Tina Shah - My Entire Career Is Training And Sharing Knowledge (Motivational Speaker)

My vision is grand, yet simple. I want to be able to gently lead people back to who they were supposed to be, they were meant to be…. before all the energy and dream breaking things happened to them. 

1. Tell us more about what you do and what led you to speak on this platform.

Though there are several hats that I wear, my passion is teaching. The jobs I do, Corporate Training, Motivational Speaking, Coaching, and Writing. All the above entail a common thread, which is teaching and sharing knowledge to help and inspire others.

Though I have inspired and helped thousands of people understand more about themselves to create a bigger and better version of themselves, my personal goal is to help several hundred thousand people by the end of the decade.

Through my various skills and teaching methods, I am able to reach out and help people transform themselves into becoming powerful and confident versions of themselves.

I am able to enhance people’s skills through my various courses and presentations, including, Public Speaking, Leadership, Corporate Training Modules, Seminars, and a wide array of writings of articles and books and videos.

Platforms, such as Eat My News that have common goals of inspiring, informing and helping others gain knowledge are invaluable. I appreciate the effort it takes to find the right people, the right knowledge, and the right information base to create a credible network and platform. Therefore, it is my pleasure to be part of this great vision and effort of Eat My News.


2. How do you chose and prepare for a talk?

In my Public Speaking classes, I teach a skill that resembles a brainstorming session for topics. Write down ten topics that have the following criteria:

• Audience and platform appropriate
• Interests you
• Relevant to the platform and current times
• Researchable
• If required, you are able to take a stand or have an opinion

Then narrow down to one topic and research properly if need be. Once you have researched, write an outline for how the speech will flow. Then start writing a speech. The above structure enables the speaker to have various ideas, facts and focus on how the speech must be structured and flow.

Many speakers sit down to write detailed paragraphs of their speech without doing the above. This leads to writer’s blocks, lack of flow and focus, and inevitably fear and frustration towards Public Speaking in general.


3. How can one become a public speaker?

Public Speaking, as with any skill, is more a mindset than just the skill. A skill can be learnt, but a mindset has to be formed. Therefore, it is imperative that one not approach Public Speaking as a fearful dragon nor the holy grail.

The structure as listed in the previous question of how to prepare is more about the steps that need to be taken. The most important part about becoming a speaker is the thirst to learn and the thirst to teach. All other skills can be learnt in a class. But the mindset is what will determine who will become an influential speaker or not.

If one approaches speaking as a way to help others, that vision alone will allow them to have the right attitude and behaviour. It is OK to be nervous, it is not OK to be complacent. Therefore, a good speaker, must at all times, remain a student before they can become a speaker that passes knowledge.

Some simple but crucial steps for becoming a speaker are:

• Learn speaking from an expert: There are some terrible speakers out there that feel that just because they can TALK, they can teach Public Speaking. There is a difference between talking and presenting and speaking. Learn the difference. Find a real professional to learn from.
• READ! If you do not read, you cannot speak well because you lack proper knowledge, linguistic grasp and the finer nuance of a language. Without reading, a speaker and presenter is limited only to what they feel they already know.
• Prepare: Being a prepared presenter gives you a confidence boost. You will never be 100% prepared because no presentation is perfect. There is always room to do better. However, preparation and outlines give you a track on which to run your thoughts and speaking trains.
• Practice: Many speakers do not practice the way they want the speech to BE. They practice the way they already are. To become a Speaker and Presenter requires learning newer and better skills. You must keep enhancing your skills for various platforms, including, stage, video, small classrooms, corporate conferences, etc.
• Keep an open mind for feedback. Be a student forever. Don’t take things personally. Grow.
• Fear: Feel the fear and do it anyway. Contrary to what the butterflies in your stomach, the racing of your heart, and the sweat on your forehead tells you… You will not die by giving a speech. Fear and do it anyway. Again, and again!

4. Can motivational speaking become a full-time career?

Absolutely. Motivational Speaking comes in all shapes and sizes. My entire job is too simply…. TALK! But now that I’m writing several books, I will add WRITE.

However, all it is sharing information and helping others. Motivational Speaking and educating people on various platforms will remain forever because people will always need to learn new skills and gain new knowledge. The platforms may vary: Stage, Classes, Social Media feeds, etc. but the overall goal and vision is to help others through your presentations and speaking and writing.

Again, my entire career is training and sharing knowledge. I don’t build anything in a factory, I don’t build buildings, I don’t build roads. I help build futures, confidence, and a growth mindset. That vision and field will never be extinct.


5. Which is your favourite talk ever and how did it change your life?

Leo Buscaglia had the greatest impact on how my life turned out. I heard his speech in a Psych class and I wanted to become that kind of a human being! I don’t have anyone talk that is my favourite, but I have favourite speakers: Tony Robbins, David Goggins, Jocko Willink, etc. 

I like straight shooters and truth-tellers. But I have a very eclectic taste in speakers too because I’m open to learning from any person that is the right one. From Dalai Lama to Kobe Bryant, they are all my teachers.

Due to my thirst for knowledge and learning, each and every one of the speakers, writers, and teachers, have changed and shaped my life in one form or another. Making me a much more knowledgeable, understanding and empathetic trainer and coach.


6. What are the best public speaking tips that have worked for you?

• Fear and do it anyway.
• Face your dragons and then slay them. Whatever fear you have… accept that it may happen and do it anyway.
• Read!!!
• Research
• Prepare
• Practice and then … Practice some more. With the right tone, eye contact, hand gestures.
• Practice the way you WANT your final speech to be in an ideal world. Not the way you feel you are capable of. When we think of our capabilities, we limit ourselves.
• Dream big for your speech and presentation!
• And stop expecting Perfection (something I still struggle with)

7. What impact do you want to make in the world?

My vision is grand, yet simple. I want to be able to gently lead people back to who they were supposed to be, they were meant to be…. before all the energy and dream breaking things happened to them.

If through my knowledge, hard work, and willingness to help others, I leave people a little better off than when they interacted with me, I will be happy. If through my writing, speaking, presenting or even conversations, if people feel better about themselves, the world, their place in this world, I will be ecstatic.


8. Which is your favourite book and why?

I read a minimum of 3 to 4 books a week. I have read thousands of books so I’m always stumped when people ask me this question. My answers vary often.

However, two books remain consistent:

Leo Buscaglia: He is the man whom I heard at the age of 13 in my Psych class… and he changed the course of my life. That day, I had my father take me to Borders Book Store in the US, and I bought every single one of his books. He changed how I thought, how I perceived and even who I became and what I do.

Harry Potter: I don’t read fiction as much, but Hogwarts is my all-time favourite decompressing and happy place to go to.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my thoughts on your prestigious platform, “Eat My News”. I wish you and your organization, much success and happy trails in the field of knowledge and learning.


- Tina Shah (Motivational Speaker and CEO)

Tina Shah is a Professional Speaker, Executive and Corporate Trainer, Leadership Coach and Writer. Tina is the CEO of Dynamic Training Institute, a leading training academy for personal and professional skills. 

She has taught corporate and personal skills to thousands of people globally in order to help them become successful. In her extensive and diverse career in the US, she has found that helping people grow is her goal.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinakotharishah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinashah_dynamictraining/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0azvHcJ1htUEsAdul8f1nf


Interviewed By Pratibha Sahani