Shil is a public speaking specialist, storyteller and a highly regarded speaker coach.
Shil is the Head of Speaker Coaching for TEDxPerth, Board member for Guerrilla Establishment, and a presentation mentor with Impact100 WA. He is a pioneer in his field having introduced the concept of public speaking in virtual reality and artificial intelligence – two ground-breaking approaches which are disrupting the speaking game.
In 2021, an award-winning short film documentary of Shil’s life story was released globally. The documentary is an intimate, behind the scenes look at Shil’s story documenting his public speaking journey.
Hi! My name is Shil. I have had a stutter since I was 10 years young, I feel anxious around crowds and I have severe hyperthermia (which means by body is sensitive to heat)
And I specialise in public speaking.
Stuttering, anxiety and hyperthermia is precisely why I chose to pursue a career in public speaking.
I experience communication and anxiety challenges every day and because of this, developed a hyper-awareness of my surroundings. I’ve learned to manage these challenges and taught myself public speaking using sophisticated techniques which are rare to the world.
As a result I am a professional speaker, MC, TEDx speaker, TEDx speaker and a professional speaking coach.
I have been building courage every day, for over 30 years.
From being bullied, beaten up and teased in school, ignored and mocked in University and dismissed and overlooked as an adult – I have learned to build resilience through coping with thousands of situations which could have broken me.
Eventually, I decided that either I took control of my stutter and insecurities, or it would control me for the rest of my life – and to do that, I faced my biggest fear – speaking in public with a stutter.
Presenting to audiences in my most vulnerable form has made me accept I am, and fuelled my belief in what I am capable of.
I think it’s an over-used word which has lost its meaning.
According to Google, the literal meaning is “a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.”
If I had to define it, it would be similar to “passion” – most of us think of “passion” as desire, love, lust and energy, when it actually stems from a Latin word and means “to suffer”
I think Entrepreneurship is about suffering, and loving what you suffer for.
I have had many, however 3 learnings are:
1. Learn how to leverage opportunities.
2. Become aware of language – because the words we use can shape conversations and build relationships.
3. Become deeply comfortable in who you are, because that’s when you become unstoppable.
I have always wanted to say my name, and introduce myself fluently, without stuttering. I wondered what that would feel like, and how people would react if I didn’t say, “Hhhhhh-eeellllo, m-m-m-m-my nnnname is Sssssshil.”
I also wanted to confidently speak over the phone, in meetings, interviews, networking events and presentations.
I realised most people feel anxious and insecure about speaking, and the only training programs available were monotonous, robotic and rigid. They lacked a human touch and storytelling.
Through this realisation, I understood that there is an enormous need for us to speak in any situation – from the ones I describe above, to social media (video), online (zoom/Teams), podcasts and media.
“If you don’t believe you are the best, then you will never achieve all that you are capable of.”
Cristiano Ronaldo
Become a storyteller.
Feel comfortable sharing your story to a room of 50 people.
It will become your most powerful form of marketing.