Biography

Norma T. Hollis

Norma T. Hollis knows firsthand how tapping into your authentic voice creates success.  After experiencing painful trauma in her youth, Norma found her authentic voice but kept it a secret.  She kept it secret because she could not find anyone who would talk with her about the ‘quiet’ voice she was hearing in her mind, so she kept the secret to herself.

Norma followed this inner voice as it led her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood development and Masters Degree in Administration.  During Norma’s ‘first career’ in early childhood development, she created early intervention programs, directed multi-million dollar Head Start programs, and pioneered developing the spirit of the young child.

Later, without any knowledge of the business world, Norma’s inner voice led her into a ‘second career’ and entrepreneurial venture that would catapult her to the top of a 50-billion dollar industry.  After opening Speakers Etcetera, a communication training company and public speaking bureau, Norma navigated through the meeting industry to emerge as the CEO of one of the largest bureaus in the world owned by an African American woman.

It didn’t take Norma long to recognize a void in the professional speaking industry when it came to Black speakers. There was no single resource on the internet where meeting planners could find African American speakers for their events. This is when Black Speakers Online was born: the first online directory to showcase Black voices. It has grown to become one of the most relied-upon directories in the speaking industry, providing meeting planners a ‘one stop source’ for their event needs with a premier roster of Black talent.

In 2007, Norma decided to expand her bureau by providing international exposure opportunities to Minority speakers through her new directory, Diversity Speakers Online.  Norma partnered with the National Speakers Association in a first-time diversity initiative for the 4,000-member organization, opening the door for minority speakers to a bigger and more diverse organization.

Norma’s extensive work with speakers and 12 years of communication research, led to the creation of a proprietary methodology and diagnostic tool that can actually rate a person’s authenticity.  Her authenticity assessment is breaking new ground and paving the way for a new generation of speakers and entrepreneurs.  You can rate your authenticity now by visiting www.cashinonvoice.com.

As an ‘intuitive’ entrepreneur, Norma builds companies that serve the human spirit, develop the human potential, and provide a catalyst for improving the quality of life.  Throughout her life, Norma has championed the power of voice.  Her painful childhood trauma gave birth to an inner voice that allowed her to overcome extreme difficulties and turn obstacles into triumphs.  Norma’s first career revealed her unique talent for discovering the gifts and talents in others that lead to authenticity.  Norma’s second career and series of entrepreneurial successes, has made her the voice of experience for leadership.  She inspires companies and individuals to lead with authenticity by maintaining their life’s purpose.