Confident Communication Equals Connection with Anne McKeown | Ep. 32
On this week’s episode of The True North Show I am joined by Anne McKeown, and incredibly beautiful and inspiring woman who brings love and lightness to any conversation. Anne and I dive deeply into the content of her two books and how they have helped thousands of people to turn up, show up and speak up. If you are looking for some practical tools and actions to take to be a better, clearer and more confident communicator then you do not want to miss this episode.
Bio:
Anne McKeown is a dynamic and deeply authentic voice in the world of self-empowerment and personal transformation. With over 25 years of experience spanning corporate leadership, philanthropy and life coaching, Anne is singularly gifted at guiding others to “step up, speak up and show up” to reclaim their confidence, purpose and power.
She has walked the same path many of her clients face: after years in corporate life and roles as a stay-at-home mum, juggling volunteer work and entrepreneurship, Anne found herself burnt out, disconnected and uncertain about the future. She challenged herself to rebuild from within: mastering her mindset, finding her voice and realigning with her true values.
What began as a personal journey became a mission to help others everywhere transform their lives without guilt, compromise, or losing themselves.
Over the years she has developed a clear, step-by-step “Process for Success” rooted in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Timeline Therapy™, hypnosis, emotional wellness techniques and mindset work. Her approach is never one-size-fits-all: she listens deeply, holds space and offers tools tailored to each person’s unique challenges, goals and values.
Anne is also a professional speaker and celebrated author whose recent book Confident Communication, The Ultimate Collection brings together two of her best-selling titles: Public Speaking: From Stage Fright to Spotlight and How to Talk to Anyone: From Small Talk to Big Impact. This powerful compilation is designed to help readers overcome fear, build lasting confidence, and express themselves clearly in any situation: on stage, at work, or in everyday relationships.
Social Media:
Website: www.annemckeown.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2Mpower.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anne_mckeown_coach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mckeown-2mpower/
Purchase Anne’s books using these links.
Public Speaking: From Stage Fright to Spotlight
How to Talk to Anyone: From Small Talk to Big Impact
Transcript:
Today I am joined by an incredibly kind yet powerful woman who I’ve known through my business networking group. Anne McEwen is a transformative leader in self-empowerment, known for her practical and encouraging approach.
With over 25 years in corporate leadership, philanthropy, and coaching, she inspires others to step up, speak up, and show up to reclaim confidence and purpose.
After experiencing burnout herself, Anne rebuilt her mindset and values, turning her journey into a mission to help others live authentically without guilt or compromise. Her signature process for success draws on NLP, timeline therapy, hypnosis, emotional wellness, and personalised mindset tools.
Anne’s coaching is never one-size-fits-all. She listens deeply, tailors strategies, and empowers people to meet their unique goals.
A celebrated author and professional speaker, Anne’s book Confident Communication: The Ultimate Collection compiles her best-selling guides to conquer fear, build lasting confidence, and communicate effectively at work, on stage, or in daily life.
Anne is also a multi-award-winning coach and founder of 2M Power, recognised for advancing women’s leadership, personal development, and social contribution through her impactful work with individuals and organisations.
Hello and welcome to The True North Show. I’m your host, Megan North. I’m a purpose finder, mental health professional, and guide for those ready to return to who they truly are.
Here we explore what it means to live a life led by purpose, alignment, and deeper inner truth.
Through real conversations, powerful reflections, and soul-led strategies, we uncover the stories, tools, and insights that help you navigate life’s crossroads and find your own true north.
So whether you’re in the middle of a transformation, seeking clarity, or just curious about what’s next — you’re in the right place.
Let’s dive in.
Anne, welcome to the show.
Anne McKeown (02:57)
Hi Megan, thank you. It’s lovely to be here.
Megan North (03:01)
I’m really pleased you’re joining me today. This is actually our second time recording because we had some interference previously.
It’s interesting — as I was reading through your bio, I got caught up on a couple of words. But that’s part of being authentic, isn’t it? Not trying to be perfect.
Anne McKeown (03:24)
Yes, absolutely. Everybody makes mistakes. If we try to put on a mask and appear perfect, it can make others feel they could never achieve what we’ve achieved.
But when we show up as our true selves — like you talk about with True North — others can tap into their own truth and feel confident pursuing what they desire.
Megan North (03:53)
Exactly. I also think those small moments make us more relatable. When speakers feel stiff or overly polished, it can be harder to connect with them.
Whereas softness, flow, and even a bit of humour helps people feel comfortable.
So let’s start with your journey. Where did your career begin? And how did your coaching and books evolve?
Anne McKeown (04:48)
My career began working with BP Oil in the UK. I’m originally from Scotland and worked in Glasgow and Aberdeen as an area manager for petrol stations.
Part of my role was training licensees who ran the stations and helping them stay motivated around sales.
I noticed that the same people were consistently successful — regardless of product, season, or price. Others would immediately say:
“This won’t work.”
“No one will buy this.”
Their mindset became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I realised success often came down to mindset and self-belief. Those who believed they could succeed developed positive self-talk and strong routines.
Later, when I moved to Australia, I studied positive psychology because I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour — what drives us and what keeps us stuck.
When my children reached high school age, I began working with a coach myself. She encouraged me to help other women in midlife who felt uncertain about their next chapter.
I started the Sydney Women’s Self-Empowerment group through Meetup. Women immediately joined, which showed me how many others felt the same way.
From there, I began coaching one-on-one, helping women identify what was keeping them stuck and create practical action plans.
Over time, this evolved into speaking engagements and writing.
Megan North (11:40)
That’s fascinating. I didn’t know about your BP background.
Do you think those successful individuals believed strongly in the product they were selling?
Anne McKeown (12:16)
Not necessarily the product — more the drive behind what motivated them.
Many people are driven by one of three factors:
• Achievement
• Authority
• Affiliation (connection and belonging)
When we understand what drives someone, we can better understand how they stay motivated when things become difficult.
For example, one woman I worked with was driven by financial goals. But when we explored further, the money itself wasn’t the goal — she wanted to take her children to Disney.
That emotional connection created motivation.
Megan North (14:38)
That reminds me of visualisation work I do with clients. When people visualise money itself, they sometimes feel resistance.
But when they visualise how they will help others or improve lives, the emotional response shifts completely.
Anne McKeown (15:41)
Exactly. Meaning creates momentum.
Megan North (15:50)
Let’s talk about your books. Has writing become a new passion?
Anne McKeown (15:53)
Yes, I really enjoy writing. It allows me to combine research with real client experiences.
My work draws heavily on NLP — Neuro Linguistic Programming:
• Neuro – how we think
• Linguistic – the language we use
• Programming – how thinking and language influence behaviour
People often told me they wanted confidence in communication, even if they didn’t want to speak on stage.
That inspired my second book, How to Talk to Anyone.
Both books are now combined into a collection.
Megan North (21:53)
One of the most powerful things I learned about speaking is that it’s not about the speaker — it’s about the audience.
Anne McKeown (22:57)
Yes. Confidence grows when we focus on service rather than performance.
Many fears around speaking come from childhood experiences of being told to “sit down” or “be quiet.”
Confidence can be relearned by changing mindset patterns and developing supportive internal dialogue.
Megan North (29:59)
Let’s talk about communication more broadly. Why does communication matter so much to you?
Anne McKeown (30:25)
Communication is how we connect.
Many people feel misunderstood, unheard, or invisible. Often this comes down to how they present themselves — verbally and non-verbally.
Body language communicates even when we say nothing.
People don’t always receive feedback on how they come across, so they don’t know what to change.
Communication skills help people feel confident connecting in relationships, networking, and everyday life.
Small talk is often undervalued, but it creates the initial bridge for deeper conversation.
Megan North (42:11)
I find that many conversations begin with:
“What do you do?”
“Where do you live?”
But more meaningful questions create stronger connection.
Anne McKeown (42:46)
Yes — when we ask different questions, people remember us.
Connection happens when we show genuine interest in who someone is, not just what they do.
Megan North (47:35)
As we wrap up, I ask all guests the same question:
What is one lesson you wish you had learned earlier?
Anne McKeown (47:53)
Don’t copy other people’s templates.
You can learn from others, but success comes from embracing your own personality and strengths.
There are billions of people in the world — you don’t need to serve everyone.
You simply need to connect with those who resonate with you.
Give yourself time.
At first, progress can feel slow. But eventually momentum builds — like a plane taking off.
Stay authentic and trust your path.
Megan North (51:07)
That’s a beautiful way to finish.
Thank you so much for joining me today, Anne.
Anne McKeown (51:21)
Thank you — I’ve really enjoyed the conversation.
Megan North (51:49)
Thank you for joining this episode of The True North Show.
If this conversation resonated with you, I invite you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone walking their own path of growth.
To continue the journey, visit meganorth.com for resources and ways to work together.
Until next time, trust yourself and take one aligned step at a time.
