LEADING ON THE WORLD STAGE

Margaret Page didn’t set out to become the president of the world’s largest public speaking organization. In fact, prior to joining Toastmasters, she was terrified of public speaking.

“When I was a young businessperson or a young mother, I would not raise my hand to volunteer if there was a speaking component. I was willing to do the work, but if the role involved speaking in front of groups, I always seemed to find ways to work my way out of that.”

“The defining moment came when I was asked to share my team’s success to a group of 1,700 people. I couldn’t do it. I was their leader and didn’t have the courage to share their story. I had let them down and I couldn’t let that happen again. I was so ashamed.”

That sudden insight led Margaret on a journey that would eventually lead to becoming a member of Toastmasters International. Since that time, Margaret has held several high-profile leadership positions and obtained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation — the highest level of achievement in the organization. Today, she is president of Toastmasters International.

“Each leadership journey is like a train ride,” says Margaret. “There are hills to climb and beautiful vistas to look out at along the way. Sometimes you don’t know what’s around the next corner. As long as you believe in the vision or the final destination, you keep going – learning every step of the way.”

Margaret is one of only seven female presidents in the organization’s 98-year history and the second Canadian woman to hold the top position.

“Every problem presents a challenge for us to overcome, and small changes can have a great impact on the world,” she says.

Margaret says her mother had a big impact on her as she was growing up. “My mother taught me about hard work and about giving to others. Contribution, looking out for others, and seeing how you can make a difference. Leading on the world stage means being a role model to others. To bring my best self forward to inspire others to do the same.”

Public speaking, sure, but what motivated Margaret to run for office of president? “I felt I had an eye for the future — a larger view of what was possible for Toastmasters International, and I wanted to see if I could be part of making that grander picture a reality. What we do makes a difference in so many people’s lives.”

“The world is changing, and people need public speaking now more than ever,” says Margaret.

Toastmasters is more than learning public speaking skills. It’s about communication in general: Whether you want to give a toast at your daughter’s wedding, share your family story, create a TicTok or YouTube video or start a project in your community, Toastmasters can help you learn the skills to succeed.

Over the past 18 months, Margaret has witnessed the digital transformation that has occurred at Toastmasters. Prior to the pandemic all Toastmasters meetings were held live in person. But as soon as the lockdown began, the Toastmasters organization and individual clubs around the world quickly moved to online meetings using the ZOOM platform. Now Toastmasters is experimenting with Virtual Reality (VR) meetings.

As I watched Margaret confidently and eloquently deliver her acceptance speech to thousands of people worldwide at the 2021 virtual convention, I thought of the young girl who had transformed her life and was now in the position to help transform the lives of many others.

“Sometimes I’m asked why such high goals? Why are you striving for this or that? And my response is if you only set the bar at six inches that’s all you will strive to achieve,” says Margaret. “Do you remember Erma Bombeck? She said, when she got to the end of her life and stood before God, she wanted to be able to say ‘I have no talent left. I used everything you gave me.’”

“That’s the way I would like to go as well!”

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