Contact Jezra

I’d love to help you reach your public speaking goals!

Fill out this brief form and I’ll be in touch within 48 hours.
—Jezra

How can I help you?*
Name*

Email*

Phone

Are you in or near New York City?

Yes

No
How did you find me?

Δ

I was able to integrate your feedback into my presentation, which very much improved the delivery and helped with the overall “flow” of the discussion. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Brian Blue Senior Vice President / Chief Underwriter, R4 Capital LLC

Thank you for moderating tonight! The [coop annual board] meeting was very smooth.

David Lulgjuraj Asset Manager/Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Houlihan Parnes Realtors, LLC

Thank you so much for your frank feedback and great tips, including "Don't start 'till you're ready." That one really helped me get centered at the beginning of my speech!

Lisa Larson-Kelly Technology Trainer and Coach ("Helping you make peace with technology in your life and work")

According to one website (sadly, no longer active), one-fourth of adult U.S. women are under 5'3". These women run businesses, raise families, and speak up for their beliefs, just like their taller sisters do. So if you ever feel that small stature is a deficit, think about petite powerhouses like these:
Small Women with Big Impacts

Rosa Parks, civil rights leader (5'3")

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a/k/a The Notorious R.B.G., Supreme Court Justice (5' 1/2")

Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel

Nicki Minaj, rapper (5'0")

Jennifer Lopez, a/k/a J-Lo, enterainer, producer, businesswoman (5'3")

Coco Chanel, fashion magnate

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, sex educator (4'7")

Dolly Parton, country music diva, businesswoman (5'0")

Rachael Ray, Food Network star (5'3")

Bernadette Peters, Broadway legend (5'3")

Jennifer Gelfand, ballerina ("I try to dance big”), and

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, who at 5'5" is of average female height — and the most powerful person in Europe.

Can Petite Women Succeed in Business?
[caption id="attachment_6133" align="alignright" width="300"] "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz (shown here with Big Bird) is among the many petite women who've left a big mark on global culture, politics, and business.[/caption] With a few notable exceptions, most of the women listed above are entertainers. That's because it's more difficult to find stats on successful businesswomen and entrepreneurs — and that's a good thing, because it means that the media is talking about the size of their profit margins, not their clothes! But a look at Forbes's The World's 100 Most Powerful Women suggests that female business and political leaders can also be of average or below-average height. Clearly, size does not determine your potential influence!
Here's How You Can "Own the Room," No Matter Your Size
In her extraordinary research on the impact of posture, Harvard professor Amy Cuddy has determined that strong posture doesn't just show other people that we're powerful — it actually makes us feel more powerful, and can help create a self-fulfilling prophesy. In this excellent picture/summary of Cuddy's findings, you can clearly see that attitude goes a long way toward signaling influence. [caption id="attachment_6143" align="alignleft" width="320"] Edith Gordon and Laura Tancer, my favorite diminutive dynamos[/caption] Does this mean that you should put your feet up on the desk at your next meeting, or throw your hands up in a victory pose before taking the podium? Of course not! But it does mean, IMHO, that all of us — whatever our height, gender, age, race, ethnic, or class background — could benefit from adopting a more powerful stance and attitude when we communicate. Remember: Your audience will believe what you tell them! If you tell them (visually and verbally) that you're worth listening to, they will listen.
So What's the Long and the Short of It?
Height is no barrier to making yourself heard, to wielding outsized influence, or to reaching whatever goals you have for your life. So don't let your stature be an excuse for playing small. Short women, power up! [caption id="attachment_16348" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image by Daniel Hjalmarsson | Unsplash[/caption]

Buy 100 Top Public Speaking Tips: The Book!

In 25 years of speaker coaching, I've helped my individual speaker coaching clients develop their strengths and skills to become authentic and effective communicators. Along the way, I've developed tips for everything from small talk to speaking up in meetings, from managing fear to making an impact. And now, I've shared it all in 100 Top Public Speaking Tips: The Book. This beautifully designed PDF booklet is searchable, clickable, and categorized, so that you can find what you need, instantly.

Sandra Arnold Executive Producer, Inn Keeper (A Little Inn on Pleasant Bay)

Vinnie Johnson, jazz and Broadway drummer, died on June 3, 2012, in his home in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. His wife, Patty Casterlin, pre-deceased him by two years. They're shown here celebrating Jerome Harris and Jezra Kaye's wedding at the Caroline Ladd Pratt House at Pratt Institute on October 21, 1984.

Bethany Cockburn Assistant Professor, Northern Illinois University

I could not have given my TEDx talk without you. Thank you is not enough, a million thank you's are not enough!

Rosanelly Lopez-Garcia Licensed Emergency Room and Trauma Social Worker; Speaker, TEDx OakParkWomen

Many thanks again for your guidance and support!

Charles Jewett National Association Executive

Man, you're good! Wish I could keep you in my back pocket!

Anne Loehr Executive Vice President, Center for Human Capital Innovation

It went amazing! Can't thank you enough.

Gabri Christa Filmmaker; Choreographer; Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Barnard College

I just wanted to relay my deepest appreciation for your great help and feedback on my speech. It was really very well received and everyone loved it including the guest of honour.

Karolin Givergis Senior Coordinator, Client Relations, World Education Services (WES)

Contact Jezra

I’d love to help you reach your public speaking goals!

How can I help you?*Name* Email* Phone Are you in or near New York City? Yes No How did you find me? Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Small Women with Big Impacts

Can Petite Women Succeed in Business?

Here's How You Can "Own the Room," No Matter Your Size

So What's the Long and the Short of It?

Buy 100 Top Public Speaking Tips: The Book!

How can I help you?*
Name*

Email*

Phone

Are you in or near New York City?

Yes

No
How did you find me?

Δ