Priya Parker
Facilitator, strategic advisor, and acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering
Samara Bay
Public speaking expert, leadership consultant, professor, and author of Permission to Speak
Photo Credit: Samara Bay
Globally acclaimed public speaking expert and the author of Permission to Speak, Samara Bay offers a revolutionary approach to public speaking that meets the moment. Her book Permission to Speak: How to Change What Power Sounds Like, Starting With You urges readers to rethink what power sounds like and use their voices to lead change. In high-energy and high-impact keynotes and lectures, Bay shares her research and tools with audiences across all industries and career levels.
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About Samara Bay
Samara Bay’s eye-opening work is about how we speak and why it matters. As a public speaking expert, consultant, facilitator, and professor, she turns emerging leaders into brilliant speakers. The founder of Permission, Inc., Bay advises global leaders in business, politics, and entertainment, helping speakers worldwide unleash their authentic voices and make the impact of their dreams. Bay shares her inspiring and game-changing expertise in her book Permission to Speak and keynotes and lectures around the world.
Both a coach and expert in public speaking, Bay has spoken at organizations of all sizes including Google, COMPASS, Estée Lauder, Telemundo, the American Hospitality and Lodging Association Foundation, USC’s Lead On! Women’s Conference, and more. From offering practical training lectures on subjects like storytelling for impact or secrets to brilliant speaking, to personalized keynotes with stories from her experience working with Hollywood’s biggest stars and political powerhouses, Bay offers dynamic support to equip audiences to develop public speaking and leadership skills while focusing on three key areas: permission, purpose, and becoming the new sound of power.
Renowned for years in Hollywood as a top dialect coach to the stars, Bay has a long history helping celebrities with their accents, as well as with their public speeches. Clients include Gal Gadot, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Penelope Cruz, Rosie O’Donnell, Ruth Negga, Anjelica Huston, and Ricky Martin.
Called “funny, surprising, and stirring,” (Rachel McAdams) Bay’s book Permission to Speak: How to Change What Power Sounds Like, Starting With You offers a fresh and profound perspective on public speaking. Both a modern leadership guide and a self-help experience, Permission to Speak is for business leaders wanting to make an organizational impact as well as individuals looking for a fresh approach to being heard. From college students to the C-suite and everything in between, this book is a toolkit for anyone finding their voice. Permission to Speak is available in more than 15 countries and 5 languages.
Bay’s work has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company, CBS Sunday Morning, and more. Bay, who earned her BA at Princeton University and MFA at Brown University, is now a professor of practice at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism teaching a popular course based on her book. She lives in and travels from Los Angeles.
Contact us for more information about booking Samara Bay for your next event.
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Speaking Topics
Permission To Speak: A Conversation With Samara Bay
Through storytelling, insights into the science of humans, and strategies audience members can implement right away, Samara has helped thousands of people better understand why diverse voices matter and how they themselves can get heard. A true case of practicing what you preach, Samara models the secrets to good public speaking. Weaving in lively and emotionally potent group participation, a conversation with Samara Bay (and an opportunity for listeners to be coached on the spot!) is an unforgettable experience for audiences.
Keynotes and Lectures
Bring in public speaking expert and consultant Samara Bay for high-energy, story-based keynotes or practical training lectures that transform how audiences think about power and communication, full of both inspiration and fresh tools. Leveling up her audience's public speaking skills while tailoring her presentation to clients' unique needs, Bay is committed to ensuring every presentation hits its mark, changes the room, and leaves audiences buzzing. Popular topics include: Storytelling for Impact, What Makes Presentations Kill, How to Pitch, and The 5 Secrets to Brilliant Public Speaking.
Categories: Business + Entrepreneurship Speakers, Connection + Community Building, Employee Engagement + Development Speakers, Entrepreneurship Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Motivational + Inspirational Speakers, Productivity + Growth Mindset Speakers, Wellness + Personal Growth Speakers, Women's History Month Speakers -
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Praise for Samara Bay
Samara is magic. Thank you for her passion, partnership, and beautiful execution of a powerful session for our team. She was incredibly engaging and the feedback was amazing. We appreciate her supporting our vision and event.
— Estée LauderWe felt so fortunate to have Samara speak to our employees. Her unique perspective was eye-opening for our high percentage of employees that do not speak English as a first language and face a whole other level of challenges in making themselves heard. Samara’s magnetic gift for storytelling really takes you on a self-awareness journey that makes you want to listen with more intention and pump up your own volume.
— Georgianne Ocasio, Sr. Director, Corporate & External Affairs, NBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesSamara’s session had the highest rating over our two-day lead on conference. Attendees used words like ‘valuable, relevant, inspirational, and energetic.’ I would add ‘entertaining!’ Samara gave us a real user manual on how to be heard.
— Fred Cook, Director, USC Annenberg Center for PRSamara’s session was so insightful and uplifting. The feedback from out women’s group was outstanding! We’ve had many speakers—internal and external over the last 18 months—and this was by far the most well received!
— Cheryl Dooley, Vice President, HR, ThyssenkruppPraise for Permission To Speak
An encouraging, practical guide to public speaking . . . A generous companion for building confidence.
— Kirkus ReviewsSamara Bay’s brilliant expertise helps us understand that when we find our permission to speak, we are able to step into our full power as women. She encourages us to abandon our formed habits, which are almost always serving someone else, and shows us what it means to use our narratives to be heroes who change the way we are heard in the world.
— Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair PlayWomen, people of color, and other historically excluded folks are taught not to be too big, too loud, too demanding, or too ambitious. This book gives them permission to speak up—and command the room.
— Rachel Rodgers, author of We Should All Be MillionairesNo one knows more about voice than Samara Bay. This is a brilliant, user-friendly guide to speaking up. I love it.
— Viv Groskop, author of How to Own the RoomPermission to Speak goes beyond the easy ‘use your voice’ platitudes that power hashtag-girlboss memes. . . .The book never shies away from frank talk about the ways systems of oppression have squelched and silenced some voices, and at every turn, [Samara] Bay offers practical and doable exercises. . . . Bay writes with humor and ease, sharing stories from her own experience and those of her clients.
— Mindful MagazineA totally beguiling and richly informative primer for anyone who struggles to say what they think out loud.
— Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes HerSamara Bay—the speech coach who’s helped Ruth Negga, Gal Gadot, and others perfect dialects on film—offers an empowering take on public speaking.
— Vanity FairI love this book—funny, surprising, stirring, and so important! What a beautiful accomplishment and gift to put into the world.
— Rachel McAdams -
Books by Samara Bay
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Media About Samara Bay
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and Availability
- 212 572-2013
- Samara Bay travels from Los Angeles, CA
Featured Title
Permission to Speak
Use your voice to lead us to a better future with this game-changing guide to redefining what power and authority sound like—from a speech expert who’s worked with Hollywood’s biggest stars, political powerhouses, and businesspeople shaking up the status quo.
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