Celebrating women winners and breaking gender barriers: words from the UTS Public Speaking Society

Not all battles are visible when transitioning from competitive to university life. For many students, the internal turmoil of impostor syndrome and the fear of judgement is 100% real. If you’ve ever pondered, “What if I'm not qualified for this?”, “I'm scared of looking foolish and being seen as incompetent”, or "I avoid sharing my ideas because I fear criticism and rejection” – chances are the person next to you may be experiencing similar fears and doubts.

Impostor syndrome, though not a medically recognised syndrome or diagnosis, was coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes. They observed high-achieving women who felt undeserving of their success, believing they had deceived others. While subsequent research indicates that impostor syndrome can affect individuals irrespective of gender or profession, gender continues to be a significant predictor of its prevalence.

“Women and marginalised groups are consistently more susceptible to experiencing feelings of ‘impostorism’ compared to their male counterparts”.

A Harvard study found that women often avoid public speaking due to ‘fear of looking or sounding bad, appearing inexperienced, or not sounding confident’. In professional settings, societal expectations and gender biases often work against women. Despite demonstrating competence, women may face criticism for exhibiting traits such as confidence, whereas men often receive praise even when displaying overconfidence—a double standard that perpetuates gender disparities in the workplace.

On 8 March 2024, for International Women's Day, Sophie Greiner, Paris Lay-Yee, and Maria Mubeen, winners of the 2023 UTS Public Speaking Society (‘PSS’) competitions, shared inspiring stories behind their TEDx Talk-style speeches, encouraging women to reclaim their voices and assert their authority in various spaces.

Sophie, who placed first in the ‘Best Pitch’ Competition and who is the founder of the Dome app, believes women's representation in business leadership is vital for gender equality. Special initiatives like the 'Female Founders' season on the Australian Financial Review's Rich List podcast called ‘How I Made It’ highlight ongoing gender biases. While progress is being made, Sophie looks forward to a future where women in business leadership are the norm, not the exception.

Meanwhile, Maria, winner of the Brennan Speeches, receives praise from Jahan Kalantar, a renowned TEDx Speaker, for her potential to speak at a TEDx stage. Maria navigates multiple identities as a woman of colour in public speaking, focusing on authenticity. Through her project 'Live Love Law,' she aims to connect diverse women in law and mentor students facing law school challenges.

Congratulations on your success in our Competition! Could you please tell us about the topic you spoke about and what inspired you to choose it?

Sophie Greiner (SG): “Thank you for the congratulations! I was super excited. I spoke about fan culture, tracing its history from Beatlemania to today's 'fandoms.' I've always been passionate about sports and entertainment and the sense of belonging they offer. I'm developing Dome, a social media app that revitalises genuine connections through fandoms. The UTS PSS competition was a great opportunity to practise pitching Dome.”

Maria Mubeen (MM): “My chosen topic was discrimination against women, inspired by my experience as a woman of colour in law. Despite laws against such acts, discrimination persists. Throughout my course, I've been passionate about advocating for the rights of all women, particularly diverse women in law”.

Paris Lay-Yee (PLY): “My topic was about racial bias in medicine - an issue that’s extremely important to me as an Asian-Australian with immigrant grandparents. I first started researching this issue when my grandfather had a medical complication that doctors disregarded.”

Winning such an award requires much effort and dedication. Could you walk us through your preparation process leading up to the competition?

SG: “When the competition was announced, I had taken a break from university to focus on building Dome and immersing myself in the world of fandom. Drawing from my research and passion as a serial fan, writing the speech felt effortless. Fan culture is a topic I could endlessly engage with, making the writing process a joy. As for public speaking, it's a skill I've always enjoyed, and my parents encouraged me to develop it from a young age. I knew that to pitch Dome effectively, I needed to hone my speaking skills, so I welcomed the opportunity for practice”.

MM: “Winning first place at the Social Justice and the Law Competition was truly an honour. My preparation involved extensive drafting and editing to ensure my speech suited my speaking voice. Practising in front of the mirror with friends and family helped me become comfortable with my delivery. Despite sounding like a brief process, I dedicated countless days to editing and practising, ensuring I was well-prepared for the big day!”

PLY: “Since this topic was so close to my heart, the writing and ideas came very easily. The effort came with putting aside the time to practise and perfect the speech whilst also juggling studies and work”.

For those aspiring speakers who feel hesitant due to impostor syndrome or fear of judgement, the PSS champions offer empowering advice:

SG: “Everyone feels nerves; practice is key. Start small, don't let fear hold you back.”

MM: “Trying is free; not trying will cost you more. Speak your truth; be enthusiastic and proud.”

PLY: “Fear of public speaking is common. Start by writing down experiences, sharing with friends, and then a live audience. Everyone's story is worth hearing.”

Through its engaging workshops, competitions, and lively social events, PSS fosters an inclusive society where all students are encouraged to express themselves freely and overcome the fear of public speaking (“glossophobia”), ranked as the world's #1 fear.

In support of its objectives, PSS offers an active competition program, including the inaugural ‘Best Pitch’ Competition in Semester 1 (in collaboration with UTS Startups) and speeches on 'Social Justice and the Law' in Semester 2 (in collaboration with UTS Law Student Society).