About Susan Trivers

It never ceases to break my heart to see smart, talented and ambitious people put everything at risk by relying on speaking and presentation skills they learned in grad school. In my years of experience working with clients I’ve come to the non-negotiable conclusion that business people can make a difference through speeches and presentations if they interest the audience first, then inform them.

  • What’s the audience’s problem or pain?
  • Where are they in their efforts to solve their problem or relieve their pain?
  • What content will break through all the various stimuli that are competing for the audience’s attention?

Answering these questions first enables business speakers to achieve the results they are aiming for. This is the foundational principle of Speakonomics!™

Success grows as you invest in building upon principles. Coaching is a huge part of that success. I know from my own experience as a speaking professional–I count at least one coach per year for the past 11 years as reasons for my success.

Known as America’s Great Speaking Coach since 1999, I have helped my clients earn over $9 billion in new business; coached executives of small, mid and large firms inspire their audiences to tackle ever-present challenges; improved the speaking skills and contributions of emerging high potentials; and enlightened experienced leaders so they upgrade their speaking to match the speed of today’s business.

Recent clients include:

  • Cubic Defense Applications, Inc. (Presentation Skills Workshop for high potential mid-managers)
  • Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. (Presentation Skills Workshop for high potential mid-managers)
  • Metron Aviation (Orals consulting and coaching)
  • CompTIA (Executive coaching)
  • Serco, Inc. (Orals consulting and coaching)
  • Vangent, Inc. (Business Development coaching)
  • Cornet Technologies (Business development coaching)
  • CDI Marine (Orals consulting and coaching)
  • Grimm + Parker Architects (Executive and Business development coaching)
  • Griffin-Owens Insurance (Executive Coaching)
  • Rainmakerz Consulting, LLC (Orals consulting and coaching)
  • Direct Proposal Resources (Orals consulting and coaching)
  • The Refractories Institute (Keynote at semi-annual Conference)
  • National Speakers Association- Virginia (Keynote)

Partial client list since 1999:

  • SAIC
  • Raytheon
  • STG
  • Perot Systems
  • AT&T Government Services
  • NIST
  • CNSI
  • NCI
  • General Dynamics

I proudly served as the 2009-2010 President of the National Speakers Association-Washington, DC Chapter and member of the National Speakers Association. I am the author of The Great Speakers Guide to Business Storytelling (audio CD). I’m a frequent presenter of public speaking webinars for ExecSense lawyers and physicians practices.

When not speaking and coaching others, I’m in the saddle, riding my Friesian horse “Joey” in dressage. Years of being coached has made me exceptionally well-suited to serve as a coach. I’ve made the most progress with my current instructor who always says “dare to make a mistake—that’s where the learning occurs.” This holds true for business as well as personal activities and roles.

I began understanding the critical importance of audience-focused speaking and presenting as an Adjunct Professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Bridgeport, CT. Engaging rooms full of adult students who were studying for Masters of Business Administration after full days at work was a challenge and my high student reviews proved that I successfully met it. After years as Executive Director of several community-based organizations and as owner and operator of a small restaurant in a competitive market, I’m well-equipped to listen to and understand the needs of my clients and provide customized consulting/coaching, workshops and platform speeches to each client.

My bottom-line advice to my audiences is this:

  1. Different audiences have interests and needs that are different
  2. Different audiences have human qualities that are the same
  3. Use a repeatable system with unique content

To collaborate with me on your specific needs call me at 703-790-1424 or email me at susan@susantrivers.com