Insightful Interview with Jane Stephen
1. Tell us about yourself, please. Who are you?
Tālofa lava ma fa’afetai tele mo lo’u avanoa (Greetings in Samoan, and thank you for this opportunity). My name is Jane Apoiliu Stephen, and I am the youngest daughter of Tagaloa John Brough and Tausili Itagia Brough. I was born in the village of Salelavalu, Savaii, Samoa, and my family migrated to Aotearoa, New Zealand, on a Polynesian Airlines waka in 1991. Some random facts about me so you know the kind of crazy you’re dealing with: 1) If I could have any superpower in the world, I would love to communicate with animals or speak all the world’s languages. 2) I’m five foot one, but I dreamt of being a professional basketball player as a kid. At one point, I even considered leg-lengthening surgery. 3) I have nothing in common with people who wash, dry, fold and put their laundry away all in one day.
2. Toastmasters is primarily about education and acquiring leadership and
communication skills. So why did you join Toastmasters? What did you hope to gain?
I excel at being a shy introvert. I joined Toastmasters to be a better communicator for those times when I can’t hide from people.
3. How many Toastmasters clubs do you belong to? What do you get out of your
club or clubs?
I am a member of Pacific Toastmasters based in Ōtara, Auckland. At every meeting you are expected to speak in some capacity. That means you cannot hide. For me,the opportunity to regularly speak in front of an audience is important. I wouldn’t say I like it, but I know I need to do it if I want to improve.
One of the many things I love about Pacific Toastmasters is the range in the
experience of our members. It’s nice to empathise with new members and their
feelings of nervousness, and it’s also nice to learn from more experienced members and benefit from their well-honed tips. An unexpected bonus has been the friendships I’ve made that extend beyond Toastmasters.
4. When did you first attend a Toastmasters meeting, and what did you think of it? Why did you stay? What advice would you give someone thinking of joining Toastmasters?
I was vaguely aware of Toastmasters, but it was only when a former member
suggested that I visit and check one out for myself that I googled some clubs close to my work. My most memorable memory from my first meeting was looking out the window and seeing someone walking a goat on a leash. True story.
Never one to rush into a decision, I started visiting clubs in January and didn’t join till June. Each club has a unique vibe and energy, and not every club will be a good fit for you, so don’t hesitate to visit a few clubs more than once to determine which one will best suit you and your goals.
I joined as part of my professional development with my workplace paying for my first year of membership. After that, I continued because I could see it was helpful to me professionally and personally.
My advice? You will only get out what you put in. As much as Toastmasters is
designed to help you, that only happens if you turn up and put in the work. It is a
commitment. If you’re not ready to put in the hard yards, don’t waste your time (and money) and everyone else’s.
5. What impact has Toastmasters had on your personal and professional life?
Professionally, Toastmasters gave me the confidence to apply for my current job. I
did some reading in preparation for a Toastmasters speech about understanding
your leadership style. In the process, I learnt that many women only apply for jobs
they feel 100% qualified for, while men are not nearly so selective. Shortly after, a
job was advertised that I felt I had all the credentials for, except one – I couldn’t
speak te reo Māori. I took what I had learnt from the ‘understanding your leadership
style’ speech, gave myself a pep talk and applied for the job. I didn’t get that job, but
a few months later, they called back and offered me another one which was a much
better fit. The rest, as they say, is history.
6. What are your future life goals, and how do you think Toastmasters can help
you achieve them?
Aside from avoiding jail? I want to live this chapter of my life well so that when the
time comes to start a new chapter, I won’t have any regrets. I guess joining
Toastmasters is part of trying to do life well. As much as I try to avoid public speaking
when I can’t worm my way out of it, I want to represent myself, my family and my
community well.
7. What has been your greatest memory since joining Toastmasters?
I really enjoy listening to people’s first ice-breaker speech. Not only is it a lovely
insight into their lives, but it is also a nice marker in the sand when reflecting on their
progress.
8. When and why did you join your club’s committee? What is your favourite
committee role? How has the challenge impacted you? What is the highest
executive role you’ve served in Toastmasters? What did it teach you?
Admittedly, I first joined the committee reluctantly because a role became vacant
mid-term and needed filling. My fear of public speaking extends to speaking in
meetings, and I still remember literally shaking with nerves at my second in-person
committee meeting! And it was at Mcdonald’s, where you would think I would feel at
home, LOL.
I have been VP of Public Relations and VP of Education. Not going to lie;
sometimes, seeing how the sausage is made is off-putting, but there are
opportunities too. For example, at the committee meetings, I’m conscious that I’m
usually the youngest. Being raised in the fa’a Samoa (Samoan way of life), it is
important to show respect to my elders, and this makes it challenging for me to voice
an opinion if it opposes one of the senior members. This isn’t a challenge unique to
the Toastmasters context, of course. But, what I have appreciated about being part
of the committee is the opportunity to practise using my voice while still showing
respect and maintaining the vā (relational space that defines and governs
appropriate conduct and language) with my elders.
9. What advice would you give anyone taking on a committee role?
You don’t have to do it all yourself. Tap into the experience of people around you
who have been there and done that.
10. Do you have a favourite quote that sums up your philosophy on life?
So, in everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this sums
up the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12).
This bible verse encourages and challenges me daily (sometimes hourly) to put
aside my ego and personal circumstances and love others because God first loved
me.
11. How are you of service to your community outside of Toastmasters? It is
obvious that Toastmasters are deeply involved in the Toastmasters
organisation and their clubs, but what about the real world? People want to
know how the communication and leadership skills learnt in Toastmasters
programmes translate outside Toastmasters. How have our Toastmasters
skills impacted our communities?
My desire to avoid being in the spotlight means that I haven’t volunteered my skills in
the past. However, Toastmasters has given me a bit more confidence to raise my
hand and say, ‘Here I am, willing and able to serve’. I still don’t do that as often as
possible, but I’m slowly getting there.
Realistically, joining Toastmasters doesn’t mean that I will change the world. Still, I
have seen changes in my world. E.g. sharing a personal experience during a group
bible study, volunteering for morning tea duty even though it means talking to
strangers, or maintaining eye contact when interacting with someone (in a non-
creepy way, hopefully).
I would emphasise that Toastmasters isn’t about changing who you are. If you are
naturally quiet like me, you will probably still be after joining Toastmasters. However,
through Toastmasters, I have had an opportunity to hone various skills in a safe and
supportive environment that I can then apply outside of Toastmasters. For example, I
try different methods to overcome my nerves at Toastmasters meetings, which I then
use at work and church. I use the Toastmasters tea break to practise networking
skills and executive meetings to practise being assertive.
12. What is your favourite Toastmasters programme, or manual, or project and why?
I’m still to complete a pathway, so I speak from somewhat limited experience. But, I
enjoy the projects I can apply to life outside Toastmasters. So, for example, if I have
to learn about something at work, I might turn that into a research and present
speech at Toastmasters.
13. As Toastmasters continues to adapt to a changing world, do you have any
predictions for the future? Are there any changes you would like to see?
I can’t speak for all clubs, but for Pacific Toastmasters, and from a purely selfish
perspective, I would love to see even more te reo Māori and Pacific
languages/elements incorporated into our club meetings and interactions. I say this
partly because I’m super proud of my culture and love sharing it with others. But
also, as a Pāsefika woman, born in Sāmoa and raised in the fa’a Sāmoa but growing
up on Auckland’s North Shore, I often navigate between two worlds. Pacific
Toastmasters is one of those lovely spaces where the worlds merge, and I can just
be.
14. In your opinion, what makes a Toastmasters club successful?
You. And your attitude.
Bring a teachable and generous attitude to the table, and you will reap the rewards.
Don’t, and it will be a pretty barren experience.