Tag: public speaking

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Alicia Sedgwick Communication Coach

The series featuring members of the International Professional Women in Monaco group moves on to Communication Coach Alicia Sedgwick.

What inspired your business – and what gap did you see that others weren’t addressing?
My Communication Coaching business began in 2014. I was inspired by the need for people to communicate, to speak in public and to present with confidence, and effectively.

The International University of Monaco (IUM) asked me to teach a class of Undergraduate students and the training was so successful that I went on to teach many Undergrad, Masters and MBA students – plus staff and Faculty at IUM, and eventually other educational institutions all over the world.

The training and teaching developed for the International School of Monaco, too, where I created and managed their TEDxYouth Event and trained speakers for that event, plus for corporations, associations and individuals.

The importance of being able to communicate with impact and belief in oneself was very clear to me seeing people flounder in meetings, presentations, and social situations. This particularly became evident when Covid hit and we were all forced to go online in our communication. People had no idea how to speak on Zoom and other platforms and to do so on camera.

I soon became the expert to teach and help people communicate effectively both in person and online.

How do you market your company and what has genuinely worked to reach new clients?
I have never actually marketed my business. Clients have come to me through word of mouth. This is a delight for me!

I maintain a presence on social media, which I work hard at. I have written two books Communicating through Change and BEING – both available on Amazon – and these keep my name out in the world.

I also do talks, and podcast interviews, Masterclasses, again in person and online, and that all helps to raise my profile and keep me in people’s thoughts for when they need my help and coaching.

What was the turning point in your business?
Business really escalated for me during Covid when the need for training in communication skills online particularly became essential. People had no clue of how to conduct themselves and present on camera, and I was the expert they turned to, providing the techniques, the confidence, and the effectiveness.

This continues now, and my in-person training has grown and grown, too.

What is one unglamorous but essential step every woman should take before launching a business here?

I would say that no matter where you launch your business, find out the rules and regulations for having a company or business in that jurisdiction. For example, in Monaco, secure your legal residency first. That is essential, as is opening and funding your bank account.

In France, choose and structure the correct legal status (URSSAF, tax number, VAT if applicable…).

I was a lawyer in the UK before I moved to France full time, and I am very aware of compliance and how necessary that is before you even consider branding and networking.

What advice would you give to women ready to bet on themselves and start their own business here?
Monaco and France are incredible ecosystems, but they are structured. In France, learn the administrative landscape and choose the right status from day one. In Monaco, understand that relationships, credibility, and positioning matter just as much as your offer. This isn’t about being intimidated – it’s about being prepared.

When you know the rules, you move with confidence.

Build substance before image.

It’s tempting to focus on branding, Instagram, the aesthetic. Yes, visibility matters – especially in Monaco. But cash flow matters more. Client results matter more. Reputation matters more. Quietly become excellent. The image will amplify what’s already solid.

Choose proximity wisely. Environment is everything. Get in rooms where decisions are made. Attend events. Have conversations. In Monaco especially, proximity opens doors faster than cold emails ever will. Build real relationships – not transactional ones.

You don’t need overnight success. You need momentum. Consistency. Emotional discipline. Entrepreneurship will stretch you – financially, mentally, personally. That stretching is not a sign to quit. It’s proof you’re expanding.

Finally, price like a woman who respects herself. Many women underprice because they want to be liked. You are not building a hobby. You are building an asset. Whether your clients are in Monaco’s luxury market or France’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, position yourself according to value – not fear.

Betting on yourself isn’t reckless. Staying small when you know you’re meant for more is.

And you will need to communicate with confidence, impact and effectively, and so come to me for training!

Article first published May 29, 2026. Photo: Lily Frebourg.

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TEDxYouth Monaco: ‘It’s a relief to speak and to know that everyone is listening’

Alicia Sedgwick, author of Communicating Through Change: Lessons Learned From Real Life, teaches Public Speaking, Presentation and Communication Skills at the International University of Monaco. She also works with all backgrounds and all ages, from corporations to private clients and students at the International School of Monaco (ISM). “It is so interesting that small children in their early years can talk freely and chatter without filter but then when they get to primary school age, all that lack of inhibition becomes clouded and they close up.”

Alicia says her training helps students “to open up again, to be free of worries, cares and anxieties when they communicate so they can move through their teens and into adulthood with their self-esteem raised, and the ability to communicate effectively.” And confidence in communicating is essential whether it be through digital communication (online, social media, Zoom), for school or university presentations, or for personal and professional relationships.

Which is why the TEDxYouth event this Saturday, October 15, from 2-4 pm, at ISM is such a huge deal. Its speakers are all ISM students ages 10 to 17. “The aim is not only to raise the profile of TEDxYouth, but to promote its significance as the only TEDxYouth event in the Principality,” says Alicia. This event is open to the public and you can register and sign up for a ticket ( €10) directly from the International School of Monaco website.

“So many of the children who do put themselves forward for the TEDxYouth auditions are way out of their comfort zone. I have had students who speak so quietly, or shift about when they talk, and do not engage, then perform at TEDxYouth with such power and control that I am so impressed and proud.”

The international platform of students presenting include Amael Anwar (Switzerland), Olivia Chisholm (UK and South Africa), Solomon Passegger (Austria), Sophia Zweegers (Morocco and the Netherlands), Margherita Sparaco (Italy), Amelia Banks Clark (UK) and well as Celeste Maximiana Schofield.

Speaker Amali Benner shares, “A lot of my friends call me a chatterbox because I talk so much. But I recently learned that talking just for the sake of talking is rambling and purely a waste of words. I joined TEDxYouth to, like most people, improve my speaking skills.”

For 10-year-old Alexandra Vlad (France and Romania), “I joined TEDx to improve my confidence on stage and possibly to help defeat my slight stage fright. Also, I want to improve my ability to really express myself. In the past I have sometimes been afraid to express myself because I thought that nobody would really listen to me, but it’s such a relief to speak and to know that everyone is listening to me.”

ISM recently held a successful Quiz Night to raise awareness for this second edition of TEDxYouth. “Shasta Almi, the school’s Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator, and Director of Studies Hannah Gettel, who serves on the organising committee, are incredible women and have been amazingly dedicated to the TEDxYouth event.”

2021 TEDxYouth @ISMonaco