How 750-Plus Executives Worked on Their Public Speaking Phobia at the Root
Who comes to this work, what they tried first, and what changes for them.
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Executives who come to Robert Summa usually are not looking to learn how to present. They already can. They have tried coaches, groups, and practice, and the dread is still there. Across more than 750 executives, 99.6% of those who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. Results vary by individual.
By Robert Summa, certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia. This page describes common patterns in his work. It is educational and is not medical advice.
Who comes to this work
Senior leaders who run divisions, report to boards, and lead organizations, yet dread the moment they have to speak. Many have hidden it for years. They are skilled, respected, and quietly working around the fear.
What they tried first
- Presentation skills coaching.
- Speaking groups and workshops.
- More preparation and rehearsal.
- Breathing techniques and pre-talk routines.
All of it goes after the symptoms. They are professionals, experienced and smart, and this is something they could not control by trying to calm themselves down. In my experience, none of it reached the fear response itself.
The shape of the work
Deep in the brain, a small alarm system called the amygdala exists to protect you from real danger. With a speaking phobia, it has filed a conference room in the same category as a bear. That is a metaphor, not a medical claim. The root is the amygdala having public speaking in its database, and the work is to teach it that a conference room is not an animal, a person, or a fire. The program is private and one on one, with a short daily practice of a few minutes a day over a few weeks, followed by a simulation phase in realistic rooms.
What changes for them
Clients who report being free describe the same shifts: they stop dreading the calendar, drop their pre-talk rituals, say yes to invitations, and use their attention on the room instead of on themselves.
What this page cannot tell you
It describes patterns, not promises. Your history, your triggers, and your situation are your own. A short assessment is a better guide than an average.
Why Robert Summa
Robert lived with public speaking fear for 18 years, then trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists. He brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite. He works in person in Metro Atlanta and online across the continental US. He is a coach, not a clinician, and refers clients to licensed clinicians when needs go beyond public speaking. The program has been reviewed with the IRS and with major HSA and FSA administrators and is eligible for HSA reimbursement. Documentation is available on request. Consult your plan administrator.
About Robert Summa
Robert Summa is a certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia and anxiety. He has trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists and brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite, so he understands both the fear and the boardroom. With a 99.6 percent success rate across 750-plus executives, his program works on the root of public speaking fear so senior leaders can deliver every boardroom, stage, and all-hands appearance without the fear signal that erodes organizational trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of executives work with Robert Summa?
Senior leaders who run divisions, report to boards, and lead organizations, yet dread the moment they have to speak. Many have hidden the fear for years.
What have they usually tried before?
Presentation skills coaching, speaking groups, more preparation, and breathing techniques and routines. All of it goes after the symptoms, and in Robert Summa's experience none of it reached the fear response itself.
What changes for clients who report being free of the phobia?
They stop dreading the calendar, drop pre-talk rituals, say yes to invitations, and use their attention on the room instead of on themselves.
What is the success rate?
99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia, across 750-plus executives. Results vary by individual.
Is Robert Summa a clinician?
No. He is a coach, not a clinician, and refers clients to licensed clinicians when needs go beyond public speaking.
Your own pattern matters more than the average. Start with your score.
GET YOUR FEAR SCORE NOWResults vary. Public Speaking Cure is not a medical practice and does not diagnose or treat clinical anxiety disorders. Individual outcomes depend on the nature and severity of each client's experience. *99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.