THE Sport of Speaking

Confidence. Connection. Clarity.

TRAINING LEADERS TO COMMUNICATE LIKE CHAMPIONS.

The Sport of Speaking trains professionals to bring athletic discipline to communication—building the poise and confidence to perform under pressure and deliver messages that move people. Developing championship-caliber presentation skills and game-changing influence, players elevate how they lead, compete, and succeed in today’s demanding business landscape.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS MATTER.

Organizations that invest in communication training see a $4.77 return for every $1 spent.

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Teams led by managers with strong communication skills are 23% more likely to out-perform revenue targets.

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Leaders with strong communication skills are 140% more likely to retain top performers.

WHO WE PLAY BALL WITH.

    • Sales Team Performance: 

      • Elevate client-facing teams to present with confidence, handle objections under pressure, and deliver compelling proposals that close deals

    • Leadership Development: 

      • Build internal communication skills for emerging and mid-level managers who need executive presence to influence up, down, and across the organization

    • Culture Building Communications: 

      • Train teams to communicate with the trust, accountability, and connection that high-performing workplace cultures require

    • Board Room Readiness: 

      • Train C-suite leaders to deliver with executive presence during high-stakes presentations, investor meetings, and crisis communications where poise under pressure determines organizational direction

    • Unified Leadership Voice: 

      • Develop consistent messaging frameworks across the leadership team so every executive reinforces the same strategic vision with confidence and clarity

    • Stakeholder Influence:

      •  Master the art of compelling communication that moves boards, investors, and key partners to action through championship-level presentation skills

    • Pitch Perfect Performance: 

      • Transform founders into confident storytellers who can deliver funding pitches with the poise and presence that secures investment rounds

    • Investor Relations Mastery: 

      • Build communication systems that clearly articulate vision, traction, and growth potential with the kind of clarity that builds investor confidence

    • Team Alignment Communications: 

      • Develop leadership communication skills that keep fast-growing teams connected to mission and motivated through uncertainty

    • Corporate Partnership Presentations:

      • Train front office executives and player representatives to deliver compelling sponsorship pitches and partnership proposals that secure major deals with corporate sponsors

    • Internal Team Leadership:

      • Develop communication systems for front office teams, coaching staff, and player leadership councils to build the trust, accountability, and unified messaging that championship organizations require both on and off the field

    • Media Training Excellence: 

      • Prepare athletes and coaches to handle press conferences, interviews, and public appearances with professional poise and authentic confidence

    • Leadership Communication: 

      • Train team captains and veteran players to communicate effectively with teammates, creating the trust and accountability that championship teams require

    • Career Transition Speaking: 

      • Help former athletes leverage their competitive mindset to excel in corporate presentations, board meetings, and leadership roles

    • Student-Athlete Leadership: 

      • Develop team captains and key players who can communicate effectively with teammates, coaches, and media while building team trust and accountability

    • Career Preparation: 

      • Prepare student-athletes for post-graduation success by building professional communication skills and executive presence for job interviews and workplace leadership

    • Coach Development: 

      • Train coaching staff in communication techniques that motivate, connect with, and develop young athletes both on and off the field

sport of speaking live

Map of the United States showing three yellow handwritten-style labels with "X SF" near San Francisco, "X DET" near Detroit, and "X NYC" near New York City, representing Sport of Speaking Live event locations for CLR Connection.

WORKHSHOP + SEMINAR TOPICS.

  • Presentation Skills/Executive Presence

  • Art of Storytelling

  • Commanding a Room (Meeting Facilitation)

  • Conference & Keynote Prep (Moderation Skills)

  • Visual Storytelling

  • Your ‘less is more’ mindset has also simplified my communication style and improved my sales skills. Hard to put a number to it but I'm in more coaching relationships than I've ever been in before and getting more sales traction.”

    Rithika Raghav

    Product, Google

  • “The biggest piece of advice for me was particularly with the opening. I came out with a ‘loud’ voice and I hardly felt nervous at all.  I was doing the ‘haka’ back stage beforehand to get me in a ‘go get ‘em’ mood. I’ve had some of the most amazing feedback from Ted Talk quality to people quoting me in their sessions. I’m chuffed.”

    Simone Labady

    CEO, Toyota Insurance

  • “I was so impressed with his ability to effectively coach a wide array of personalities with varying degrees of confidence about their public speaking abilities. Charlie had some of the best executive coaching and speaking chops we had seen.”

    Alix Douglas

    Group Vice President Partner Solutions, ServiceNow

  • “You turned my presentation into a compelling narrative that captivated the audience from start to finish. You provided so many nuggets on how to hold an audience’s attention that I felt like I had a secret playbook. Charlie is a master at teaching the art of storytelling – his techniques are pure gold!”

    D’Andra Moss

    Product, Linkedin - WNBA

  • “Charlie made me realize what's equally important (and arguably the most important) is making the Prezo YOURS. Charlie will weave your voice into anything you are presenting or communicating.”

    Roman Schachter

    Enterprise Account Executive, SUSE

  • “I wanted to really continue to fine tune my executive presence as part of my account management goals - shifting my style and content…a very productive and practical way to improve myself and my delivery.”

    Danny Flynn

    Customer Success Executive, Zendesk

  • “Charlie provided invaluable tips and tricks that helped me organize my story in a clear and engaging way. His expertise made it easy to structure my thoughts allowing to be well-prepared on stage.”

    Tyson Ross

    Advisor Los Angeles Dodgers, Former MLB Pitcher, Founder

OFFERINGS

Effective communication is the foundation of high-performing teams—boosting clarity, trust, and collaboration across every level. With over 1,000 workshops led, Charlie Ruiz brings proven expertise in transforming how teams connect, present, and lead in high-stakes business settings.

    • The Warm-up

    • The Preparation

    • The Box/Mound (Benchmark)

    • The Diamond (Content)

    • The Footwork (Physical skills)

    • The Delivery (putting it all together)

    • The Close (Q&A)

    • The Warm-up

    • The Mental Game (Vision)

    • The Preparation

    • The Box (Benchmark)

    • The Diamond (Content)

    • The Field (Room Navigation/Setup)

    • The Footwork (Physical skills + Bodywork)

    • The Improv (Adapting + Facilitation)

    • The Delivery (putting it all together)

    • The Close (Q&A)

    • 3 Pack - best for 1 project

    • 6 Pack - best for 1-2 projects

    • Retainer - best for ongoing work across mediums (speeches, updates, design)

    • The Art of Storytelling

    • Building Brands & Influence

    • Navigating The Gray (Comms through transition)

The Art of Storytelling is a dynamic 2–4 hour course designed to help leaders craft and communicate a compelling leadership brand and identity through the power of story. Participants learn proven storytelling frameworks, mastering the structure of impactful narratives from engaging hooks to seamless transitions and memorable closes. This course emphasizes the creation of highlight reels, powerful moments and experiences that shape a leader’s voice and influence. Through live reps and real-time delivery, participants refine their storytelling skills in front of peers, gaining confidence and clarity in presenting their authentic message.

people at the
top of their game

WE WORK WITH

COMMUNICATION SKILLS MATTER

Companies with highly engaged teams show 41% lower absenteeism and 59% less turnover.