Meet Bri McWhorter | Communications Consultant & Founder of Activate to Captivate, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bri McWhorter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bri, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
It’s interesting because in my work, my clients are experts in their field. But when you’re at the top of your game, whether in academia or in industry, there is so much pressure to be perfect. You’re surrounded by others who can analyze and pick apart tiny details in your work. However, I’m usually not in the same field as my clients. I’m not a neurobiologist, engineer, ecologist, sociologist, chemist, or economist, which is great. Learning is a vulnerable act and when you’re practicing a new skill you have to be in an environment where you can feel safe enough to let your guard down. I always tell my students that they are welcome to fail in my classes. But if they are going to fail – fail fabulously. Fully go for it. Many people have had traumatic experiences giving speeches and by the time they work with me, nerves and anxiety can be an automatic response. So I show people new techniques so they can feel comfortable in front of an audience. I even developed a program, called W.A.V.E.® where I teach people a warm up to overcome nerves, ways to use their voice effectively, and connect to their audience. My workshops are quite interactive, so it’s not an environment where I’m lecturing at an audience. I introduce a technique and then have people practice it. I try to create a fun space where people can learn, play, and gain valuable tools. Clients have said that my joy for teaching creates a space where they are able to let their guard down. When people are able to face their insecurities in an empowering environment, amazing things can happen.

I also genuinely want to learn about people’s work. Often, a subject may feel too complicated so we just go into what I call “polite listening face” where we aren’t really trying to comprehend details. I really listen, which I’m sure goes back to my training as an actor. I listen to what the main message is and then figure out what details are critical for this presentation. When you’re conducting a complex experiment, your focus has to be on making sure every detail is perfect. However, when you’re giving a talk about an experiment, it takes a different mindset to decide what specifics need to be highlighted. I’m a good story editor. It’s rewarding when a client tells me that they are impressed with how well I’m able to articulate their project back to them and eliminate the extraneous information. But that’s my role — to have an outside view of how everything is connected and not be distracted by every detail. I often compare it to sports. You can’t be actively playing on a field and also have the same viewpoint as the coach. It sometimes takes an outsider to help you put the strategy together. Once people feel confident with their content, they can start to enjoy sharing it with others. I enjoy helping others succeed and I think that’s a big part of why my company has continued to grow.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I never thought I would start my own business. I always thought I would be an actor. That’s why I got my degree in Theater from UC Berkeley and then went on to graduate school to get my MFA in Acting at UC Irvine. But when I was still in grad school, I started teaching public speaking to other graduate students and postdoctoral researchers — and I loved it! It was invigorating. I was working with brilliant scholars who just needed some help communicating their passion for their work. I enjoyed being able to share the tools that I used as an actor with others. I teach how to connect to an audience, use your voice effectively, and create a compelling story. Teaching was something that deeply filled my soul. I was surprised that I actually felt more fulfilled teaching than I did on stage. So right after I got my Master’s degree I started my own company and named it “Activate to Captivate” where I could help people “activate their communication skills to captivate any audience”. Thankfully, people I had trained started recommending me to other departments on the campus, and then they recommended my workshops to other universities, and then those people recommended me to people at various companies and foundations. I started out just teaching public speaking to researchers. But now I teach presentation skills, scientific communications, interpersonal communications, interview techniques, and I’m an executive coach for numerous organizations. While I never set out to have my own business, I’m incredibly thankful that there is a need for my skill set and that I genuinely love my job.

But running your own business is tough. There are definitely days where I’m wearing too many hats and I wish I had a team to help. Thankfully, that’s normally when I get an email from a former student telling me about a recent success they had. I’ve had students tell me that, for the first time ever, they gave a presentation and weren’t nervous. I’ve had clients email me thanking me for the interview tips I gave them because they just landed their dream job. Or, I get an email from a client who just won an award for a scientific talk. Having former students reach out to share their wins is something I deeply value.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For nature lovers I’d visit Crystal Cove. I always leave there feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. There are places to hike and enjoy the beaches.

For foodies I’d recommend:
Night + Market in Downtown LA
Folks Pizzeria
Chaak Kitchen in Tustin
Majordomo
Din Tai Fung
Taco Maria (the breakfast is incredible)

But there’s so many places to eat!

I live in Orange County so I enjoy bringing people to The Lab or The Camp since they have so many fun shops, restaurants and local breweries to explore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m lucky that my family has always supported me. They showed me what encouragement looked like. Hearing someone you love say how proud they are of you, can fuel you through the longest days. I think I’m a good teacher because I grew up in an environment where I was shown how powerful encouragement is.

Outside of my family, the community I’ve met through UC Irvine deserves a huge shoutout. Whether it was training in the acting program at UC Irvine, the Graduate Division believing in me and promoting my public speaking program, the faculty who brought me in to train their researchers, or the students who trusted me to help them overcome their anxieties, I am forever grateful to the people at UC Irvine who am fortunate enough to work with.

Website: www.activatetocaptivate.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brimcwhorter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActToCap

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/activatetocaptivate/