Speak with Confidence and Build Your Influence
A six-week pilot program for food scientists ready to speak up, communicate clearly and help shape decisions
1 November–7 December 2026
You have valuable technical expertise—but expertise alone doesn’t guarantee that your ideas will be heard, understood or acted upon.
Perhaps you sometimes wait until you are completely certain before contributing. You know what you want to say, but struggle to express it simply. Or you present the facts without clearly explaining what they mean or what you believe should happen next.
These communication patterns can quietly limit your influence—even when you are one of the most knowledgeable people in the room.
Speak with Confidence and Build Your Influence is a practical six-week program designed specifically for food scientists who want to contribute more confidently, communicate complex information clearly and have a greater impact on workplace decisions. The focus is on taking action, and supporting you to do so!
Over six weeks, you will learn how to:
contribute confidently evenly when you feel uncertain
communicate your point clearly and concisely
make complex information easier for others to understand
move beyond reporting the facts to making useful recommendations
connect technical detail with the bigger business context
enter conversations, claim the floor and hold people’s attention
What we’ll cover
Week 1: Be seen and heard
Contribute with confidence
Explore what may be holding you back from speaking and practise making a useful contribution without waiting until you feel 100% certain.
Week 2: Create clarity
Be clear on your point
Learn how to identify and articulate your central message so your audience doesn’t have to search through the detail to find it.
Week 3: Be memorable
Use metaphors to explain complexity
Discover how metaphors and comparisons can make technical concepts easier to understand, relate to and remember. Practise using these to enhance communication effectiveness.
Week 4: Take a stand
Make a recommendation
Move beyond simply reporting information and shift into stating your position and recommending what should happen next.
Week 5: Zoom out
Add context to what you’re saying
Help people understand why your technical expertise matters by connecting it with the wider commercial, operational or organisational context.
Week 6: Claim and hold the floor
Interject with confidence and grace
Develop practical ways to enter fast-moving discussions, handle interruptions and maintain the floor long enough to make your point.
How the program works
Beginning Monday 2 November, you will receive one video lesson and one practical worksheet or workplace challenge each week.
The program includes:
six concise, practical video lessons
six worksheets or workplace challenges to help you apply each idea
a private Marco Polo group for daily connection, encouragement, discussion and additional insights (interact as little or as much as you like)
a one-hour live group coaching session via Zoom at approximately the four-week mark
opportunities to learn from the experiences and ideas of other food scientists
access to the program resources until 28 February 2027
The program is designed to fit around your work. Each week, you will focus on one communication behaviour and apply it in real workplace situations. You can view the videos and share your progress with the group at times that suit your schedule.
A founding pilot program
This is the first delivery of Speak with Confidence and Build Your Influence.
As a founding participant, you will experience the complete six-week program while also having the opportunity to provide feedback and help shape its future development.
In return, you will receive access at a special pilot price of:
$295 (incl GST)
Places are limited to 12 participants to keep the experience personal and allow everyone to participate in the coaching and group discussions.
Enrolments close 29 October 2026, unless places fill earlier.
Who is this program for?
This program is for food scientists and other technical food professionals who:
have valuable expertise but don’t always feel heard
want to contribute more confidently in meetings
sometimes over-explain or become caught in technical detail
want to make clearer and more concise recommendations
need to communicate complex information to non-technical colleagues
want to build their visibility, credibility and influence at work
You don’t need to be naturally outspoken or highly confident. The program is about developing practical communication behaviours you can use while still being thoughtful, evidence-based and true to your own style.
Your facilitator
Sharon Natoli
Sharon Natoli is an experienced communication specialist with nutrition, science and marketing qualifications with decades of media, presenting, consulting experience. She is also found of Food & Nutrition Australia and a long time trusted advisor to the food industry.
Having worked with technical professionals and food-industry organisations for almost 30 years, Sharon understands the challenge of translating complex information into messages that other people can understand, remember and act upon.
Her practical programs help technical professionals communicate their expertise with greater clarity, confidence and influence—so their knowledge can contribute to better decisions and outcomes.
Ready to make your expertise heard?
Join a small group of food scientists for six practical weeks of learning, application and encouragement.
Program dates: 1 November – 7 December 2026
Live coaching session: Friday 20th November 12-1pm AEDST
Pilot investment: $295 (incl GST)
Enrolments close: 29th October 2026
Important pilot information
The program will proceed subject to a minimum of four participants. You will receive confirmation by Friday 28th October 2026. If the minimum number is not reached, you may choose to receive a full refund or transfer your payment to a future program.
Questions?
For questions about the program, contact Sharon at sharon@sharonnatoli.com