Courage Under Pressure: Master Public Speaking Through Ultraspeaking Games

Does your heart race at the thought of public speaking? Do you lose your train of thought or struggle with fillers like “uh” and “um”? Or maybe you want to go from good to great in delivering impactful, confident talks. This workshop is here to help—and it’s going to be intense, fun, and transformative.

Using proven Ultraspeaking games like Rapid Fire, Autocomplete with Breath, Conductor, and Snow Globe, we’ll tackle the common challenges of public speaking: staying composed under pressure, ending strong, controlling your vocal rhythm, and embracing the power of the pause.

Here’s how it works: courageous volunteers will join me up front to participate in these exercises in real time while the group observes, learns, and provides constructive feedback. Every participant will leave with:

  • Tips for removing rambling and filler words from their speech.
  • Techniques to sound more fluent and confident.
  • A stronger understanding of their unique speaking strengths—and areas for growth.

This isn’t just practice; it’s a space to push your limits and grow in a safe, supportive environment. Bring your courage, and let’s get to work!

  • Elif Schaefer

    Elif Schaefer

    Data & Engineering Leadership

    Elif Schaefer is a seasoned speaker, engineering leader, and public speaking coach with over a decade of experience in the tech industry. Beyond her professional expertise, Elif brings a creative twist to her talks and workshops, drawing on her background in improv theater to engage audiences and make complex topics relatable and fun. From acting out hiring manager and candidate scenarios at LeadDev Berlin in front of 900 attendees to using improv techniques to teach public speaking, Elif’s unique approach empowers her audience to step outside their comfort zones. When she’s not speaking or improvising, Elif is busy empowering teams and advocating for inclusion in tech.