International Women Speakers Summit

International Women Speakers Summit Erica Gifford Mills is a speaker and speaking mentor, and the founder of the International Women Speakers Summit.

She helps women find their voice, clarify their message, and step onto the stage with confidence, presence, and purpose.

Write the first 30 seconds of your next talk.Then delete the first sentence.Could your second sentence become the openin...
09/10/2026

Write the first 30 seconds of your next talk.

Then delete the first sentence.

Could your second sentence become the opening?

You might be surprised how often we bury the good stuff underneath unnecessary introductions.

Instead of:“Today I'm going to talk about confidence…”Try:“How many opportunities have you talked yourself out of becaus...
09/10/2026

Instead of:

“Today I'm going to talk about confidence…”

Try:

“How many opportunities have you talked yourself out of because you decided you weren't ready?”

Feel the difference?

Start where the tension is.

Your keynote is not actually about you.Even when you're telling your story.Your story is the vehicle.Their transformatio...
09/09/2026

Your keynote is not actually about you.

Even when you're telling your story.

Your story is the vehicle.

Their transformation is the destination.

That shift changes everything about how you speak.

Know your audience before you speak.What are they struggling with?What do they already know?What assumptions are they ca...
09/09/2026

Know your audience before you speak.

What are they struggling with?

What do they already know?

What assumptions are they carrying?

What do they want?

What language do they use?

Your message may stay the same, but your delivery should meet the people sitting in front of you.

Before creating a presentation, stop asking:“What do I want to say?”Start asking:“What does my audience need?”The best s...
09/09/2026

Before creating a presentation, stop asking:

“What do I want to say?”

Start asking:

“What does my audience need?”

The best speakers don't simply deliver information.

They create transformation.

Permission slip:Today you are allowed to celebrate something that has absolutely NOTHING to do with productivity.A beaut...
09/08/2026

Permission slip:
Today you are allowed to celebrate something that has absolutely NOTHING to do with productivity.
A beautiful morning.
A great conversation.
A belly laugh.
A quiet cup of coffee.
A good dog snuggle.
What's yours?

High achievers sometimes struggle with this question:"Who am I when I'm not accomplishing something?"If being still make...
09/08/2026

High achievers sometimes struggle with this question:
"Who am I when I'm not accomplishing something?"
If being still makes you feel unproductive...
If resting makes you feel guilty...
If a slow day makes you question your value...
There may be an opportunity to separate who you are from what you produce.

You are a human being.Not a production machine with cute shoes.Your value is not determined by how many emails you answe...
09/08/2026

You are a human being.
Not a production machine with cute shoes.
Your value is not determined by how many emails you answered, how much money you earned, how many boxes you checked, or how productive you were today.
Achievement can be meaningful.
But achievement and worth are not the same thing.

Before automatically saying yes today, ask yourself:"If I weren't afraid of disappointing someone, what would my answer ...
09/07/2026

Before automatically saying yes today, ask yourself:
"If I weren't afraid of disappointing someone, what would my answer be?"
That question can reveal a lot.
You still get to choose your response.
But at least now you're choosing intentionally.

Boundary guilt often sounds like:"But they'll be disappointed.""They might think I'm selfish.""They're going to be upset...
09/07/2026

Boundary guilt often sounds like:
"But they'll be disappointed."
"They might think I'm selfish."
"They're going to be upset."
Yes. They might.
A healthy boundary does not guarantee that everyone will like your decision.
It means you've decided someone else's disappointment cannot always become your obligation.

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