As a child, Cathy Ngo was taught that good girls were quiet and said ‘yes’ to everything without any fuss or trouble.
“I had a strict upbring where I was seen and not heard, along with family domestic violence and a string of toxic relationships,” says Ngo.
Her family and society expected her to follow a predictable path: get a university education, get a good job, get married and have children.
Trying to adhere to these expectations, Ngo says she “became a chronic people pleaser”.
“Putting myself out there and standing up for myself took a lot of courage, self-work, healing, and making many mistakes along the way,” she says.
Now, Ngo wants other women to know that their voices are valid, and that “taking up space means finding the strength to believe this wholeheartedly”.
It’s this quest for increasing representation that has lead Ngo to found Keynoteworthy, an organisation supporting event organisersto find diverse speakers who reflect the wide range of perspectives and ideas that attendees and sponsors seek.
Ngo is passionate about amplifying and championing underrepresented and underestimated voices.
“Like many things in life, it takes confidence, grit and self-belief to walk into a room and know that deep down, you belong,” she says. “It’s not always easy and there will be moments that will test you – but it’s something worth working towards.”
“The space you take up in all aspects of your life impacts people’s perceptions of you — but more importantly, it affects how you feel on the inside.”
No matter what each individual’s story is, Ngo says the journey begins with how you physically and vocally occupy space.
In the physical sense this involves body language– so standing with confidence and maintaining eye contact to boost confidence are good examples. In the vocal sense, she says taking up space involves challenging yourself to speak up at work when a relevant idea pops into your head.
“Your vocal presence is important because it significantly impacts how others perceive you,” says Ngo.
“When you speak, your voice can convey confidence, authority, and power or signal uncertainty, hesitation, or lack of conviction. A solid vocal presence can help you to command any room, win over an audience, and inspire others to take action.”
The good news is that there is no shortage of brilliant speakers out there, especially from underrepresented backgrounds. And in Ngo’s role of Chief Storyteller at Keynoteworthy, she can attest to this as fact.
Having spent years talking and writing about diversity, equity and inclusion, Ngo has seen firsthand how crucial it is that we embrace a range of voices and perspectives in everything we do, whether it’s in the workplace, on a speaker panel, or with our wallets.
“Before starting your day, remind yourself that your presence, voice and ideas are just as important as everyone else’s in that metaphorical room,” she says.
“People won’t remember facts and figures, but they will remember how you made them feel. Anyone who feels good about what you said or how you improved their lives will always lean in and listen intently.”
Ngo shared this advice during her keynote session for Women’s Agenda’s new video app series, The Keynotes.
The Keynotes app shares “Mini Keynote” sessions and insights on leadership, equity, current affairs, climate and so much more. To watch Cathy Ngo’s keynote as well as other sessions, sign up to the app here.