Master Your Message: THE BASICS

Bridgett McGowen is an award-winning international professional speaker, a 2019-2020 official Forbes Coaches Council member, an author, and the owner of an independent publishing company. “Talks too much” was the consistent comment she received on her elementary school report cards, therefore, she figured she may as well do something with that "gift" and become a professional speaker!

Bridgett began her professional career teaching and tutoring for the Lone Star College System in the Houston, Texas area, then she went on to teach at Prairie View A&M University, a part of the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), as well as University of Phoenix where she taught online Communication courses for more than a decade. Bridgett is a member of the Association for Talent Development, a past member of the National Speakers Association, and a member of International Society of Female Professionals.

Bridgett has earned a bachelor's degree in communication as well as a master's degree. She has received the Master Presenter Award from University of Texas at Austin and two Fearless International Speaker Awards from Canada-based One Woman and has spoken on programs alongside notable figures such as

• Former President Barack Obama
• Oprah Winfrey
• Shonda Rhimes
• Alex Rodriguez
• Deepak Chopra
• Jada Pinkett Smith
• Chip Gaines
• Katie Couric

It was her work with TAMUS that moved her to become a faculty development consultant for an educational technology company, designing and delivering scores of high-impact webinars and workshops that cause audiences to bubble over with enthusiasm all across the globe.

Since 2001, she's been a professional speaker, and it was 2016 when she launched her professional speaking business out of necessity -- she was laid off. When she gets a microphone in her hand, there's no doubt that she owns it and that she loves what she does.

In 2019, she wrote and published two books, REAL TALK: What Other Experts Won't Tell You About How to Make Presentations That Sizzle and Rise and Sizzle: Daily Communication and Presentation Strategies for Sales, Business, and Higher Ed Pros. In January 2020, she wrote and published Show Up and Show Out: 52 Communication Habits to Make You Unforgettable. Weeks later in February 2020, she compiled and published Own the Microphone: How 50 of the World's Most Ambitious Professional Speakers Launched Their Careers (And How You Can, Too!). In June 2020, she also compiled and published Triumph Over the Trials and Redesign Your 9-to-5: Advice and Strategies from 50 of the World's Most Ambitious Business Owners and EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs.

Any chance she gets to travel with her family, kick off her shoes, play in the sand, and enjoy a gorgeous sunset ... any chance she gets to simply enjoy life ... she does, and she encourages others to do so, too!