Sendurai Mani: How Running a Seminar Series Helped Me Overcome Stage Fear

Sendurai Mani, Associate Director for Translational Oncology at Brown University, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“How Running a Seminar Series Helped Me Overcome Stage Fear

During my postdoc days at the Whitehead Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Scott Dessain a dear friend and fellow postdoc, offered me the chance to manage a seminar series. This role involved organizing speakers, introducing them, and moderating weekly seminars for a year by standing in front of amazing scientists, including some Nobel laureates. Scott mentioned the high interest in this program, and being my friend, he was kind enough to give it to me.

Initially hesitant due to my discomfort with public speaking, I accepted, driven by the belief that it was a highly sought-after role. Later, I discovered that Scott had struggled to find someone for this task because it was a tough job with a lot of exposure. In the end, he ‘volunteered’ me for it.

This experience proved to be incredibly beneficial for me. After all, his confidence in me suggested that I was indeed the right person for the job. Ultimately, it played a crucial role in helping me conquer my fear of public speaking.

I’m grateful to Scott for this opportunity, and I want to pass on a piece of advice: embrace challenges. You might surprise yourself with your hidden capabilities.”

Source: Sendurai Mani/LinkedIn