corporate speech consultants

What corporate speech consultants does

Corporate Speech Consultants (CSC) is a Toronto-based private training firm founded around 1978 that delivers executive communication, public speaking, presentation, leadership, persuasion, and media coaching. The core delivery model is human-led: a four-person bench of academically credentialed coaches (CEO Adam Lazarus, President Melanie Novis, Master Coach Sarah Lang, and media coach Jim Van Horne) runs both individualized coaching engagements for executives and a catalog of fixed-price public workshops under the MAPS (Melanie Adam Presentation Skills) umbrella. The underlying 'technology' is a methodology drawn from theatrical stagecraft and speech-pathology training, packaged into tiered SKUs ranging from a $99–$100 two-hour virtual 'Presentation Skills 101' to a $1,800 two-day VIP Weekend Intensive at the University of Toronto; the company also licenses the Shirzad Chamine 'Positive Intelligence' six-week curriculum at $999 per participant and publishes books including 'Canadian Public Speaking' and 'Master the Art of Public Speaking' (paperback shipping globally from September 5, 2025).

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) one-time paid public workshop registrations, transacted via ThriveCart with pricing from $99 to $1,800 CAD per seat; (2) custom corporate training programs sold through a consultative, enterprise sales motion with quote-based pricing and multi-year contract potential; and (3) book sales, a recently added one-time-license consumer product line. Marketing is content- and reputation-led — a Squarespace website with published workshop calendar, ConvertKit email capture, client testimonials from named Fortune 500 buyers (Microsoft, IBM, Air Canada, RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Bell, Rogers, CBC), and academic affiliations with the University of Toronto and the National Theatre School of Canada. The go-to-market combines event-driven demand (public workshops), sales-led enterprise engagements, and direct field sales, with delivery virtual or in-person at the Toronto HQ / University of Toronto venue.

The business is founder-led (Novis as President, Lazarus as CEO), bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries, and claims an international footprint across Canada, the US, UK, and Australia via client engagements rather than staffed offices. Customer segments are primarily Canadian and US-based executives, senior leaders, and corporate organizations across financial services, technology, healthcare, telecom, legal, and education — with a smaller secondary segment in international accent-modification clients.

Name

corporate speech consultants

Legal name

Corporate Speech Consultants

Website

https://corporatespeechconsultants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Corporate Speech Consultants is a Toronto-based private firm, founded ~1978, that delivers executive communication, public-speaking, and leadership coaching through a four-person bench of academically trained coaches, operating via fixed-price public workshops and custom corporate training engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Communication Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate/Professional Public Speaking Training (Presentation Skills) (EDAMAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Communication & Presentation Skills (EDABAMAA), 1:1 Speech, Rhetoric & Communication Coaching (EDAMAOAK)

Keywords

• Public speaking training
• Presentation skills coaching
• Executive communication training
• Leadership development programs
• Corporate communication consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Workshops: Open enrollment workshops including Presentation Skills 101, Presentation Skills 2.0, Persuasive Speaking, Great Conversations, Leadership Presence, and Positive Intelligence programs offered at various price points ranging from $99 to $999.
2. Corporate Training: Customized corporate coaching and training programs for executive teams, tailored to each organization's specific needs through personalized training and interactive seminars.
3. Book Sales: Sale of 'Master the Art of Public Speaking' book by Adam Lazarus, available in paperback shipping worldwide from September 5, 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Corporate Speech Consultants provides public speaking, presentation, leadership, persuasion, and virtual communication training to executives and professionals. Offerings include open-enrollment virtual and in-person workshops (Presentation Skills 101/2.0, Persuasive Speaking, Great Conversations, Leadership Presence, Positive Intelligence), premium in-person intensives at the University of Toronto, customized corporate coaching engagements, and the published book "Master the Art of Public Speaking." Services are delivered by a small team of academically trained coaches who also teach at the University of Toronto and the National Theatre School of Canada.

Product overview

Corporate Speech Consultants offers a comprehensive portfolio of communication and leadership training services under the MAPS (Melanie Adam Presentation Skills) program. The core offering consists of virtual and in-person workshops including Presentation Skills 101: Foundations, Presentation Skills 2.0: Elevate, Persuasive Speaking, Great Conversations, Leadership Presence, and the Positive Intelligence six-week program. Premium offerings include VIP Weekend Intensive and Leadership Presence Live at the University of Toronto. The company also provides corporate training programs tailored to executive team needs, covering public speaking, leadership, persuasion, and virtual communication. A published book 'Master the Art of Public Speaking' by Adam Lazarus is available. The 5 Class Pass bundle provides access to five core workshops. All offerings are delivered by a team of academically trained consultants including Adam Lazarus, Sarah Lang, Melanie Novis, and Jim Van Horne.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAPS (Melanie Adam Presentation Skills) Program Comprehensive presentation and communication skills training program consisting of foundational and advanced workshops covering public speaking, leadership presence, persuasion, and conversational skills; serves as the umbrella program for all CSC workshop offerings.
• Presentation Skills 101: Foundations 2.5-hour virtual workshop teaching key elements of communication to overcome nerves, organize thoughts, and inspire audiences; covers preparation, structure, opening moments, PowerPoint best practices, impromptu speaking, and first impressions; priced at $99–$100 per person.
• Presentation Skills 2.0: Elevate Advanced virtual workshop building on the Foundations course; expands the toolkit with advanced communication concepts including Q&A handling, dynamic vocal range, and presence improvement through real-time feedback and practice; priced at $297 per person.
• Persuasive Speaking Workshop 2-hour virtual workshop teaching speech structures and verbal, vocal, and non-verbal techniques to convince or motivate audiences; covers the 3 Appeals of Persuasion, voice power, credibility, and call-to-action crafting.
• Great Conversations Workshop Workshop teaching natural, dynamic conversation skills for networking and professional interactions; covers 5 active listening techniques, 4 steps to engage in conversation, elevator pitch sharing, and rapport building.
• Leadership Presence Workshop Workshop teaching authentic and confident presence in any room; covers inner operating system awareness, resilience building, empathy, active listening, and flexible communication.
• Positive Intelligence: Leadership Mindset & Mental Fitness Program Six-week program based on Shirzad Chamine's New York Times bestselling book; includes live weekly small-group coaching sessions, daily app-guided practice, and one-hour weekly videos; priced at $999 (+HST) per participant.
• VIP Weekend Intensive: Live Leadership Lessons 2-day in-person workshop at the University of Toronto covering communication, leadership, and presentation skills; presented by Adam Lazarus and Sarah Lang; priced at $1,800 per participant.
• Leadership Presence Live One-day in-person workshop at the University of Toronto led by CEO Adam Lazarus and Master Coach Sarah Lang; focuses on honing personal leadership style and becoming an effective leader; priced at $500 per participant.
• MAPS: 5 Class Pass Bundle offering flexibility to attend 5 different workshops: Presentation Skills 101 (Foundations), Presentation Skills 2.0 (Elevate), Persuasive Speaking, Great Conversations, and Leadership Presence; valid for 1 year past purchase date.
• Master the Art of Public Speaking (Book) Book by Adam Lazarus covering presentations, storytelling, public speaking, and presence; a compact, fun guide based on decades of experience, available in paperback shipping worldwide.
• Corporate Training Custom, interactive training programs for executive teams tailored to client needs; includes in-depth assessment followed by personalized training and interactive seminars ranging from intensive day/week to ongoing weekly programs; quote-based pricing.
• Public Speaking and Communication Training Training on structuring and delivering compelling messages with confidence and clarity; covers leadership presence, voice modulation, verbal/non-verbal feedback, and speech anxiety management.
• Leadership Training Training on presenting oneself with clarity and authority; covers persuasive strategies, impromptu credibility, body language, active listening, resilience, and audience engagement.
• Persuasion Training Training on structuring pitches that influence and deliver with confidence and credibility; covers idea acceptance, client communication, business pitch presentation, and Q&A handling.
• Virtual Communication Training Training for media and public communication scenarios; covers virtual presentation mastery, anxiety control, authentic image development, clear messaging, and key message delivery under lights and cameras.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed public speaking fears into confident presentation abilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Curious PubliccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent and insights partner that helps simplify complex messages and reach target audiences. They assist with writing materials, crafting digital campaigns, advising leaders, training people, and fine-tuning business strategy.
• Divon AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrepares students and young professionals for success in an age of disruption. Partnership supports educational outcomes in communication skills.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TED Masterclass: Online subscription-based public speaking course from TED featuring curated lessons from TED speakers. Represents the digital, asynchronous competitor that could pressure Corporate Speech Consultants' virtual workshop tier.

Broad incumbents

• BizLibrary: U.S.-based corporate e-learning provider with an extensive video-based training library including communication and presentation skills. Indirect competitor via subscription L&D content at a much lower price point.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Global, long-established corporate training franchise offering courses in public speaking, presentation, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Operates as a much larger incumbent with a broader catalog and global licensee network.
• Skillsoft: Enterprise learning platform offering thousands of courses including leadership and business communication. Competes for corporate training budgets at a much larger scale but with less customization and live coaching.
• American Management Association: Large U.S. professional development association offering courses in communication, leadership, and management. Overlaps with Corporate Speech Consultants' offerings but as part of a much broader enterprise L&D catalog.
• FranklinCovey: Global leadership and effectiveness training company with curriculum spanning communication, presentation, and influence. Larger and broader than Corporate Speech Consultants but competes for the same enterprise L&D budget.

Direct peers

• Mind Gym: London-listed B2B behavioral-skills training company delivering workshops and coaching in communication, leadership, and resilience to global enterprises. Comparable product mix, GTM motion, and customer profile, though larger and tech-enabled.
• Ethos3: Presentation design and public-speaking training firm serving Fortune 500 clients with workshops, coaching, and a published book. Closely comparable offering, customer type, and content-marketing-led GTM.
• The Humphrey Group: Canadian executive communication and leadership presence training firm with a similar boutique, coach-led model targeting senior leaders. Highly comparable geographic footprint, customer base, and pricing tier to Corporate Speech Consultants.

Others

• Toastmasters International: Global member-led non-profit organization focused on public speaking and leadership practice. Not a commercial competitor but defines the consumer demand pool Corporate Speech Consultants addresses with paid workshops.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corporate-speech-consultants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about corporate speech consultants