to emote, to express. But a lot of people in my industry did. At times, this has made me feel like a giant fraud. I don’t identify as a “speaker” and I probably never will 🤷‍♀️I speak on stage & on camera because I have ideas to share, not because I long to be “a speaker.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Perhaps you can relate -- if you’re anxious at the thought of putting yourself out there, of getting on stages, of speaking on camera, and guesting on podcasts, I can help. I’ve helped hundreds of TED / TEDx speakers who, believe it or not, frequently suffer from imposter syndrome 🥰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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3) Is English not your native language? No problem. I love to travel & I’m a language learner myself. I got a Bachelor's in Hispanic Literature (random, but I really wanted to study abroad). In the past 2 years alone, I've coached speakers from the U.S., Australia, England, Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Belarus, Syria, Nigeria, Zambia, India, Pakistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and yes - even North Korea.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Let me know where you're from below ⬇️

16/01/2022

🌴 I’m on a FB / IG hiatus in 2022 to spend more time writing, working with clients, and being in pools 🥰 Please use the links below to contact me, since I won't be checking messenger:

Website - helenabowen.com
Schedule a Consultation - https://helenabowen.as.me/consultation
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/

07/06/2021

👆SWIPE 👆for powerful excerpts from Gulalai Ismail's acceptance speech for the prestigious International Women's Rights award at the .
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Gulalai, you are INCREDIBLE. I can't wait to meet you in person this fall 🙏

07/06/2021

💡Something I'll never understand -- how could one person be so friendly, so loving, so positive, so determined in the face of unthinkable oppression?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Women’s rights activist Gululai Ismail is one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights defenders and critics of the Pakistani security services. Authorities in Pakistan have falsely accused her of a litany of serious offenses including sedition, financing terrorism and defaming state institutions as a result of her advocacy for a grassroots Pashtun rights movement.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Ismail was forced to go on the run in 2019, managing to escape to the U.S. despite significant efforts to capture her. Pakistani security services have since targeted Ismail’s parents, recently throwing her 65-year-old father into jail on charges of sedition and terrorism financing, which human rights defenders say are bogus and thinly-veiled revenge against the family for embarrassing the state security services.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Ismail is well-known in the global human rights community for spotlighting the rampant abuse of women and girls in Pakistan, especially gang rapes perpetrated by government soldiers. She is the founder of a leading organization called Aware Girls, which focuses on women’s empowerment, peace-building and countering violent extremism.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Ismail has over 13 years of experience in human rights and peace work. Her work has been focused on drafting policies and implementing projects on the empowerment of young women, young women’s human rights issues, legal advocacy, gender-based violence, girls’ education, countering violent extremism, peace-building, governance, organizational strengthening, and setting up helplines to help vulnerable women across the region.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Up next, some of my favorite quotes from Gulalai's script 🙌

07/06/2021

The first time I spoke to Tania Bruguera on the phone, she was friendly & eager to talk about her upbringing and her art. But as soon as I started asking questions about censorship in Cuba, our call ended ❌
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I tried calling her back - ring, ring, ring, ring. Nothing.
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The next morning, she messaged me to say that the government had cut her internet.
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Again, that night, we tried to talk -- no internet ❌
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I wrote a speech for Tania (you can see a tiny excerpt in the third slide) but ultimately she was unable to finish or record it for the because the Cuban government repeatedly arrested her & stopped her from talking from the outside world.
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👉I'll be the first to admit that I was naive about what's happening in Cuba right now. But no longer.
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Use to show the Cuban government that you stand against censorship 🙌

Helena Bowen

25/01/2022

25/01/2022

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25/01/2022

25/01/2022

16/01/2022

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