Brave Speak™ 2025

Brave Speak 2025!
Be Brave in 2025: Transform your career—and your life—by learning to:

• Speak confidently and build meaningful connections
• Gain recognition for your expertise with engaging communication
• Earn the promotions and opportunities you deserve
  
  Communication isn’t a soft skill—it’s hard. Hard to learn, hard to master, and yet, essential for career success and a fulfilling life. Confident speakers are precise and concise. They say what they mean, clearly. And that earns respect. Great communicators are not born, they are made.
  
  What I consistently hear from working professionals is this: “My speaking ability is holding me back.” They worry about speaking inaccurately, sounding impolite, or unclear—or, worse, being perceived as hesitant or lacking opinions and overlooked. Many stay silent in meetings, especially with leadership, only to regret it later when someone else voices the same idea they hesitated to share, fearful of making a mistake or being judged.
  
  If this resonates, Brave Speak is for you. As your essential guide to mastering team and interpersonal communication, Brave Speak lays the foundation for developing a new mindset that blends East-West workplace perspectives. Gain practical skills, learn the native language playbook, and master the communication nuances needed to fit in, stand out, and thrive. Ensure your voice is heard, your expertise shines, and your career breaks through to the next level.
  
  The course is divided into four key skills, each featuring topical lectures, activities, native language playbook tools, and mindset development.
  
  Four Skill Mastery:

• Concise Communication: Say what you mean with clarity and impact, ensuring your ideas resonate.
• Assertiveness: Speak confidently and professionally, balancing directness with respect to foster dialogue, not defensiveness, while navigating tough conversations with poise.
• Persuasion: Win support for your ideas through compelling messaging, storytelling, and strategic influence.
• Spontaneous Agility: Think on your feet, adapt to the unexpected, and respond intelligently under pressure while effortlessly building authentic connections through small talk.
  
  The Brave Speak Difference:
  
• Coaching: Coach Joe will encourage you, be your champion, and guide. Benefit from two 1:1 coaching sessions, live in-class feedback, and WeChat support for workplace challenges you face throughout the year.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: You’re not alone. Join like-minded professionals to build your skills in a safe, supportive environment, gaining confidence through hands- on practice and shared experience.
• Mindset and Skills: Compare Chinese and Western communication styles. Develop a flexible mindset and master Western techniques to elevate your professional impact.
  
  Sundays 3-5:30 PM PST

1. Sunday, February 2, 2025
2. Sunday, March 2, 2025
3. Sunday, April 6, 2025
4. Sunday, May 4, 2025
5. Sunday, June 1, 2025
6. Sunday, July 6, 2025
7. Sunday, August 3, 2025
8. Sunday, September 7, 2025
9. Sunday, October 5, 2025

FEE: $2000.00 (Nine 2.5 hr. meetings with live coaching + 2 one on one coaching sessions + WeChat support)

Instructor:

Since his time living in China in the 80’s, Dr. Rios has helped Chinese and other global professionals worldwide, develop the communication skills and mindset needed to bravely advance their careers and gain the visibility and professional recognition they deserve. He holds a Stanford University PhD in the field of Language, Communication, and Culture and has trained and coached in fortune 500 companies for over 25 years including for Google as Communication coach, and with Google Brain as AI and Human Language Learning Consultant/Researcher.

Endorsement 1:

I wholeheartedly endorse Joe as a communication coach and would recommend his coaching sessions a thousand times over to anyone struggling with navigating Western workplace culture. If you’ve ever found yourself hesitant to express your thoughts in meetings, unsure about how to advocate for your ideas, or lacking confidence when handling potential conflicts, Joe is the coach you need. 

Joe deeply understands the unique challenges faced by Chinese women and Chinese Americans in the workplace. Having lived in China for many years and even learning to speak Chinese, he brings invaluable first-hand experience and insight into the cultural barriers and mindset limitations we often face. His coaching goes beyond surface-level advice—he identifies the specific roadblocks in our way and provides actionable solutions to overcome them. 

In his sessions, Joe focuses on what matters most to us. He incorporates role-playing to simulate the challenging scenarios we encounter in real life, helping us build practical skills. Additionally, he offers thorough feedback on video recordings of our practice sessions for tough conversations, giving us the tools to improve continuously. His approach is supportive, uplifting, and always grounded in understanding and empathy. 

Joe doesn’t just teach effective communication—he embodies it. He is a role model who lives by the principles he shares with his clients. Getting to know Joe and learning from him has been a blessing. If you’re considering coaching, I encourage you to take that first step and have a conversation with him. You’ll thank yourself for it. 

Endorsement 2:

I had the privilege of taking Joe’s communication classes for nine months, focusing on assertiveness, persuasion, and spontaneity. These classes were by far the best communication training I’ve ever had. While I was already assertive and persuasive, Joe taught me how to deliver these traits in a firm yet kinder manner, which has proven to be far more powerful. As a result, I now communicate with greater confidence and can build stronger rapport with my audience. 

What truly sets Joe apart is his genuine care for each individual. He tailors his coaching to meet specific needs, offering personalized guidance. Beyond just improving my communication skills, Joe also helped me navigate office politics and supported me through a challenging situation I was facing at work. Thanks to his coaching, I handled those challenges with newfound confidence. 

Another standout aspect of Joe’s coaching is how he weaves cultural values into his approach. We explored Chinese classical culture in depth, and he guided me in adapting traditional Chinese values to my communication style. This integration has allowed me to stay true to my cultural roots while becoming a more effective and impactful communicator. 

Endorsement 3:

Joe’s communications class is exceptional for building muscle memory with his communication framework and applying it effectively at work. He helped us overcome psychological barriers to communication, develop cultural awareness and sensitivity, and provided personalized feedback for individual growth. It’s the best investment I’ve made in myself outside of formal education. Highly recommended! 

Endorsement 4:

In Brave Speak you will learn and practice how to be brave in your daily work and life. You will also make friends in the class. Most importantly, it will help you become more assertive. Joe is an amazing teacher and friend. He has a deep appreciation for Chinese culture and truly understands the challenges we, as Chinese professionals, face in our careers. He is passionate about getting to know each person in the class. I am especially grateful for the two private coaching sessions he offered, which helped me find my path to becoming a more assertive and motivated version of myself. 

Endorsement 5:

I attended Joe’s two of Joe’s Brave Speak classes in 2024. I consider them the biggest gifts I’ve ever given myself. 

In the two classes, Joe covered topics such as assertiveness, persuasion and extemporaneous speech. Unlike the other communication classes, Joe used real life examples from the students. Each class we analyzed different workplace scenarios to understand the best approaches. Joe tailored his teaching style to match the needs of individual students. The class transformed me and I am more comfortable and confident to have my voice heard at various situations at work. 

Joe is a master coach. He has a unique ability to create a safe class environment for students to share their challenges at work. The class is beyond the communication class; it provides tailored and practical pathways for career development. I highly recommend Joe’s classes! 

Endorsement 6:

I took Joe’s Brave Speak class last year, and it was transformative for my communication skills. One of my biggest takeaways was learning to speak spontaneously. I’ve always struggled with improvisation, but Joe’s class provided a practical framework that helped me think on my feet and speak confidently in any situation. 

What sets Joe apart is his focus on both techniques and mindset, which I found equally valuable. He’s a patient and supportive coach who genuinely invests in his students’ growth. Each class included homework for practice, and I strongly recommend completing it. Joe’s detailed feedback is invaluable. He also gave me one-on-one coaching sessions, during which Joe offered personalized recommendations and solutions tailored to my specific challenges. These sessions extended beyond communication, touching on career, life, interviews, and more. 

The class provides ample opportunities to practice speaking concisely and assertively. You’ll also connect with classmates from diverse industries and experience levels, creating a supportive and enriching learning environment. 

If you’re looking to improve concise communication, assertiveness, persuasion, or spontaneous speaking, I strongly recommend Joe’s Brave Speak class. It’s an investment in yourself that pays off in every aspect of life. 

Endorsement 7:

My name is Jevons, and I’m currently a Ph.D. student. I attended Joe’s Brave Speak class after completing my Master’s degree, during a time when I was searching for the next step in my life. As a naturally shy person who doesn’t often initiate conversations and feels nervous talking to strangers—a classic “INTP”—I signed up for Joe’s course because I needed to improve my communication skills. Brave Speak turned out to be exactly what I needed. 

Joe’s class creates a comfortable, diverse environment where everyone feels encouraged to speak. Participants come from various industries and backgrounds, all working toward the common goal of mastering efficient communication. Joe designs the course around real-life workplace scenarios, giving us practical tools to use immediately. He also inspires us to take our “brave speaking” outside the classroom and share those experiences with the group during class. 

One of the highlights of the course is the homework. Joe crafts scenarios to help us practice the concepts we learned, providing detailed feedback so we can refine our skills through this iterative process. This back-and-forth approach made a huge difference in my progress. 

Beyond the classroom, Joe is a kind and knowledgeable person, with a deep understanding of Chinese culture. I wholeheartedly recommend his class to any Chinese professionals seeking to improve their career communication skills. 

Endorsement 8:

Joining Joe’s Brave Speak course has been a game-changer for me. As a professional striving to enhance my communication skills, I found this course particularly beneficial, especially for those of us from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Joe’s profound understanding of the unique challenges faced by Asian learners is unparalleled. He skillfully incorporates real-life scenarios into our sessions, making the lessons both practical and directly applicable. For instance, he uses role-playing exercises like navigating complex project planning with stakeholders or delicately managing upward with balancing the relationships among many executives. These scenarios are not only illustrative but also come with actionable strategies and insights on articulating problems and devising solutions effectively.

Moreover, Joe tailors the course content to meet the diverse needs of participants. Beyond just sharing best practices for common communication situations, he provides personalized feedback and suggestions for improvement tailored to our individual performances during assignments. This tailored approach has significantly enhanced my understanding of core concepts and helped me internalize knowledge intuitively.

The structured practice coupled with consistent, constructive feedback has greatly boosted both my confidence and proficiency in communication.

As I look forward to continuing with the year-round program, I am enthusiastic about the potential for even more profound skill development and mastery of effective communication techniques. I highly recommend Joe’s Brave Speak course to anyone determined to make substantial improvements in their communication skills.

Endorsement 9:

Before attending the Brave Speak class, my communication style at work was more reserved and passive. However, after the course, I became more confident and assertive in expressing my ideas and opinions. One technique I learned was active listening, which helped me better understand my colleagues’ perspectives and communicate more effectively. For example, instead of interrupting during meetings, I started actively listening to others and then contributing my thoughts, which led to more productive discussions.

What was unique and particularly useful was how I learned and practiced the course material, which was a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises. The course provided comprehensive insights into communication strategies, along with opportunities to apply them in real-life scenarios through role-plays and simulations. This hands-on approach helped me internalize the concepts and apply them confidently in my workplace.

Coach Joe’s performance as an instructor was exemplary. He possesses a unique blend of expertise, empathy, and enthusiasm that made the Brave Speak learning experience truly exceptional. His ability to create a supportive and engaging learning environment fostered open communication and encouraged active participation. Coach Joe’s patience and personalized feedback helped me overcome my communication barriers and grow professionally. In summary, Coach Joe is knowledgeable, empathetic, and inspiring.

Endorsement 10:

I am immensely grateful to Joe for the remarkable improvement in my workplace communication since undertaking this course. His coaching style is characterized by clear guidance and practical insights.
One of the most valuable aspects was learning expressions that native speakers commonly use in various situations, particularly in high-stakes or challenging scenarios. This includes effectively handling disagreements, giving and receiving feedback, thinking on our feet to manage Q&A sessions and pushbacks, and communicating unpopular change announcements.
I now regularly apply these learned techniques in my professional interactions, and they have proven to be invaluable.
Joe’s teaching has significantly enriched my communication toolbox, providing me with a diverse set of skills that I can employ with confidence. The course not only taught me what to say but also how to convey messages with the right tone, intonation, pitch, and flow.
Through consistent practice during class sessions and multiple rounds of homework critique, I have honed these skills.
Undoubtedly, this course has elevated my communication abilities and bolstered my confidence in the workplace. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking concrete improvement in their communication.