After bumping up against the glass ceiling for years, women today are also contending with the glass wall. Virtual/remote communication became a way of life overnight thanks to COVID-19. Business must go on and many women and men are struggling to get their messages to land through digital media.
In that gap between intention and impact is where CEO Hilary Blair and her company, ARTiculate: Real&Clear, shine best.
“As women, and as entrepreneurs, we all have a strong ability to read the room, to sense what’s happening beneath the surface of communication,” Hilary explains. “It’s our Spidey Sense. The virtual world takes that away. We are helping people shift their awareness and approach to be effective from behind the digital wall.”
As a lifelong voice actor, Hilary knows how to get her point across using her words and voice. As a coach, she has an unparalleled ability to draw out other people’s unique voices as well.
Now, she is sharing her gift with CMI Revive, Reinvent & Rally. Hilary is emceeing both virtual events and offering her insightful, transformative coaching to sponsors, speakers, and, most important, grant awardees.
“Hilary’s weird exercises made me a great speaker!!” said Julie Goldman, CEO of The Original Runner Co and CMI community member. “I have never forgotten what you taught me over 13 years ago!”
Hilary’s “weird” exercises come from her background in theatre and performance. Nell Merlino had the vision to recognize Hilary’s talent and its value to the business world when she saw Hilary playing a tomato in a Denver theatre production. Nell invited Hilary to join the CMI Make Mine a Million effort and coach women entrepreneurs on their pitches and how they presented themselves.
“My passion, my calling, is to make sure every voice is heard,” Hilary says. “My talent is being able to quickly recognize what is working for someone who is trying to find her voice, and what might be getting in her way. Small changes to how we use our body, our breath, our voice and our message can make a huge impact. It looks and feels physical, but what we’re really doing is helping people realign with their values and their unique truth.”
After touring with CMI for several years, Hilary co-founded ARTiculate: Real&Clear to work with leaders and communicators to be more engaging, authentic, and effective in using their voices to change the world. This women-owned business has partnered with large global companies and individuals, providing 1:1 coaching, group training and keynote speeches around topics that share a common theme—human connection.
“When we communicate, we’re seeking connection. Sometimes we create habits to manage our impact on others—filler words, upspeak, monotone. Ironically, those very habits get in the way of our audience connecting with us,” Hilary explains. “ARTiculate coaches draw on performing arts, neuroscience, and speech language pathology to help people recognize their habits, understand their impact and make conscious choices about how and when to use them. We clear the path for human connection.”
The CMI Revive, Reinvent, & Rally team is delighted to have ARTiculate: Real&Clear on board as a sponsor and as the host of their virtual events. For the grant awardees, the ARTiculate team’s guidance and coaching will add impact and value to their ability to grow their businesses. Register for the grant awardee celebration on July 31st.
