Get to know occ consultant Maddie

By  Liam Bill and Rachel Eshaghian

BACKROUND:

What made you want to become an OCC Consultant?

Maddie wanted to join the OCC because she loves helping people and is passionate about public speaking! As a Junior majoring in Communication (PR) with a minor in Rhetoric, working at the OCC allows her to combine her passion for communication with hands-on coaching. 

What is your favorite part of working at the OCC?

Her favorite part of the job is watching results happen in real time! 

What’s something that happens behind the scenes at the OCC that students don’t see?

Maddie loves the strong community behind the scenes at the OCC. She notes that every tutor is there because they are passionate about helping people, and through that, the team frequently supports one another. The bonds she has formed with her fellow consultants have been incredibly valuable to her. 

What’s the most unexpected topic someone has presented on?

While not necessarily unexpected, Maddie finds it fascinating when students visit the OCC for something other than a speech. She recently worked with a graduate student who wanted to refine his conversational skills for career fairs and interviews, showing that anyone can learn something new regardless of where they are in their academic journey. 

If you could give a presentation on anything just for fun, what would it be?

If given the choice, Maddie would 100% give a presentation on the Chornobyl nuclear disaster and what went wrong. She conducted extensive research on the topic during her freshman year to write a paper, but never had the chance to present it out loud. 

STUDENT GUIDE:

How do you use the info from the intake form to prepare before the student even sits down?

For Maddie, preparation is key. The intake form allows her to see who is coming in, what specific topic they want to work on (such as an elevator pitch versus an informative speech), and any details the client provides so both can contribute effectively to the session. 

What changes in your tutoring approach when working with a nervous student verses a confident speaker who needs help with their content?

Maddie believes that being a compassionate listener is essential to being a good tutor. She emphasizes that some students need extra support to overcome anxiety when presenting, and the OCC team adapts their approach to meet the specific needs of each individual client. 

If a student comes in with a topic you’re not familiar with, how do you adjust your tone and feedback to still help them effectively?

While OCC consultants are well-versed in helping across a wide variety of topics, whenever Maddie encounters an unfamiliar subject, she simply asks the student to explain it to her. This not only helps her learn about the topic, but also gives her a valuable opportunity to observe how the student communicates. 

How do you help someone improve while keeping their own voice and integrity?

Maddie views tutoring as a balancing act between offering support and letting the student lead. She regularly reminds clients that while she is there to provide feedback, the presentation ultimately remains their own work and their unique story to tell. 

What is your best piece of advice for students on how to adapt their presentations to different audiences?

Maddie’s top piece of advice for adapting to any audience is to stay true to yourself and your core message. Regardless of who you are presenting to, whether it's a single OCC tutor or a lecture hall of 200 people, she reminds students to have fun, remember their "why," and approach every presentation as just a conversation. 

Book your appointment with the OCC today!