Author shares tips on how to become an expert speaker
WATCH |
That's why professionals like Dineshrie Pillay are helping people find their voice.
Pillay, through her book Ignition, is dispelling the myth of public speaking being an art that's mastered by only a few people.
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eNCA
5 days ago
- eNCA
Author shares tips on how to become an expert speaker
JOHANNESBURG - Speaking in front of people seems to come naturally to some people but it's a scary experience for many of us. WATCH | That's why professionals like Dineshrie Pillay are helping people find their voice. Pillay, through her book Ignition, is dispelling the myth of public speaking being an art that's mastered by only a few people.
IOL News
16-06-2025
- IOL News
Young and unstoppable: Pearl Pillay's journey in youth development
Pearl Pillay. Image: Supplied AT 33-YEARS-old, Pearl Pillay is redefining youth leadership and advocacy in South Africa. Pillay, who hails from Chatsworth in Durban, has been at the forefront of youth upliftment for the past 12 years. Pillay, who now resides in Johannesburg, She holds various positions including the managing director of Youth Lab, a youth development organisation; a board member of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA); and the national planning commissioner responsible for youth in the National Planning Commission (NPC). She is also a board member for the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa(WESSA). Pillay, who hails from Chatsworth in Durban, said her journey into youth and community upliftment started as a young girl. 'While I was still in primary school I volunteered at the Chatsworth Nelson Mandela Community Youth Centre, which was opened three years after the deaths of several children at a nightclub, Throb, in 2000. I worked closely with Clive Pillay, who is the volunteer programmes coordinator at the youth centre. "He was also an inspiration to me and many others because of his selflessness and he was always willing to help us grow. He didn't just see us as 'children acting like grown-ups'. He saw potential in all of us. 'There was a group of us who assisted him with designing and organising programmes. We did many programmes around drug and alcohol abuse, as well as literacy, the environment and climate change. In addition, we were involved in feeding programmes in the community and hamper drives for school children. 'The youth centre also gave us opportunities, myself included. I remember while in Grade 12, I participated in a Toastmasters through the youth centre, and was given the opportunity to attend a programme called the Global Young Leaders Conference in the US. It was also on that trip I learnt about the inner-workings of the United Nations (UN) and at the time, it made me think that I wanted to become a diplomat,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Pillay said after matriculating, she pursued a degree in politics and international relations at Wits University. 'I always knew I wanted to do work that involved social justice, helping people, and being immersed in community development work. I thought diplomacy would be the vehicle because I aspired to work at the UN Human Rights Council. 'However, I was expelled in 2013 after fellow members of the university's Student Representative Council protested against an Israeli pianist being allowed to play in a concert at the campus. We were in support of Palestine. The students adopted a cultural and academic boycott of Israel, which meant we did not want to have Israeli academics or any kind of Israel-linked activities on campus. "We faced multiple charges and later that afternoon, we found out on radio about the expulsion. At the time I was doing my honours degree in politics. Later on, the expulsion was overturned after we had a brilliant lawyer reach out and help us. I was able to complete my honours degree and thereafter Master's degree in politics,' she said. Pillay said on the same day she was offered a job at Youth Lab. 'It just so happened that I was at an event with people that were with Youth Lab, and they asked if I needed a job, which I gladly accepted. From there I climbed the ladder, from being an intern to a director and now the managing director. Our goal is to educate, equip and engage with the youth.' Pillay said she was appointed as a board member of the NYDA in 2021. Her term was expected to end after three years in November last year. 'However, they are still in the process of selecting the new board. The NYDA is one of the institutions that falls under the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and receives about 70% of the department budget. "Our job is to fulfil the youth development agenda for the country. Being a board member of the NYDA has enabled me to extend my reach in terms of uplifting the youth. With non-government or non-profit organisations, you can, for example, only reach 50 youth through programmes due to limited funding, but now we can reach up to 50 000. It is a nice feeling to work at a larger scale and make a greater difference.' Pillay added that she aspired to be part of the National Planning Commission. 'At the Youth Lab we interacted with a lot of policy-makers and are immersed in the policy-making space. Also, when the National Development Plan was launched in 2012, I was still a student at Wits University, and there was a lot of activity happening centered around it. I was also able to interact with the NPC and thought that being in the policy-making space might be the next step for me. 'I also knew that I was not going to work in youth development forever. My ethos is that once you turn 35, you need to get out and make space for other young people to do the work. So, I was appointed to the NPC, which is referred to as the 'President's think-tank', a week after being appointed as a board member for the NYDA. I definitely have my hands full, but it is quite fulfilling to know that my job is to think about the future of the country and then design frameworks for that future to become a reality.' Pillay said she felt proud to have been given opportunities to live the 'beautiful adventure of a life' she now had. 'I have worked exceptionally hard to achieve the goals I set for myself. Growing up, there were many people around me who were smart and ambitious but did not get the opportunities that I did. I feel lucky I am one of those people who did, so that I could try to make a difference in the lives of others, especially other youth. I also feel a sense of pride and fulfilment that I have been able to find my purpose and create a life centered around it.' Pillay said her message to the youth was to remember that they are not alone. 'There are so many people out there who are trying to make this country a better place for young people and to help address all the challenges that they are faced with. As difficult as it might be now, we owe it to ourselves to keep pushing and trying, as well as remember to act in a spirit of community and as a collective at all times.' THE POST
IOL News
09-06-2025
- IOL News
The art of starting over: Public Speaking Lessons Relearned
Ignition This book provides a transformative approach to public speaking, guiding readers to master confidence, connection and presence with clarity and purpose. Public speaking is not just a skill; it is a journey. And sometimes, even seasoned speakers need to revisit the starting line. In Ignition: 3 Steps to Drive from Newbie Presenter to Expert Speaker, Dineshrie Pillay offers a fresh, structured approach to mastering your message, your mindset and your presence. More than a how-to, Ignition is a guided reset designed to reignite your confidence, reconnect you with your audience, and remind you why you stepped up to speak in the first place. Public speaking has been a cornerstone of both my personal and professional growth. Long before I picked up Ignition by Dineshrie Pillay, I had spent years in front of audiences refining my delivery, mastering the rhythm of a compelling story, and learning how to truly connect. As a Distinguished Toastmaster, I understood the mechanics of a strong speech. But this book reminded me of something even more essential. Even experienced speakers need a reset. A moment to strip things back, recenter, and remember what really works. Coming Home to the Basics Reading Ignition felt like coming home to the fundamentals but through a sharper lens. It did not teach me something brand new. Instead, it reframed what I already knew. It gave structure to instinct and language to habits I had developed but had not fully understood. Confidence Is Not a Feeling It Is a Process One of the most pervasive myths in public speaking is that confidence is innate, that you either have it or you do not. Let us be real. Confidence is not a magical personality trait. It is built. I still remember my first Toastmasters speech. My hands trembled. My voice barely filled the room. Every sentence felt like it was on fast forward. I kept waiting for confidence to show up like some kind of superhero. It did not! What Ignition reinforced, something I have learned the hard way, is that confidence is a muscle. You train it. You build it. You earn it through reps. The most powerful speakers are not always the most talented; they are the ones who practice deliberately and consistently. That line stopped me in my tracks. Because it is not about waiting to feel confident. It is about doing the work that builds your confidence. The Power of Enjoying Your Own Speech One of my favourite takeaways was a deceptively simple idea. You have to enjoy your speech before anyone else can. When I am excited about my message, when I genuinely enjoy the words I am saying, everything changes. My pacing smooths out. My tone finds its rhythm. My presence lands. And the audience, they lean in. 'You must enjoy your speech first—otherwise, how will your audience enjoy it?' That hit hard. Because I have given speeches where I was too focused on perfection and others where I was just in the moment, fully alive in the message. The difference was night and day. Ignition reminded me that public speaking is not just a performance. It is a shared experience. And if the speaker is not feeling it, the audience will not either. Final Thoughts This was not a reinvention. It was a recalibration. A chance to re-engage with my craft from a place of curiosity and clarity. For me, it was a well timed reminder. Confidence is built, not born. Enjoyment matters. And no matter how long you have been speaking, it is always worth stepping back to view your voice with fresh eyes. Ignition is more than a book—it's a transformative guide to mastering the art of public speaking with confidence, clarity and impact. * Ignition is available at Exclusive Books.
