Speaker's Edge Boosts Students' Public Speaking Confidence

The speech competition challenged 100 master's-level students from the university's accountancy, business and law programs to effectively express ideas and adapt their messages for different audiences. The event was held Jan. 16-17 at the Jackson Avenue Center.

"Public speaking is one of those essential skills that people think you either have or you don't," said Elizabeth Moore, the event's coordinator and director of the UM Speaking Center. "That's not necessarily true. With time, practice and learning the basics, public speaking can often be learned like reading and writing.

"In the professional world, strong public speaking skills open doors that can lead to promotions, enhance visibility and elevate your position. These skills can advance and transform careers in a major way."

Experienced communicators from around the state volunteered to coach participants for two weeks. They helped them maximize their personal presentation styles ahead of the competition. Dozens of professionals also served as judges.

Anna Mason, an MBA candidate from Punta Gorda, Florida, earned the overall award. She received a $1,000 prize sponsored by Katherine Anderson, a Trent Lott Leadership Institute trustee.

"When they called my name as the overall winner, I was completely stunned," Mason said. "In that moment, it hit me how far I've come – not just over the past two weeks, but in my entire journey."

Mason won first place in the marketplace pitch competition after speaking about the ProtectHer, her patent-pending self-defense phone accessory. After also finishing fifth in the ethical dilemma finals, she feels a sense of growth and newfound pride.

"This experience has prepared me for so much more than I ever thought it would," she said. "I've always thought public speaking was something I had to do, not something I could actually enjoy.

"This class showed me I have a talent for it, and more importantly, I love it. That realization alone made the experience worth it."

Andrew Munie, an MBA candidate from Collinsville, Illinois, won the ethical dilemma competition.

In the team pitch category, groups of students selected companies and applied a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis to evaluate them. The goal was to determine and address points of vulnerability or opportunity.

The winning pitch was for Optical Fiber and Cable and Connectivity Solutions – OFS. The OFS team pitched a long-term strategic plan centered on increasing brand awareness and growth in rural areas.

For the first time in the event's 21-year history, the winning team in this category earned a $1,000 prize. Retired Col. Sheldon Morris, an Ole Miss alumnus and founder of Blue Chip HCI, sponsored the reward.

Members of the winning team are:

• Carolina Hollis, an accountancy student from Jacksonville, Florida
• Trey Herrington, an accountancy student from Jackson
• James White, a law student from Madison
• Greyson Swartzfager, an MBA candidate from Brandon.

"The best part of Speaker's Edge was the opportunity to grow as an efficient communicator and leader while learning collaboration tools," Hollis said. "I know my team is especially grateful for Mr. Ryan Cole, OFS senior director of North America, attending Speaker's Edge and listening to our presentation about OFS. 

"The experience of delivering a persuasive pitch under pressure was challenging, but receiving the feedback from coaches and mentors helped us hone our skills and feel more confident going into the final rounds."

Speaker's Edge is co-hosted by the university's School of Business Administration, Patterson School of Accountancy, Trent Lott Leadership Institute, Department of Writing and Rhetoric, and Division of Outreach and Continuing Education.

Top: Anna Mason, an MBA candidate from Punta Gorda, Florida, presents her marketplace pitch for ProtectHer, an innovative self-defense phone accessory. Mason was named the overall winner of the 21st annual Speaker’s Edge competition. Photo by Maria Ramirez/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services