The Magic of Finding Your Voice
Imagine walking into a boardroom, ready to present, but suddenly your voice falters. It’s too quiet, too tense, or maybe it doesn’t quite carry the confidence you feel inside. This is a common struggle for professionals across all industries, and one that can profoundly impact how we’re heard. Many people walk into our training rooms wanting to change their voice, however, Natasha McNamara, a voice and dialect coach with over 25 years of experience working with NIDA Corporate Training, says, “Your voice is your superpower.” The key lies in unlocking it.
From Hollywood’s biggest film productions to corporate boardrooms, Natasha has dedicated her career to helping individuals find their authentic voice. Having worked on iconic blockbusters, television shows, and theatre productions, including roles at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), her knowledge spans both the performance world and the professional realm. Through her work as a tutor at NIDA Corporate Training, Natasha equips professionals with powerful tools to communicate with greater impact, credibility, and confidence. Staying true to her childhood mission from her very first voice competition, to continue being the “good witch spreading magic throughout the world.”
We sat down with Natasha to explore why voice matters in business, the role of code-switching, and the common concerns individuals bring into the training room around how they use their voice.
Why Does Voice Matter in Business?
Albert Mehrabian’s communication model suggests that only 7% of meaning comes from the words we use. A staggering 38% comes from tone of voice, and 55% relies on body language. Yet, despite this, professionals often find themselves focusing solely on what they’re saying and neglecting how they’re saying it.
“Many of us unknowingly develop vocal habits that block our ability to communicate effectively,” Natasha explains. Whether it’s shallow breathing born from stress or holding back due to lack of power, these habits can lead to a restricted, underwhelming voice. This is where training comes in.
“At work, we don’t want to sound unclear, uncertain, or lacking confidence. But so many people are carrying tension in their voice. It’s like a hose with a kink in it. My job is to unkink the hose and help them access a fuller, richer, freer voice,” she says.
Lessons from Hollywood to the Office
Currently working on voice for the upcoming Netflix film Apex, Natasha has also lent her expertise to productions like Camp (NBC), Devil’s Playground (Foxtel), and the feature film Tomorrow When the War Began (Annapurna Pictures). With a career spent helping actors master voice and the Australian accent for Australian specific roles to deliver compelling performances. She understands that voice isn’t just sound, it’s a tool for storytelling. Her work across both the entertainment industry and the corporate world proves that the same techniques used to captivate an audience on screen can be just as powerful in the boardroom.
Actors rely on authenticity and presence to engage their audiences, skills that professionals equally need to connect with clients, lead teams, and negotiate with impact. Natasha bridges the two worlds, teaching professionals such as project managers, doctors, teachers, researchers and senior executives how to use pitch, pace, power, and pause to influence and inspire.
Pictured: Natasha McNamara, NIDA Corporate Training Tutor & Voice & Dialect Coach
It’s not code-switching, It’s developing vocal tools.
Code-switching is when people shift their language, behaviour or appearance to adapt to different cultural or social settings, and it is gaining awareness in Australian workplaces. We’re seeing more individuals come into our training hoping to “sound more Australian,” reflecting how this practice is often used as a strategy to fit in or get ahead.
For many from migrant or marginalised backgrounds, it’s a daily reality to adjust how people speak or present themselves, sometimes at the expense of their identity. While Natasha’s expertise lies in dissecting Australian accents for leading actors, she approaches the topic with care and helps people see their voice as a strength, not something to change. As conversations around code-switching in workplaces grow, so does a shift toward celebrating individuality and creating spaces where diverse voices are truly heard.
Dr. Alexia Derbas, NIDA’s Head of Equity and Inclusion, has led Equity and Inclusion workshops for our NIDA Corporate Training team and tutors. This session explored how individuals navigate identity and voice in the workplace.
“Workplaces don’t exist in a vacuum and often mirror the inequity, discrimination, and assumptions of society at large,” says Dr. Derbas. “We recognise that our training participants are often caught in these systems, and we aim to support them in communicating as their authentic selves.”
The Top 3 Challenges Professionals Face with Their Voice
“The number one question I get is, ‘How can I be more confident?’” says Natasha. “And so much of that comes back to the voice.” In our work, we see three common challenges professionals face when it comes to using their voice and unlocking that confidence. Natasha breaks them down below.
1. Finding Comfort in Speaking
Many professionals feel uncomfortable or tense when speaking, leading to strained, monotone, or overly quiet voices. Natasha’s approach includes identifying and releasing physical tension held within the body. She explains, “Eighty percent of office workers aren’t breathing properly. Stress can lead to shallow or even reverse breathing, which traps the voice.”
Working with experts like Natasha gives individuals reflective and realtime feedback on their voice and helps them understand the connection between posture, breathing, and vocal freedom to unlock newfound vocal confidence in the process.
2. Adapting the Voice for Diversity, Not Conformity
Some participants come to NIDA Corporate Training to “sound professional” by removing their accent or altering their natural voice. Natasha’s response? “Your accent is your superpower.” Rather than asking individuals to change who they are, she focuses on giving individuals the tools to open and articulate to helping them communicate clearly, authentically and with confidence.
Quoting Kristin Linklater, Natasha says, “To free the voice is to free the person.” Her mission in our training is not to erase individuality, or to teach people how to code-switch, but to help people express themselves with clarity and purpose.
3. Building Credibility Through Vocal Range
Whether it’s overcoming monotone delivery or hesitating to project their voice, we find many professionals want to sound more authoritative or engaging. Natasha explains, “Some women feel like they’re shouting when they’re simply using their full voice. I remind them that shouting is not shouting. It’s about finding richness and presence without fear.”
Through tools like volume control, range exploration, and vocal variety, personalised voice training with experts like Natasha help participants develop their voice that can command attention and build trust in any room.
Empowering Professionals Through Voice Training
At NIDA Corporate Training, Natasha works with managers, educators, and leaders to refine their vocal presence. From Executive Voice workshops to Team Vocal Training, to one-on-one coaching, our sessions are designed to be practical, interactive, and transformative. Participants leave feeling empowered to communicate with gravitas, credibility, and authenticity.
Training with someone who understands both the science and art of voice can be life changing. It’s not just about sounding good, it’s about being heard, understood, and remembered, and feeling confident doing it.
Whether you’re presenting to a boardroom, running a team meeting, or pitching a new idea, your voice holds the power to influence and inspire. Natasha’s unique blend of Hollywood know-how and corporate expertise is proof that anyone can access the magic of their voice with the right support.
Are you ready to find your voice? Explore our voice courses at NIDA Corporate Training and unlock your potential today.
