Karen Cortell Reisman

Karen Cortell Reisman, M.S., is a communication expert, executive speech coach, and keynote speaker with more than three decades of experience helping leaders, executives, and organizations strengthen their communication skills. Reisman has taught corporate and association audiences how to communicate effectively, sell, and thrive. As the founder and president of Speak For Yourself, she works with decision makers on how to speak with gravitas.

Her programs address extemporaneous speaking, persuasive speaking, executive presentation techniques, presentation anxiety, fear of public speaking, communication best practices, and impromptu speaking. Reisman speaks to Fortune 500 organizations and coaches leaders on how to communicate with impact to drive business results. Across North America, China, and Europe, her audiences have reported increased sales, enhanced productivity, and improved communication skills. She has critiqued more than 6,000 presentations, working with a diverse range of clients, including Samsung, Match.com, The American Heart Association, Environmental Protection Agency, Pizza Hut, Deloitte, PlainsCapital Bank, and Mary Kay Inc., as well as CEOs, dentists, attorneys, and entrepreneurs.

Reisman is the author of two books: "The Naked Truth About Giving Great Speeches" and "The Naked Truth About Selling." In "The Naked Truth About Giving Great Speeches," she addresses common pitfalls of public speaking and offers practical solutions for presenters at all levels. In addition to her books, Reisman has authored a blog and numerous articles for national magazines and is a frequent guest on a nationally syndicated radio program. She is a past president of the National Speakers Association – North Texas Chapter.

A distinctive element of Reisman's work is her one-woman show, which draws on a personal connection to Albert Einstein. She performs using letters her cousin, Einstein, wrote to her grandmother, sharing excerpts from these private family letters to inspire audiences with messages of hope, resilience, and determination. Reisman credits this family connection as a source of inspiration in her own life and channels it into her communication strategies and storytelling. As a certified virtual presenter, she has delivered programs across North America, China, and Israel, making complex communication principles accessible and actionable for audiences in executive communication and public speaking.