THRIVE Podcast E122 - The Power of Public Speaking with Ghalia Aamer

Over 75% of people are afraid of public speaking. The scariest part? This fear can cut potential wages by up to 10%. Ghalia Aamer, founder and CEO of TalkMaze, wants to change this! Ghalia Aamer is a 19 year old entrepreneur and community leader studying international business at the University of Alberta. Ghalia realized her passion for entrepreneurship when she set out to become a tutor at the age of 13. She was unable to find a company that would hire her because of her age so she decided to launch her own business, Toon Tutors, with a goal of providing meaningful employment opportunities for young people and affordable educational tools for families. In an effort to help peers foster interest in entrepreneurship, Ghalia started the first business-focused club at her high school, OSA Entrepreneurs. The club connected students with mentors and resources to teach them about entrepreneurship. Ghalia recently represented Canada as the country's youngest delegate for the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance Summit, championing youth entrepreneurship across the world. In 2019, Ghalia decided to merge her passion for business with her love for public speaking and debate by launching TalkMaze, a virtual coaching platform that connects learners from all around the world with high quality training. Her vision is for TalkMaze to be the go-to platform for anyone looking to build effective communication skills whether it be for an interview, public speaking, or competitive debate. Beyond business, Ghalia is passionate about advocating for important causes in her community. She serves as the Co-Chair of Outrun the Stigma Edmonton, a non-profit dedicated to reducing stigma around mental health. “It’s not just you who becomes empowered by good communication skills - you now have this amazing tool to empower others.” On this week’s THRIVE Podcast, sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada and Scotiabank, Ghalia discusses the importance of public speaking, navigating imposter syndrome, and empowering youth through entrepreneurship.