Turning accountants into confident speakers

If you've ever thought public speaking was something other people were born to do—the theater kids, the charismatic partners or the extroverts who treat a microphone like a fifth limb—Misty Megia is here to (very kindly) call your bluff.

As CEO and founder of Theatre of Public Speaking, Megia has coached thousands of professionals and knows exactly why accountants are among the strongest communicators. As former global head of the ProAdvisor Program & Education strategy at Intuit, she's met a few. 

Here, she breaks down the mindset shift that turns speaking from a terrifying talent test into a learnable framework, the small stages that build big confidence and how translating your wisdom into stories can elevate everything from client trust to firm leadership.

—Interview by Janet Berry-Johnson, edited by Bianca Prieto

Many accountants don’t consider themselves “natural” speakers. What’s the first mindset shift they need to make to see public speaking as a skill they can learn and use effectively?

I’ve been performing since I was five years old, but that didn’t automatically translate into being an effective communicator in business, leading breakout sessions or presenting on keynote stages. My degree in theatre did teach me timing, empathy, presence and body language, but it didn’t teach me how to translate complex ideas into action or move an audience toward a decision. That came later, through additional studies and being the face of multiple companies and cities and having access to outstanding PR teams. 

The hard part for high-achieving humans is that we like to be overprepared. Sometimes we like to anticipate every possible question or memorize every line to be safe for all scenarios. But great speakers follow structure and move within it. They understand the psychology of how people listen, process and respond. Once I created a system for speaking, things began to click faster and yield stronger outcomes.  

The mindset shift is this: public speaking isn’t a talent you’re born with; it’s a framework you can leverage. And the accounting profession? You already have the ultimate superpower for it. Your ability to study and implement is second to none. That level of precision is exactly what turns good speakers into great ones. 

What are some small but powerful speaking opportunities accountants can start with to grow confidence and visibility before stepping onto a bigger stage?

The idea of a bigger stage is relative. Most people think of a keynote as the ultimate platform, but in reality, social media is a far bigger stage. It has a wider reach, a broader audience and, best of all, you don’t need to wait for a “call for papers” to get access. You can step onto that stage every single day if you want.

You don’t need an invitation to share your wisdom. Make your own stage and start sharing your message. Post short insights, record a one-minute video or write about what you’re learning in your field. It’s the fastest way to refine your voice, clarify your ideas and discover who resonates with your message.

Take those pieces that resonate most or get the most conversation going and build out a presentation to do locally or virtually by pairing with another company that has the audience you want to reach, and where you are a complementary offer. 

And here’s the data-driven bonus: conference producers and event organizers are consistently scrolling social to find experts. When your content shows up in the feed on a regular basis, you’re no longer waiting for an opportunity; you’re creating one.

You already have wisdom; the only thing you may be missing is the scaffolding to get there and the courage to press “post.”

How can improving public speaking skills help accountants promote their business, build trust with clients and lead more effectively within their firms? 

Public speaking skills are the number one way to reach, train, convert and retain clients. Your ability to create an experience, build trust and share expertise in a digestible way directly affects the confidence you inspire in others. When you learn to craft stories that connect information to impact, you unlock a superpower.

In my work, we focus on the theatre and science behind influence, the same performance and communication principles used by the most effective leaders on global stages. I’ve seen this transformation firsthand. Once professionals learn to translate technical data into stories, they gain confidence and the clarity in their messages helps the listener feel safe. 

Numbers are most powerful when paired with the story they tell. Imagine saying to a client, “You experienced a 30% growth.” What does that mean? Is it a year-over-year positive? Did it meet, exceed or fall below expectations? What’s the context for the data point? What were the contributing factors that impacted the number? What are their next steps to improve based on what you’re seeing? When you share the full picture, you are no longer just reporting results. You are guiding insights and helping clients understand where to focus and how to grow.

The same skill applies to leadership. When you are a strong speaker, you are seen as engaged, valuable and innovative. But leadership isn't just about taking the mic; it’s about creating space for others to feel safe to speak. True leaders draw out the wisdom in their teams, encouraging everyone to bring their full capacity to the work. Meaning your words can encourage or discourage this from happening. 

This all boils down to public speaking is not just about what you say, it’s about how you connect, how you inspire confidence and how you create momentum in the rooms you enter. When accountants step into skill, they are unstoppable.

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The Net Gains is curated and written by Janet Berry-Johnson and edited by Bianca Prieto.