In a victory for the power of perseverance and motivational storytelling, Jocelyn Tyson, a 42-year-old pharmacist from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, emerged as the winner of the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking. Her victory was announced on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Resort and Convention Center in Nassau, Bahamas.
Tyson’s speech, entitled “Have You Been There?”, clinched the title after she competed against seven other finalists, culminating a competition that started more than six months ago with 30,000 participants across 148 countries.
The speech narrated Tyson’s personal journey of overcoming various obstacles to complete a triathlon in 2021. Despite facing immense challenges during the race, her inner determination led her to triumph and achieve this milestone. Her inspiring words to the audience were, “I implore you — no, I beg you to look deep within on that next challenge. Find that inner go-getter and see how far it can push you. I’ve been there, have you?”
In her response to the victory, Tyson expressed gratitude and disbelief, saying, “I can’t believe this is happening, it’s all so surreal.” She went on to thank Toastmasters, fellow club members, and everyone who helped her along the way. “It was a group effort, and everyone slowly helped me build this thing and made it what it was,” she added.
A member of Toastmasters for two years, Tyson joined the organization to enhance her communication skills and network with like-minded individuals. With the title of World Champion of Public Speaking now under her belt, she plans to continue engaging with her community through speaking engagements, and inspiring others to participate in Toastmasters and its speech contests.
The championship was part of Toastmasters’ annual convention, held as a hybrid event from Aug. 16-19. Contestants delivered speeches lasting five to seven minutes on a wide array of topics, with judges evaluating them based on content, organization, and delivery.