Halina St James
When a KGB agent decided he didn't like Halina St James, it almost ended a Canadian-Soviet summit meeting in Moscow - even before it had started.
She was under fire in the Romanian Revolution; in Baghdad for the start of the first Gulf War; and in Kuwait for the liberation of that country after the defeat of Saddam Hussein.
Halina got into her share of scrapes in more than 20 years as a producer and reporter for CBC, Newsworld and CTV. Now Halina uses her experiences and expertise as a broadcaster, teacher and actor to help people be at ease making presentations and speeches. And to help people who need to look, feel and sound good dealing with the media.
She has developed a breakthrough technique, which she calls Talkitout. It's for anyone who has have ever dreamed of holding an audience spellbound. It turns nervous novices into good speakers, and good speakers into great ones.
Fred Morley, of the Greater Halifax Partnership, described a Talkitout workshop as "the best leadership investment I ever made."
Halina's latest book, Discover the Secrets of Powerful Presentations, explains the secrets of her technique.
Halina has also written Dealing with the Media - a pocket guide packed with advice for executives and politicians on handling television, radio and newspaper interviews.
Now Halina delivers workshops in communication skills and media management to corporations, governments and broadcasters around the world.
Halina is a student of ballroom dancing, an avid gardener and a meditator. She speaks French. She's a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the International Federation For Professional Speakers.
