Best Public Speakers Series: How Lara Hodgson Balances Warmth and Authority
- Stephanie Bickel
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
by Kat Evans
We included Lara Hodgson on our “Best Public Speakers” list for her approachable warmth, relaxed energy, and relatable clarity. She makes complex ideas feel simple and inspires confidence in every audience.
Lara Hodgson is the President & CEO of NOW Corp, which she co-founded to help small businesses free themselves from cash-flow bottlenecks. She also co-authored Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back with Stacey Abrams and Heather Cabot.
Her career spans aerospace, retail, and real estate. She’s served as CMO and COO at Dewberry Capital, co-founded Dunk (a performance footwear brand with Shaquille O’Neal), and led the Retail and Consumer Products Division at iXL. Lara holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech.
We reviewed Lara’s thoughts on choosing business partners on Harvard Business School’s Rock Center for Entrepreneurship YouTube channel. In that interview, she demonstrates many of the speaking qualities we look for in top communicators.
Main Communication Takeaways
Dynamic Pitch
Lara uses a wide vocal range to emphasize key points and keep her audience engaged.
Pace
Her varied pacing makes her insights easy to follow—lively, but never rushed.
Movement
Lara’s expressive gestures and relaxed posture show that she’s fully present and energized, creating a strong connection with her audience.
How This Best Public Speaker Could Improve
Weakening Language
Phrases like “just,” “sort of,” and “you know” can make her ideas sound tentative.
Replacing them with direct, confident language would make her message even more powerful.
Vocal Fry
She sometimes runs out of breath at the end of sentences, creating a gravelly tone. Better breath support would keep her sound rich and steady through every phrase.
Lara Hodgson reminds us that leadership communication is most compelling when it’s energized, authentic, and intentional.
Want to strengthen your own speaking style?
At Speak by Design University, we help professionals master the communication skills that set great speakers apart. Build clarity, warmth, and presence through self-paced lessons, group coaching, and personalized feedback.
