Event held March 20, 2025 — Yelp x PowerToFly on EmpowerHerSummit

Public Speaking as a Catalyst for Professional Growth

At the recent PowerToFly EmpowerHer Summit, Yelp Software Engineer Fatima Taj and Engineering Manager Priyal Divakala sat down for an insightful fireside chat titled "Public Speaking as a Catalyst for Professional Growth." The session explored how public speaking can be a game-changer in both personal and professional development, offering valuable insights on overcoming fear, embracing new opportunities, and leveraging communication to advance careers.

In this fireside chat, you’ll hear firsthand from Fatima and Priyal about the transformative power of public speaking. They’ll dive deeper into how public speaking can build confidence, open doors, and become an essential tool for career advancement. Whether you’re looking to overcome your fears or take your communication skills to the next level, this session is packed with tips and stories that you won’t want to miss.

Overcoming Fear: A Personal Journey
Fatima and Priyal shared candid stories about their early experiences with public speaking and the challenges they faced along the way. Both speakers emphasized how, despite their success, overcoming initial apprehension was a key part of their journey. They provided actionable advice on how anyone can start to push through these barriers and grow into a confident speaker.

The Power of Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Both Priyal and Fatima spoke about the importance of building a feedback loop for continuous improvement. Whether it's through seeking opportunities to speak or recording yourself for self-assessment, they offered valuable tips on how to track progress and keep evolving as a public speaker.

Public Speaking as a Career Accelerator
What’s even more fascinating is how public speaking has been directly linked to their career growth. Priyal shared how public speaking helped her create "micro-impressions" that gradually opened doors for new opportunities, while Fatima reflected on how it’s allowed her to build a personal brand beyond her role as an engineer. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing—both speakers discussed the challenges they faced as women in tech and how public speaking became a way to challenge those boundaries.

Watch the event recording above to hear the full conversation and unlock the key insights that can propel your career forward.

About the Speakers

Want to find out about our next tech event? Sign up to be notified and learn about upcoming Yelp recruiting, networking, and professional events.