Jo Richards

Jo Richards is a Speaking Confidence Coach, TEDx Speaker Coach, Speech Writer, Storyteller, and Sovereignty Mentor who helps leaders, changemakers, and visionaries speak with courage, clarity, and connection. Her work is rooted in the belief that when people raise their voices from a place of authenticity and grounded presence, they create real impact — and reclaim their power.

Jo is deeply passionate about personal agency, boundaries, and cultivating spaces where people feel truly seen and heard. Her coaching empowers women and marginalized voices to own their stories and speak with unapologetic truth and presence.

As a hearing child of Deaf adults (CODA) and a bilingual member of the Deaf community, Jo brings a rare and embodied understanding of communication. She draws on the profound wisdom of Deaf culture — presence, connection, and deep listening beyond words — infusing every space she holds with attentiveness and care.

With a rich and varied background as a professional Auslan interpreter, radio presenter, and stage manager (including working with some of the world’s finest storytellers in Dublin), Jo has spent over 12 years facilitating creative, collaborative workshops grounded in human-centered design. She studied physical theatre at the internationally renowned Jacques Lecoq Theatre School in Paris and has performed on stages in Scotland and Sydney.

Jo’s approach seamlessly weaves together storytelling, somatic and presence-based practices, and a lifetime of experience in holding space for meaningful transformation. Whether she’s coaching TEDx speakers, crafting talks that move hearts and minds, or guiding people to reconnect with their voices, her work is anchored in one core belief:

Curiosity is a gift — and through it, we make space for voice, truth, and true belonging.