From staying quiet to speaking up: Gillian's story
Gillian Witham is a financial adviser who's brilliant when speaking one-on-one with her clients. But in front of a larger group, she often struggled to explain what she did, despite knowing her topic inside out. That is until she attended the Speak Up Masterclass.
Gillian's story is common. In every Speak Up Masterclass I meet knowledgeable, accomplished people who hold back because they're not sure what they have to say is worth hearing. It is, and speaking up is a skill anyone can learn and master.
Gillian explains in her own words what changed for her after the Speak Up Masterclass.
Why did you attend the Speak Up Masterclass?
I've always been confident talking one-on-one with clients about financial strategy and, more importantly, how the work I do can genuinely improve their quality of life. But speaking in front of a group was a different story. I would often overthink what I wanted to say, struggle to articulate exactly "what I do" and even second-guess myself despite knowing, deep down, that I am really good at my job.
In the past, my instinct was to "stay quiet", even when I knew I had something worthwhile to contribute. I had reached a point where I didn't want fear or self-doubt to keep limiting my opportunities.
The Speak Up Masterclass felt like a natural and practical next step: learning how to communicate with greater confidence, trust what I have to say and still sound like myself.
What did you learn in the Speak Up masterclass?
One of the nicest things I learnt was that I wasn't alone in feeling this way. I was in a room with a fabulous small group of professional women who were incredibly knowledgeable, inspiring and accomplished in their fields, yet to varying degrees we all struggled with the same thing.
"One of the key things Theresa taught us was that what we have to say is important and deserves to be heard."
What I really valued was learning that there are practical skills behind speaking up. Theresa taught us how to be discerning about a topic, get clear on what we are actually trying to say, focus on a few key points and deliver them concisely without getting lost in all the detail.
We learnt simple structures and frameworks that make communicating a message much easier.
There was also a really important mindset shift for me around talking about what I do. People genuinely want to hear about our expertise because it may solve a problem they have.
"If I don’t speak up about what I know and how I can help, how will they know I might be the person who can help them?"
From Theresa's experience in media and journalism, I learnt that journalists actually need people with expertise, stories and useful perspectives. If you can make that information relevant, succinct and easy for them to use, you are not imposing on them, you are making their job easier.
How are you using your new skills?
Since completing the masterclass, I have become much more conscious of how I communicate, whether that's in team discussions, professional conversations or even social settings. I am more willing to contribute rather than sitting back and second-guessing whether what I have to say is worthwhile.
I haven't yet done any formal interviews or media, but I'm now much more likely to say yes if those opportunities arise, and even to seek them out myself.
Going forward, I would love to speak more publicly about meaningful wealth, financial confidence and the decisions people face in midlife. I want to use my voice to help make financial advice feel clearer, more human and more accessible.
How do you help people in your business?
I am a financial adviser with 5 Financial, working primarily with professionals, couples and individuals navigating the opportunities and complexities of midlife.
Many of my clients have worked hard and built a solid financial foundation, but they are unsure whether they are making the most of it.
At 5 Financial, we don't start with an investment portfolio. We start with you. The real question is what they want their money to make possible.
For me, financial advice is never just about the numbers. It's about what those numbers allow you to do and how they allow you to live. That is what I describe as meaningful wealth.
If Gillian’s story resonates with you, my next Speak Up Masterclass is on November 11 at UNSW in Kensington. It's a small group, so places are limited.
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