Leadership is felt the moment you start speaking
Executive communication and speech coaching for leaders, teams and event speakers.
Talk Like TED is the practice of Jan Scheele, an executive communication and speech coach based in the Netherlands. He works with board members, directors and founders on strategy, storytelling, delivery and executive presence, through one-to-one coaching, in-company masterclasses and speaker preparation for events. Since 2016, with over 4000 professionals at more than 200 organisations.
End-to-end strategic communication
and speech coaching for leaders
Leadership that is felt,
not explained.
For you as a leader
There is a moment coming that matters. Or you have noticed for a while that your words carry less weight than they deserve. We work one to one on your story, your persuasive power and how you come across.
For you as a leader
A management team that needs to present with more edge. A department that undersells itself. A board that has to explain change. We practise on your own presentations, with honest feedback and results you see the same week.
For you as a leader
Eight speakers, eight separate stories and a programme that does not land as a whole. I prepare your speakers, align the through line between them and make sure the stage delivers what you intended.
About Jan Scheele
As the organiser of more than fifty TEDx events worldwide, I gained a unique insight into how strong stories are built. I worked with speakers who had something to lose, something to win, or both at the same time. By coaching hundreds of TED speakers and diving into research on communication, decision-making and persuasion, I came to realise that speaking is not a standalone skill, but a form of leadership.
Since 2016 I have worked with over 4000 professionals at more than 200 organisations, among them Google, Shell, Deloitte, Cisco, the Dutch national police and several government ministries. Often around sensitive trajectories, strategic choices or high-visibility moments where there is little room for noise.
Everything that determines
whether your words work.
One-to-one coaching
Confidential, individual guidance in which we work on thinking, framing and speaking at the same time. No fixed programme, but a trajectory that moves with your role, your calendar and what is being asked of you. From speaking anxiety and hesitation to building a keynote, a pitch or a media appearance. In English or Dutch, on location or remote.
What happens before your first sentence is spoken. How you stand, look, breathe and speak, especially when the pressure is on. Not learned behaviour, but refined presence. Available as part of a coaching trajectory or as a longer partnership for leaders who are permanently visible.
Masterclasses for teams
A masterclass at your location, built around the presentations your team actually gives. Structure, storytelling, slides, voice, body language, interaction and tension, with honest feedback on your own material. In a small group so everyone gets their turn. Also available virtually or hybrid, in English or Dutch.
I prepare the speakers at your event, from story line to stage. Individual coaching per speaker, alignment of the through line between them, and a run-through on location. So your programme becomes one whole instead of a series of separate appearances. Grounded in more than fifty TEDx events and hundreds of coached TED speakers.
Get in touch
Would you like to receive more information? Do you have a question, or would you simply like to discuss your ideas?
Email me at jan@talkliketed.nl or fill out the form below. I’ll get back to you within one business day.
Need a quick response? Let me know in the message field what time I can call you today.
After our conversation, you’ll receive a clear proposal that same day. Once you approve it, we’ll schedule a call straight away to confirm the planning and next steps.
My IMPACT method
Whatever the format, the same approach sits underneath it. The IMPACT Method does not start with what you want to say, but with what needs to change. And it does not end with the applause, but with what people actually do differently on Monday morning. Six steps, built over ten years of practice with more than 4000 leaders and over fifty TEDx events, tested against what research tells us about attention, persuasion and memory.
What happens after you get in touch
You will hear from me within one working day, usually sooner. We speak briefly about what is at stake and what you want to achieve. You receive a clear proposal the same day. Once you approve it, we call straight away to plan the sessions and the next steps. No lengthy intake procedure, no sales trajectory.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work in English?
Yes. I regularly coach English-speaking executives and deliver masterclasses in English, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Sessions, materials and written feedback are all available in English. Within a Dutch trajectory we can also rehearse in English if your presentation is in that language.
Do you work outside the Netherlands?
Yes. I am based in the Netherlands and travel for on-site work across Europe. Much of the coaching also works well remotely, which keeps it practical when your schedule is tight. For events I usually prefer to be there in person for the run-through.
What does it cost?
It depends on the format. Open masterclasses have a fixed price per round and short preparation trajectories have a fixed fee. Coaching and in-company work are tailored, because almost every question is different. You always receive a proposal with a concrete figure within one working day.
How quickly can we start?
Usually within a week. For short preparation trajectories I deliberately keep capacity free, because those requests tend to arrive when a date is already fixed. If it is tight, call and I will tell you honestly what is still possible that week.
What is the difference between coaching and a masterclass?
In coaching you work one to one on your own situation, at a pace and in a form that adapt to you. A masterclass takes place in a small group with a set structure. You practise on your own material while also learning from what the others bring in.
Can you help with one specific presentation?
Yes, and that is a common request. A short intensive trajectory of two or three sessions within a couple of weeks covers the story, the message and the delivery, up to and including a full run-through. Suited to a keynote, an investor pitch or a boardroom moment.
Stories from clients
The trust of more than 4000 professionals / 200 organizations over 10 years.
Below you can read what they share after working together.
You can read all 142 recommendations here.
“Jan can guide you and your team through the fascinating world of how to present yourself. He offers practical tools, science-based methods, many examples and a great deal of real-world experience. This makes the insights immediately applicable. It is a real pleasure to work together, you feel at ease right away.”
“Thanks to Jan, my keynote was a great success! His combination of expert coaching and sharp, constructive feedback not only helped me strengthen my story, but also took away much of the tension leading up to the presentation and gave me greater confidence on stage.
Jan is a master storyteller. He helped me shape my vision on sustainable leadership into a compelling and powerful narrative that truly resonated with the audience. His communication is clear, thoughtful and incredibly pleasant, which made the entire process a pleasure. I would highly recommend working with him!”
“I had the pleasure of working with Jan Scheele while preparing for my TED Talk, and I can say without hesitation that the experience was invaluable. Jan not only has a keen eye for detail, but also knows exactly how to transform a story into something both powerful and captivating.
I wholeheartedly recommend Jan to anyone looking for a coach who cares not only about results, but also about personal growth and authenticity. Working with him is an investment that reaches far beyond the stage.”
A selection of the more than 200 organisations I have had the privilege to work with
