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UdemyCommunication SkillsPaid courseBeginner levelCertificate

Speak Like a Pro: Public Speaking for Professionals (Udemy.com)

Master presentation skills and impromptu speaking, conquer speech anxiety, and get your point across to any audience

Created by: Jennifer Hennings

Last updated February 2023

Our take

Based on the ratings of 30,924 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in February 2023. No course pays to be reviewed.

This is a short, work-focused public speaking course from Jennifer Hennings, an executive coach who has trained people at Google, Salesforce and other tech firms. The syllabus shows 29 lectures across eight sections, about 74 minutes in total. It covers audience analysis, structure, storytelling, delivery, impromptu speaking and nerves. It is aimed at the person with a meeting or presentation on the calendar, not someone who wants to give keynotes.

Reviewers keep describing it as practical, simple and easy to apply right away. One says the course helped reduce their nervousness and anxiety, and others like the clear structure. Jennifer gets credit for being engaging. Complaints are small. One reviewer found the quiz wording hard to follow and said the reference resources need a separate account sign-up. Another wanted general day-to-day speaking help, not workplace presentations. Out of about 30,900 ratings, roughly 3,300 are three stars or lower, so most people leave satisfied.

The last update was February 2023, and the lessons are about structure and delivery rather than software. Still, 74 minutes will not turn a nervous speaker into a polished one. The requirements list a recording device, so expect to film yourself, and the gains will come from actually doing it. With over 80,000 students and a 4.5 rating, it is an easy recommendation as a fast starting point. Anyone who needs depth or live coaching should look further.

Best forBusy professionals with a presentation or tricky meeting coming up who want quick, usable tools.
Skip it ifYou want hours of video feedback, advanced stagecraft, or speaking help for everyday life outside work.

Pros

  • Short enough to finish in an evening, with tools reviewers say they used right away
  • Built for workplace situations: meetings, presentations and surprise questions
  • One reviewer says it helped reduce their nervousness and anxiety
  • Jennifer Hennings is described as engaging, with simple frameworks that are easy to remember

Cons

  • At about 74 minutes it is an overview, so expect little depth on any one skill
  • Workplace focus only; one reviewer wanted general day-to-day speaking help
  • One reviewer found the quiz wording unclear and the resources need a separate account
Jennifer is extremely engaging. Her content is really simple but effective and easy to apply and to remember.
Tatiana O, a student

Beginner level is accurate. No experience needed, just a phone or laptop to record yourself and ideally a real talk coming up.

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What you will learn

  • Connect with any audience and make them care about your message
  • Get your point across without rambling
  • Conquer your speech anxiety
  • Organize your ideas in easy-to-remember frameworks
  • Think and speak on your feet
  • Influence others with powerful stories

Course content

8 sections · 29 lectures · 1.2 hours of video 7 quizzes, 1 practice test

  1. 1Welcome! 1 free preview3 lectures · 7 min
  2. 2Analyze Your Audience 1 free preview3 lectures · 1 quiz · 7 min
  3. 3Structure Your Content 1 free preview3 lectures · 1 quiz · 9 min
  4. 4Tell Your Story2 lectures · 1 quiz · 8 min
  5. 5Speak Like a Pro: Delivery Skills 1 free preview8 lectures · 1 quiz · 18 min
  6. 6Think and Speak on Your Feet4 lectures · 1 quiz · 8 min
  7. 7Manage Your Speech Anxiety 1 free preview4 lectures · 1 quiz · 12 min
  8. 8Next Steps & More Resources2 lectures · 1 quiz · 4 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Professionals who have a presentation or important meeting coming up
  • Leaders who have recently been promoted to new roles that require more public speaking or meeting facilitation
  • Aspiring leaders whose public speaking skills are holding them back in their career
  • Anyone who wants to improve their public speaking skills or overcome speech anxiety

What you need before you start

  • It's great if you have an upcoming presentation or meeting to work on (but it's OK if you don't!).
  • You'll need a video recording device like a smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

How it compares

Against the other 392 rated Udemy courses in Communication Skills on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.5 out of 5higher than 42% of them
  • Reviews30,924#15 of 393 by number of reviews
  • Length1.2 hoursshorter than 75% of them
  • Last updatedFebruary 2023earlier than 77% of them

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Course Description

If you get nervous about giving presentations or leading meetings at work, this course will help you speak up powerfully when it matters most. And if your public speaking skills are holding you back in your career, this course will give you the tools you need to speak like a leader.

No matter what industry you’re in, you need to speak clearly and confidently to move your team and your career forward.

In this practical Udemy course, you’ll discover how to get your message across and influence others with presentations that make people want to listen. I’ll help you plan your next presentation step by step, from analyzing your audience and discovering your bottom line to organizing your thoughts and improving your delivery. You’ll practice speaking off the cuff and learn tools to manage your nerves under pressure.

I know you’re busy, so we’ll laser-focus on the essentials: no fluff, no filler, just the most transformative and effective exercises I’ve developed over two decades of coaching thousands of clients worldwide to overcome anxiety and deliver powerful presentations.

You’ll graduate with a communication toolbox jam-packed with practical, actionable tools you can use immediately to give more persuasive presentations, lead better sales calls, ace that “hallway ambush” with your boss, share ideas in meetings and 1:1s, and get buy-in from colleagues and business partners.

Specifically, this course will help you:

  • Connect with any audience and make them care about your message

  • Get your point across without rambling

  • Master the art of sounding natural and conversational (while secretly being well-prepared)

  • Organize your ideas into easy-to-remember frameworks

  • Think and speak on your feet, even in stressful situations

  • Influence listeners with powerful stories

  • Make your body and voice work for you rather than against you

  • Manage your anxiety when the pressure’s on

And if public speaking makes you nervous, take heart. On one hand, I’m a presentation coach who’s helped thousands of leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and employees, both at startups and large organizations like Salesforce and Google, tell powerful stories and deliver effective presentations.

But I’m also an introvert who spent 20 years terrified of public speaking, despite teaching college courses on the subject and presenting on a daily basis. And I can tell you that public speaking is truly a skill that anyone can learn.

STUDENT REVIEWS:

***** "Worth the investment! If you're debating which Udemy public speaking class to invest in, stop searching now, and get this one. Jennifer provides immediately applicable, confidence-boosting speaking tips in this easy-to-digest course. In a super short amount of time, she packs in a ton of game-changing information, but without it feeling overwhelming. Just from simply taking the class, I feel more pumped to put these skills into action in my next meeting." - Anna S.

***** "In my opinion, no matter what your level - beginner or advanced, you will get away with practical tools that you can implement immediately in your next public interaction. My favorite takeaways were 'Punctuate with silence' and recording myself on audio was a game changer tool." - Calif G.

***** "As the sole proprietor of a design firm, my least favorite part of having a business is selling my design skills to get new clients. Jennifer offers wonderful tools for dealing with presentation anxiety, etc., like, 'pivoting the spotlight away from one's self and toward the audience', '4-square breathing', and how to "get pumped before your next presentation'. I will definitely be trying all of these next time!" - Stephanie G.

So let’s get started!

Enroll today to master public speaking and transform your presentation skills!

CPE (Continuing Professional Education)

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the 3 Cs of effective public speaking.

  2. Recognize why analyzing your audience is so important and when it should occur.

  3. Determine the most effective way to prepare for a speech or presentation.

  4. Discover strategies to structure your content so you can connect with your audience.

  5. Identify best practices for storytelling in your presentations.

  6. Identify delivery strategies related to eye contact, body language, pace, and filler words and what they help you achieve.

  7. Define the PREP Method and when you would use it.

  8. Name concrete techniques for conquering presentation anxiety.

For additional information including refunds and complaints, please see Udemy Terms of Use, which is linked from the footer of this page.

For more information regarding administrative policies, please contact our support using the Help and Support link at the bottom of this page.

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Instructor Details

Jennifer Hennings

I am an executive public speaking coach who has helped thousands of clients overcome speech anxiety and speak with confidence over the past two decades. I train leaders at organizations like Google, Apple, Facebook, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Salesforce, Visa, Symantec, and Slack, as well as a number of Silicon Valley startups.

As an introvert who used to be terrified of public speaking, I am passionate about helping clients manage nerves and speak up powerfully when it matters most. I love coaching clients on public speaking, speech anxiety, impromptu speaking, executive presence, message development, slide design, and meeting facilitation.

I hold an MA in Education and a BA in English from Stanford University and an MA in Communication Studies from San José State University.

Please visit my website for more information on 1:1 presentation coaching, customized team training, and client testimonials.

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Reviews

4.5

30,924 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Tatiana O on 8/21/2026

Wonderful course. Jennifer is extremely engaging. Her content is really simple but effective and easy to apply and to remember. Extremely satisfied that I chose this course over others. I won't hesitate to enrol in other courses delivered by her in the future.

By Manuel Lopez Arredondo on 7/27/2026

This has been the most valuable resource I have obtained since 2011, when I joined Toastmasters International. Because there, whether I like it or not, there is envy, grumpiness, and people who, instead of helping you grow, are trying to keep you aside/isolated. From now on, in addition to adding these resources to my Prepared Speeches and Impromptu Speeches at my Club, I will also add them to my day-to-day life, whether at work, with family, friends, and so on. I will be in touch with you soon, Jenn. PS, I just got your Top 5 Public Speaking Fear Busters from your portal

By Phumie Kobe on 7/6/2026

I am anxious to speak in public or in big gatherings and this has held me back from being promoted. The course was great, however, i do need more practice to get over my anxieties and gain more confidence in public speaking.

By Kavita Yadav on 6/27/2026

this was insightful and interesting course which kept me hooked till the last section. the content is to the point and easy to follow actions are provided. overall interactive and interesting course.

By Aman Pednekar on 6/22/2026

Excellent short course and an outstanding instructor. I learned many valuable public speaking techniques, body language tips, and many insights that I had never considered before. The course has greatly reduced my fear of public speaking & boosted my confidence & I am confident it will help me become a much better speaker. Thank you Jennifer.

By Roshan Rai on 5/31/2026

Excellent session. Have learned a few new tips (PREP, PER, 4 square breathing) which I will put into practice. Impromptu speaking was another interesting topic. Managing your speech anxiety is what I was looking forward to, and I will practice the tips you have discussed. Thanks, Jennifer.

By Marva Orina on 5/18/2026

Taking this public speaking course was a very good match for me. It helped me better understand how to communicate with confidence, organize my thoughts, and connect with an audience more effectively. I especially liked learning techniques such as maintaining eye contact, using the PREP method for impromptu speaking, and practicing from bullet points to sound more natural. The course also helped me become more aware of presentation anxiety and ways to manage it. Overall, I found the course informative, practical, and helpful for both professional and personal growth.

By Diego Rojo on 4/17/2026

I learned a lot of key points i have seen our management team use when presenting that i didn't know they had put into practice. This gave me a sense of how effective these methods can be in real time.

By Misato Yasukawa on 4/15/2026

The quiz questions were difficult to understand, and it was unclear why simpler and clearer wording was not used. Additionally, the reference resources require separate account registration, which makes it difficult to access and review them promptly.

By Nativ Shalom on 3/24/2026

such a great couse really worth it, itsshould cost much more its so valued ! i took so many point to my rest of my life thank u so much I wish that in one day I will have the budget to continue with u in your platform

By Rocky Cordero on 11/8/2020

its very productive.

By Deepak B on 11/1/2020

Great, practical pointers on public speaking!

Showing 12 of 297 reviews

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Overall Score : 90 / 100