File this one under "introverts can do challenging things".
Today, I was the guest speaker for a group of Black and Global Majority folx studying Black health.
It was a two-hour session. As always, I was nervous before I started. There was a little tension in my heart and my stomach.
My notes: 62 words, formatted as a list. Probably the shortest set of notes I've ever done for a speaking gig.
Soon it was go time and I started speaking. As I did, the nerves started to dissipate. I probably spoke for an hour in all, and took questions for the other hour.
Once the questions started, I was in my element. I felt calm, relaxed and knowledgeable. And the people in the room were open, curious and fully present.
As the end of the session approached, I could feel myself starting to flag (a common thing for introverts) but I was buoyed by the evident interest of the participants. And I was happy with my own growth, in doing the session without a full script or even slides.
Ten minutes after the end, I got this feedback by email: "Thank you so much. You are such an engaging speaker!"
And in that moment, I was very proud of myself. Because public speaking is not an obvious choice for an introvert. And yet, it's something we can do well, especially with the right support.
My journey to speaking started with the written word: my newsletter and my self-published books.
I'd love to support other introverted Black women on a similar journey.
As an introvert, I work best 1 to 1. You'll get my full attention for up to 5 hours to make progress in a day that would otherwise have taken months.
Sound good? Let’s talk.
Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of I’m Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and of Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast. Her recent work focuses on helping Black and Global Majority women achieve high-impact visibility and professional influence without the exhaustion of performing extroversion.
© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).