Unpolished: Authentic Public Speaking and Storytelling - Workshops & Coaching

Unpolished™

Speaking without hiding - honest storytelling without the performance

"Ingrid embodies rarely seen professionalism and subject matter expertise. Complete openness and an infectious energy. She had our team totally hooked from the first second and everyone came away buzzing. Truly empowering."
— Georgie Hazel, The Eleven Start Up

Most people don't need more presentation skills.

They need permission to speak as themselves.

In British professional culture, we're taught to be measured, composed, and contained. To speak from the neck up- clear, polite, correct - while the real voice stays carefully hidden.

This creates organisations full of people who:

Sound competent but feel disconnected
Share stories without impact
Have vital perspectives, but keep them to themselves
Spend hours perfecting presentations that land flat

Not because they lack skill.

Because they've learned that authenticity is unprofessional.

It isn't.

But undoing that conditioning takes more than tips and techniques.

The Real Problem Isn't Skills. It's Presence.

When people feel they must maintain a polished exterior at all times, their voice becomes careful rather than clear.

Ideas get softened.
Stories get over-edited.
Presence gets replaced with performance.

And the irony?

The more polished they become, the less credible they sound.

"Thank you for reminding me that I have a voice. Your support enabled me to build up my own power that somehow was already inside of me but had been neglected."
— Dr. Andrea Jiménez

What Unpolished™ Actually Does

Rather than teaching performance techniques, Unpolished™:

Removes the layers British culture taught you to add
Reconnects voice to body and breath
Allows stories to be spoken without over-polish
Restores natural authority that doesn't need to perform

You learn to speak in a way that is:

Grounded, not forced
Honest, not over-exposed
Human, not rehearsed

You do not become less professional.

You become more credible.

How It Works: The Unpolished™ Method

I. The Ritual

Every session begins with making chai together.

Not decoration. Threshold.

When you're measuring spices, stirring, pouring—when the senior director and the junior analyst are doing the same work—hierarchy dissolves before a word is spoken.

Bodies remember: Here, we're equals.

That's where authentic voice begins.

II. The Unlearning

Most workshops teach you to add things: hand gestures, vocal variety, confidence tricks.

Unpolished™ teaches you to remove them.

We explore:

What British culture taught you to hide (and why)
The split between your "professional voice" and your actual voice
Where performance replaced presence
How speaking became self-monitoring rather than contribution

The goal isn't to become someone else.

It's to stop being someone else.

III. The Reclamation

Through voice work and embodied practice, you find:

The kitchen table version of your story (not the boardroom version)
Your grounded voice (not your "presenting" voice)
Calm authority (not performed with confidence)
The ability to speak truthfully within a cultural context

Not louder. Not more theatrical.

Just more you.

"Ingrid is a phenomenal and captivating speaker! She gave our Closing Keynote and not only did she capture our audience, she also related to each and every one of them. She bravely shared her most personal struggles and showed vulnerability which truly inspired and connected with the audience."
— Jessica Ajayi, Event Organiser - Get Supply Ready

What Changes

After this work, participants often report:

Before Unpolished™:

Over-prepares every word
Monitors how they're being perceived
Voice rises or tightens under pressure
Connection feels effortful
Stories feel rehearsed

After Unpolished™:

Speaks from notes, not script
Present with audience, not stuck in one's own head
Voice stays grounded even when challenged
Connection feels natural
Stories land with impact

"Thank you for your fantastic workshop yesterday! The guys were still talking about it in the evening. The awards they got that night really reflected the people who stood up, made awesome speeches and made people cry."
— Louise R, Youth Empowerment Coach

Importantly:

People do not become less professional.

They don't abandon cultural values of respect and restraint.

They don't suddenly "perform" emotion or force vulnerability.

They simply stop performing altogether.

And paradoxically, that's when they become most compelling.

Who This Is (And Isn't) For

This Work Is For You If:

✓ You have to present but you hate "presenting"
✓ Your "professional voice" doesn't sound like you
✓ You've been taught to keep emotions private, and it's exhausting
✓ You want to connect with people, not perform for them
✓ You're tired of adding layers and ready to remove them
✓ You have a story to tell but it feels like it needs to be "perfect"

This Work Values:

Substance over show
Calm authority over bravado
Authenticity without chaos
Cultural intelligence alongside personal truth

This Work Is NOT Suitable If You're Looking For:

❌ American-style motivational speaking
❌ Theatrical performance coaching
❌ Presentation "tricks" or quick fixes
❌ Forced confidence or manufactured charisma

"Ingrid is a remarkable coach taking you to places that you could never imagine you could."
— Christina Georgalla, Career Coach

A Note on "Wild"

In this context, wild does not mean disruptive or unprofessional.

It means:

Unedited insight
Original thought
Speaking from instinct as well as intellect
The voice before it learned to self-monitor

When organisations welcome this kind of voice, they don't become messy.

They become more alive.

About Ingrid

Ingrid is an entrepreneur, actor, presenter, and voice alchemist.

She's spent years in corporate environments, worked in training videos, radio, online ads, and live presentations. She's delivered closing keynotes, facilitated workshops, and coached everyone from startup founders to senior executives.

Her edge has always been authenticity.

She doesn't "present." She just "is."

As if talking to a friend.

That's what she teaches.

Not through adding techniques - through removing the layers British culture taught us to add.

Through finding the voice that was always there.

"Really Good Session. What Legend."
— Sam Carrick, Creative, Born Social

"Ingrid fire!! Innovative, Engaging, Raw."
— Lanre Atijosan, Entrepreneur

How We Work Together

Corporate & Group Workshops

Small-group sessions designed to reintroduce authenticity into professional speaking.

Perfect for:

Leadership teams who need to present authentically
Client-facing roles who want to connect, not pitch
Sales teams learning to have conversations, not deliver presentations
Founders and senior professionals preparing for high-stakes moments
Organisations tired of polished-but-hollow communication
Teams wanting more original thinking and honest dialogue

What's included:

Half-day or full-day immersive workshop
Chai-making ritual (threshold into different quality of work)
Voice work: finding grounded authority
Story work: kitchen table version vs. boardroom version
Individual practice with group witnessing
Workshop materials and practice prompts
30-day email support

Investment:

Half-day workshop (up to 12 participants): £2,500
Full-day workshop (up to 12 participants): £4,500
Bespoke programmes (multiple sessions, larger groups): From £5,000

Next step: [Book a 20-minute consultation call]

1-to-1 Voice Work

Private sessions for individuals who want to speak publicly without losing themselves in the process.

Ideal for:

Keynote or TEDx preparation
Leadership transitions or new roles
Important pitches, presentations, or board meetings
Ongoing development of authentic voice
Moments where your voice truly matters

Format options:

Single Session (2.5 hours):
Deep dive for specific presentation or foundational voice work
Investment: £497

Three-Session Package (3 x 90 min):
Develop authentic voice over time, work with ongoing material
Investment: £1,297

Monthly Voice Partnership:
One 90-min session per month + email support between sessions
Investment: £397/month (3-month minimum)

What's included:

Pre-session questionnaire (we hit the ground running)
Chai ritual (even one-to-one—threshold matters)
Personalized voice and story work
Recording of practice (if desired)
Tailored practice prompts
2-week email support after session

Next step: [Book a free 15-minute discovery call]

What Makes Unpolished™ Different

Most workshops teach:
Add layers • Master techniques • Project confidence • Polish your delivery

Unpolished™ teaches:
Remove layers • Find truth • Be present • Speak from the kitchen table

The difference:

When you stop performing, people stop being polite and start being moved.

Your message doesn't just inform—it lands.

Your presence doesn't just command attention—it creates connection.

That's the difference between competent and credible.

The Cultural Context Matters

This work was created specifically for British professional culture.

It respects:

The value of restraint and composure
Cultural norms around privacy and discretion
The strength of understatement
The importance of not "making a fuss"

While gently expanding what's possible within those values.

You don't have to choose between being professional and being yourself.

You can be both.

But it requires unlearning the idea that authenticity is unprofessional.

An Invitation

If your organisation is ready for voices that are:

Present, not performed
Grounded, not forced
Real, not rehearsed

Unpolished™ belongs at your table.

Your voice is already there.

It's just been waiting for permission.

Next Steps

For Corporate Workshops:
[Book a 20-minute consultation] to explore what Unpolished™ could look like for your team

For 1-to-1 Voice Work:
[Book a free 15-minute discovery call] to see if this work is right for you

Questions?
[Contact us directly]

Unpolished™
Where polish ends and presence begins

Part of The Chai Vibe
Founded by Ingrid Marsh

[Instagram] • [LinkedIn] • [Email]

Praise for Unpolished™

"Thank you for reminding me that I have a voice. Your support enabled me to build up my own power that somehow was already inside of me but had been neglected."
— Dr. Andrea Jiménez

"Ingrid is a remarkable coach taking you to places that you could never imagine you could."
— Christina Georgalla, Career Coach

"Really Good Session. What Legend."
— Sam Carrick, Creative, Born Social

"Ingrid fire!! Innovative, Engaging, Raw."
— Lanre Atijosan, Entrepreneur

Privacy Policy • Terms of Service • Contact Information