Own the Room
Format
Duration
Sessions
Have you ever walked out of an important presentation or conversation thinking, “That wasn’t me”? You knew exactly what you wanted to say, but in the moment your words didn’t fully reflect your ideas or expertise.
Imagine feeling clear, grounded, and fully present in your next presentation, speaking with confidence and actually feeling like yourself.
Own the Room is a 6-week small-group coaching program led by Dr. Sumeyra Ozturk, designed for leaders and professionals who want to close the gap between their capability and how they communicate under pressure. Using neuroscience and performance psychology, we focus on what changes under the spotlight and how to regain control of it. So you can communicate with the same clarity and authority you already bring to the rest of your professional life.
Upcoming COhorts
Starts April 29
Wednesdays 6pm PT
Starts June 16
Tuesdays 4pm PT
Starts July 15
Wednesdays 5pm PT
You may recognize some of this:
- You're confident one-on-one, but something shifts in front of a group
- Anxiety around speaking gets in the way of your clarity and authority
- You hold back in important moments, even when you have something valuable to say
- You notice others with less experience or insight command the room more easily
- You worry about how your presence comes across to others
What You'll Gain
Authority &
Presence
Project the authority and presence that makes the room listen before you say a word
Voice &
Delivery
Develop a powerful voice and a compelling delivery style that captures and holds attention
Clarity &
Structure
Think clearly on your feet, communicate with precision, and speak decisively in the moment
Composure Under Pressure
Stay grounded, composed, and in control of your performance when the stakes are high
Persuasion & Influence
Communicate in a way that builds trust, strengthens influence, and moves people to action
Why Public Speaking Anxiety Happens and How We Move Past It
Speaking in front of a group activates your brain’s threat response. For most of human history, being judged or rejected by a group was not just uncomfortable, it carried social consequences that affected survival. Your nervous system has not fully caught up yet. It responds to public speaking the same way it responds to physical danger. That is why you can know your material perfectly and still freeze, rush, or become self-conscious when attention is on you.
We address the problem at the source by working with the nervous system response underneath speaking anxiety, along with the patterns that reinforce it over time. Through real-time physical techniques, live speaking practice, and targeted feedback, you learn to stay grounded, think clearly, and communicate in a way that reflects your actual capability.
Dr. Sumeyra Ozturk works with executives and senior professionals who want to communicate with greater clarity and authority when the pressure is on.
With a PhD in Psychology specializing in nonverbal communication and executive coaching training at Harvard, her work sits at the intersection of performance psychology and neuroscience. Drawing on over a decade of experience, she translates research into practical tools leaders can use in real time to think clearly, communicate with precision, and stay composed when the stakes are high.
Dr. Ozturk partners with clients around high-visibility moments and critical conversations, helping them build a level of presence and influence they can rely on consistently. Her clients include leaders at Google, Apple, Meta, and Fortune 500 companies, and her insights have been featured on CNN. Based in San Francisco, she works with clients globally.
Who This Is For
Executives & Leaders
You’re in the rooms where decisions get made. How you communicate determines whether your ideas land and your influence grows.
Founders & Entrepreneurs
You pitch investors, lead teams, and represent your company. How you communicate directly affects how seriously people take your vision.
Ambitious Professionals
You are highly capable and ready for what’s next. This is where your communication catches up with your expertise and gets you noticed.
Why This Program Is Different
Most programs teach you what to say. This one changes how you show up.
They give you techniques, but don’t address why your nerves keep showing up, why your voice changes under pressure, or why more practice alone hasn’t fixed it.
This program does. Rooted in behavioral science and voice expertise, it trains how you think under pressure, how you project authority and credibility, and how others experience you in the room.
Built for High-Stakes Moments
Small Group. Deep Work.
Skills That Last
Everything in this program is designed around the science of behavior change, so the skills you build don’t just show up in sessions. They stick.
The 6-Week Curriculum
Week 1
Confidence Under Pressure
Understand how your nervous system responds to pressure and learn to regulate it in real time, so you can communicate clearly and stay in control.
Week 2
Voice & Delivery
Develop a powerful voice and commanding body language, and eliminate the nervous habits that undermine your message.
Week 3
Executive Presence
Learn the specific behaviors that shape how authority and credibility are perceived in the room, and how to use them deliberately.
Week 4
Clear & Structured Speaking
Build the ability to structure and deliver ideas with clarity and precision, and think on your feet without losing your thread.
Week 5
Persuasion & Storytelling
Learn what makes ideas convincing at a senior level. Craft messages that build trust, influence decisions, and stay with people.
Week 6
Live Speaking Lab
Put it all together in a live setting with real-time coaching. Walk away with clear feedback and a plan for continued growth.
Investment
Registration includes:
- 6 live 90-minute group sessions
- Weekly practice assignments
- Teaching recordings
- Frameworks and materials
- Bonus: 1:1 coaching session with Dr. Ozturk
Flexible payment options available at checkout.
Many participants use their professional development budget to cover the cost of the program. A formal syllabus and invoice are available upon request.
Enrollment is limited to 6 participants to maintain a high level of personalized feedback and attention.
Testimonials
The program meets weekly for 90 minutes. Each cohort runs on a set day and time, with multiple options available.
Maximum 6 participants, small enough for personalized attention and deep coaching, large enough to practice in front of others and learn from watching your peers.
Many participants have their employer cover the cost through their professional development or L&D budget. Speech & Mind can provide a formal syllabus and invoice to support your request. Email info@speechandmind.com to ask.
Yes, flexible payment options are available at checkout, including interest-free installments.
No. Participants range from people who avoid speaking altogether to experienced professionals who want to sharpen their presence and influence. The program meets you where you are and moves you forward from there.
View all FAQs
Each 90-minute session begins with a focused teaching segment, followed by live practice where each participant speaks and receives real-time feedback from Dr. Ozturk. Sessions end with a clear practice focus for the week ahead.
Fully live via Zoom. Teaching segments are recorded and shared for review. Live practice is not recorded.
Yes. This program is designed to help you communicate with authority — without changing your personality.
Teaching recordings and practice assignments are shared with all participants. That said, live participation is where the real growth happens; we encourage treating each session as a firm commitment.
Each session is 90 minutes live. Outside of sessions, expect about 30–60 minutes of practice per week — most of it integrated into your real conversations and meetings.
Real change comes from practice over time, not just information. Six weeks gives you space to learn, apply, and refine each skill in real situations — so by the end, they're part of how you naturally communicate.
Most participants notice a shift by week 2 — in how they carry themselves, how their voice lands, and how others respond to them. By week 6, the changes are significant and consistent.
After the program, each participant receives a private 1:1 coaching session with Dr. Sumeyra to review your transformation, receive individualized feedback, and map out your next steps for continued growth.
Yes. If you'd prefer individual coaching rather than a group program, Speech & Mind offers private coaching packages. Reach out at info@speechandmind.com to discuss what's right for you.
Many participants already perform well — but aren’t as clear, confident, or influential as they want to be under pressure. This program is designed to close that gap and help you perform at your best when it matters most.
Yes. Stage fright is at the core of what this program addresses. Week 1 is dedicated entirely to the neuroscience and psychology of anxiety under pressure, and the tools to interrupt it in real time. The small group size creates a supportive environment to practice without the pressure of a large audience.
Most people practice by repeating what they already do — which often means rehearsing the same habits that undermine their message. Without the right techniques, more practice just makes those patterns more automatic. This program builds the right techniques first, so your practice actually works.
Yes, and that's exactly the point. Every session includes live speaking with real-time feedback in a small, supportive group of maximum 8 people. It's challenging enough to grow, and safe enough to take real risks.
A full refund is available with 7 days’ notice before the program start date. You may also transfer your spot to a colleague.