Registration has already opened for the first in-person boot-camp event for women since the start of the pandemic.

It is being hosted next month by WeSpeak Bermuda, the non-profit company created by local women to coach and build female public-speaking skills and opportunities.

The event is drawing powerful corporate support from across Bermuda’s business landscape.

The full-day WeSpeak Boot Camp will be held on Wednesday, April 20, at the Willowbank Resort in Sandys.

Women from various backgrounds, careers, and industries are expected to attend.

Corporate support for the camp includes WeSpeak partners Appleby, Butterfield, Chubb, and EY, alongside event sponsors Ascot, the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers, Athene, Clarien, Dennis Mahoney – Lighthouse, Markel, Mosaic Insurance, Orbis, and Vantage.

“We’re thrilled to be able to relaunch our dynamic programme and host a full-day coaching boot camp for a diverse audience of Bermuda women, once again,” said Malika Taylor, who co-leads the organisation’s coaching pillar.

“It has been two full years since our last large, in-person event – and we can’t wait to reconnect with all our coaches and to welcome any woman into our WeSpeak community who is looking to find and project her voice.”

WeSpeak was launched in 2019 to build skills and promote more public-speaking opportunities for women; the group also advocates for inclusion of more women on industry panel discussions and as event keynotes.

Its popular boot camps, including an edition for teens, drew strong support and featured public-speaking tips, educational sessions and breakout presentations aimed at building confidence within a supportive network.

WeSpeak was largely unable to deliver large-scale in-person events during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic, but staged several virtual mentoring sessions, including a virtual boot camp, to support and stay connected to coaches and coachees.

Last July, WeSpeak launched an online platform, WeSpeak Connect, to match trained volunteer coaches with women seeking to develop public-speaking skills and achieve professional goals. The platform was built to include a database of female speakers, plus learning and other resources available via membership.

Next month’s Boot Camp marks a return to active engagement for WeSpeak this year.

It kicks off with a 9.15am induction for a 9.30am start and features an interactive programme of presentations and practice sessions; lunch and refreshments are provided. Sessions wrap at 5.30pm, when guests are invited to join an on-site reception to close out the day.

Women who registered for last autumn’s cancelled WeSpeak boot camp are encouraged to sign up again, for the April 20 event. Find the agenda, more details, and registration form here.

Registration, at $50 per person, is now open.