Communicate with confidence. Embody your expertise. Influence under pressure. When all eyes turn to you.
For talented experts who ‘know their stuff’, but aren't always perceived that way, when the stakes are high.
We all know someone half as talented as us, who’s somehow doing twice as well as us.
That's because the value we bring, doesn't always translate into value others will perceive.
Calm & Ready empowers CEOs, leaders and professionals who recognise that having more success and opportunity in their careers, depends on their ability to:
COMMUNICATE WITH CONFIDENCE Even when they're not feeling it.
DEFEND THEIR IDEAS WITH CONVICTION Regardless of who pulls up a chair.
BUILD INFLUENCE Within their organisation and beyond, so they're no longer their industry's best-kept secret.
Meet your Instructor
Zac Guberek draws on 25+ years writing and directing TV commercials for some of Australia's best-loved brands.
AS A DIRECTOR...
Zac guided thousands of people, from seasoned performers to complete novices, to bring their A-game to the spotlight.
Drawing out confident, engaging and authentic performances under pressure, often with little time to spare.
AS A CORPORATE STORYTELLER...
Zac learned how to capture attention and influence notoriously cynical, skeptical and distracted TV audiences, helping generate tens of millions of dollars in sales for his clients.
TODAY...
He brings these two disciplines together at Calm & Ready, empowering talented professionals to communicate with confidence, embody their expertise and influence others under pressure.
Zac is trusted by industry leaders:
Zac’s work has been profiled by:
Case Study 1:
TEDx Sydney
Trauma-informed dentist Dr Sharonne Zaks thought she knew all about anxiety. That was until she accepted an invitation to speak in front of 5,000 people.
Challenge:
With just ten days to go, Sharonne's anxiety had reached fever pitch. Her greatest fear was forgetting her lines and having the embarrassment immortalised on YouTube.
Her talk was 12 minutes long, with no teleprompter or notes to fall back on.
Solution:
Zac helped Sharonne understand and manage the adrenaline she'd inevitably experience in the spotlight, and the impact it could have on her ability to recall her speech word-for-word as intended.
Together, they stress-tested her performance, preparing her for the emotional and physiological demands of the real event, rather than simply rehearsing under comfortable conditions.
Outcome:
A standing ovation. Although Sharonne wasn't there to see it. Having delivered every word as planned, she was so relieved that she leapt off the stage and into the shadows the moment she'd finished.
“It seemed impossible initially…”
"I was scared and extremely anxious for two months leading up to my TEDx talk. I regularly woke up in cold sweats and had vivid nightmares of being frozen on stage, in front of 5000 people.
With ten days to go, Zac was able to quickly provide me with a sense of my own potential and equip me with personalised, workable techniques, to get me where I wanted to go, even though it seemed impossible initially.
Working with Zac has been a real turning point in my life, changing me to the point that I couldn't actually go back to how I was before.
SInce TED, I've spoken at another eight big conferences and it's all gone extremely well. I'm now really loving connecting strongly with audiences from an empowered place. I've also carried Zac's approach into media interviews and in my daily work, to empower myself successfully too".
Dr Sharonne Zaks OAM
Speaker
TEDx Sydney
Case Study 2:
CGU’s $60 Million Pitch for a Government Contract
CGU Insurance faced an unusual challenge in pitching for a once-in-a-lifetime $60 million State Government contract.
Challenge:
The Government panel made it clear they didn't want to hear from salespeople. They wanted to hear directly from the people they'd be working with.
That meant putting six technical specialists, with little or no presentation experience, squarely in the spotlight. Each acutely aware of the stakes and the enormous responsibility they felt to deliver for the entire organisation.
Solution:
Zac coached each presenter 1:1, addressing the practical and emotional obstacles standing between them and the performance they each wanted to deliver.
He then brought the team together to stress-test their ability to handle challenging personalities, difficult questions and unexpected curveballs with confidence and composure, all while presenting as a high-performing team.
Outcome:
The team and management were delighted with the feedback they received.
Although the Government ultimately abandoned the tender process following a change in direction, members of the team went on to be invited to participate in several subsequent pitches.
“In our session leading up to the pitch, Zac taught me to understand my nerves and turn them into a positive response to a situation.
I have used the tips Zac gave me pretty much everyday since the session”.
Ann-Marie McQuire
Team Manager
CGU Insurance
Case Study 3:
Responding to Difficult Questions
- Seek Ltd
As the face of a $10+ billion listed company, operating and investing across 18 countries, SEEK's Investor Relations team needed more than deep expertise to field questions from institutional investors.
They needed to inspire confidence under scrutiny, no matter how challenging or unexpected the questions.
THE CHALLENGE
Questions could span virtually any aspect of the business, and simply saying "I don't know" or "I'll get back to you" wasn't always an option.
THE SOLUTION
Zac worked with the team to develop personalised strategies for responding to complex, challenging and unexpected questions with clarity, confidence and composure.
THE OUTCOME
The team entered their meetings feeling ready for whatever came their way, equipped with practical techniques they could rely on even when the questions were not always possible to anticipate.
Our team has an incredibly deep understanding of our business. The challenge is communicating that expertise to investors who don't always have the full picture, particularly when they're asking difficult questions or challenging our decisions.
You need to be concise, but provide enough context to instil confidence. And you need to address concerns without becoming defensive or getting lost in the detail.
Zac helped us strike that balance. His approach sharpened our ability to communicate with the confidence, clarity and authority our expertise deserves.
Jeff Tang
Director - Investor Relations & Corporate Finance
Seek Ltd
Join our Community
By participating in our programs, you’ll join a growing, global community of highly successful, forward-thinking individuals and organisations, that have sought Zac’s advice on their messaging and delivery in the spotlight.
Including:
CEOs and senior leaders
Politicians and public figures
Olympians and elite athletes
Performers and entertainers
TEDx speakers
Zac directed former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in a National Advertising campaign for Heartkids - their most successful television campaign in history.
Zac directed Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, in catch.com.au’s first ever television brand campaign.
Testimonials:
"When my career began to take off, I needed to quickly build my confidence in presenting to both large and small groups, because that was what terrified me the most. Thanks Zac! For being the ultimate professional, encouraging me to explore new and effective strategies and being supportive from beginning to end".
David Paroissien
Manager
PwC
“Zac’s been our go-to person for our business leaders and managers nationally, when it comes to presenting ourselves more confidently in the spotlight, both internally and externally.
Whether it’s a multi-million dollar pitch, or a high stakes presentation, the goodies in Zac’s toolkit have helped us to speak far more calmly and confidently about what we do best, leading us to make more meaningful connections and more effortlessly win new business“.
Lauren Christiansen
GM - Partnerships & Distribution
Employers Mutual Limited
“Zac really stands out in the crowded world of professional development, because he’ll never flinch from challenging our fears, or points of resistance, yet he always has genuine compassion and good humour. I can’t recommend him highly enough".
Fiona Simon
CEO
Australian Hydrogen Council
“I’ve completed a number of programs focusing on presenting, public speaking and presence and I found my sessions with Zac both more enjoyable and far more valuable than anything else I’ve done to date. I particularly valued the simple but powerful techniques I took away, that had an immediate and lasting impact".
Grant Wright
Group Executive - AI
Seek Ltd
"Zac has that rare ability to be able to pinpoint those disempowering habits, that most people wonʼt detect, but that left unchecked, take the biggest toll on our ability to present ourselves and our ideas, with confidence and authority".
Sarah Cabret
Practice & Marketing Manager
MYOB
"Our experience with Zac as a consultant to our business has been absolutely superb. Zac was contracted to support members of our executive team enhance their executive presence and professional presentation skills. He took a considered and tailored approach to support our leaders in a way that was extremely insightful. Dealing with leaders at this level is no easy undertaking and Zac did it in a professional, humourous and intelligent manner.
Tali Shabat
HR Director - ANZ
Eaton
"Whether it's helping introverts to find their voice, or helping extroverts hone their message, Zac is able to help anyone to amplify their strengths, and in doing so, actually makes them better at whatever it is they do".
Regan Engelhardt
Director - HR - People and Performance
Nexvet Biopharma
Our team's talent and expertise now stand out when the media spotlight intensifies. SHV's recent media engagement successes across TV, radio and print, can be directly attributed to the invaluable guidance and training provided by Zac Guberek from Calm and Ready. Zac's mentorship has empowered us to navigate and excel in challenging moments, by refining our media strategy and presenting skills. Through his engaging and enlightening approach, Zac has instilled a newfound confidence within our team, ensuring we radiate assurance and competence whenever we enter the spotlight.
Caroline Mulcahy
CEO
Sexual Health Victoria
“Working with Zac has been a game changer. My communicating changed and as a result, my life changed. Working with Zac flicked a switch, where I accepted that my story and expertise are deeply valued, turning off any second guessing.
Zac’s like a friend you haven’t met yet and he was able to put me at ease immediately. He helped me to unlock an ability within myself, to communicate with authority and gravitas, in a way that felt authentic and comfortable, and I also came to more fully appreciate why that’s so important.
Before working with Zac I was tentative and restricted in sharing my life experiences. Now I’m assured, grounded and liberated to lead conversations with Australia’s most influential leaders, scholars and government policy makers, at the highest level”.
Bernadette Black AM
Founder & CEO - Brave Foundation
Australian of the Year 2019 (Tas.)
Our Foundational Programs:
Workshop & 1:1 formats available:
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We’re all world-class TED speakers... When there’s no-one else in the room.
But introduce an audience, add an adrenaline spike and some negative self-talk and we’re suddenly operating from whatever emotion decides to bubble up in that moment.
This program helps you overcome the your own unique, unconscious and disempowering habits that cost you the most, when the pressure’s on.
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Everyone seems to be drowning in a daily flood of information that rarely quenches their thirst for wisdom.
They show up distracted, restless and with somewhere else they'd rather be.
And unfortunately, that's precisely when we hit them with an information firehose.
This program helps you turn what you know into something others genuinely want to hear, understand and act on.
So you can:
Earn attention
Spark genuine engagement
Make your ideas simple and compelling
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As our expertise deepens, we're increasingly required to defend our points of view against those with only half the story, but twice the conviction.
This is often when we betray our own expertise. Our composure slips, we become defensive or start to waffle.
This program equips you to defend your thinking, disarm criticism and build support for your ideas, without losing your composure.
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For many, even the thought of public speaking is enough to trigger panic.
For others, fear isn't the issue. They simply sense something's not quite right, but can't put their finger on what it is.
This program helps you step into the spotlight, present with confidence and consistently walk away proud of how you performed.
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Talent and potential don't automatically translate into influence.
The good news is that influence comes from the quality of your thinking, not just the length of your résumé.
This program helps you uncover the unique perspective your role gives you, develop ideas worth sharing and build the confidence to express them publicly.
So you can:
become known for the quality of your thinking
earn trust sooner
contribute greater value
build your reputation
create opportunities earlier in your career
Learn how Calm & Ready achieves results that are:
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Small shifts make a BIG difference.
Some argue that people can’t change.
But transformation isn’t about going from 0 to 100.
The right, small shifts, executed well, will dramatically improve outcomes.
Whether it’s bringing your A-game to a high stakes pitch, or saving you time as you more effortlessly lead pivotal conversations.
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Change is immediate
25 years, guiding 1000s of people under pressure, reveals a clear pattern of what gets in our way.
These often subtle but detrimental habits are identified quickly in our sessions.
Once revealed, they can’t be unseen.
So change occurs immediately, not weeks later.
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Progress is clear and trackable
You won’t be left guessing if this program worked.
Participants are surveyed before and after each workshop.
They arrive recognising a significant gap in their preparedness. They leave overwhelmingly positive about the value of our training in addressing it.
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Creating a new baseline
When our hidden habits become visible, we gain the power to change them.
Instead of reacting automatically, we can make conscious choices that reflect our capabilities, rather than our fears.
The result is change that sticks.
With lasting benefits for how we communicate, carry ourselves and respond under pressure, long after the training ends.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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Regardless or your Leadership level or starting point, Calm & Ready workshops closely follow a tried and tested curriculum that is tailored to the unique requirements of participants in the room. Whether that be one or many.
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Workshops programs run for 6-8 participants.
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It’s common for 1:1 clients and workshop participants to have varied levels of confidence, communication skills and industry experience.
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Calm & Ready runs workshops Australia-wide.
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Calm & Ready founder Zac Guberek facilitates all programs.
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Post-workshop, Calm & Ready offers a 6-Month check-in with a nominated team leader, or leadership team, to support continuous improvement.
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Absolutely. You can contact us directly to discuss your requirements below.
OCT-DEC 2026 INTAKE NOW FILLING
Let’s explore what this could look like for your people, challenges and goals for the end of 2026 and beyond.
Zac Guberek Calm & Ready zac@calmandready.com
What our workshop participants are saying
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“It’s amazing how simple adjustments can boost confidence”.
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“Really valuable with some fun aside the learning”.
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“Worth it”.
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“Practical tips to communicate better and feel confident no matter what occurs”.
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“It’s all about feeling comfortable with feeling uncomfortable and knowing self-doubt is tameable”.
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“Definitely highly recommend this workshop to the whole company which I have already relayed to our General Manager of People & Culture”.
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“It was an amazing experience and you are an amazing communicator”.
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“This workshop was fantastic and provided invaluable tools to help us tackle nerves and anxiety when having to present in a public forum. It taught us how to be engaging and present as an expert”.
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“The training was engaging with a variety of different tools and strategies that can be used. We all felt safe to be vulnerable and have a go which proved beneficial to us all”.
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“It brought people out of their shell”.
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“This encouraged the team along, with their development of skills to read their audience and respond effectively.”
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“It helped me understand the little things that create a bigger, more confident picture”.
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“So much good content - loved every part of it, especially watching my colleagues step out of their comfort zones and have a go”.
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“Very valuable - modern approach”.
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“Valuable mindset training”.
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“Your presented depth of content, flow and culmination to bring everything together is great and appreciate that it was compacted into a single day”.
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“Really practical and easy to apply”.
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“Zac’s own embodiment of his taught skills spoke louder than words!”
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“Engaging and Interesting”.
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“A great time investment to improve presentation skills and confidence”.
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“I developed the ability to communicate with confidence in difficult situations through role-play exercises, which provided valuable insight into how to handle different scenarios effectively”.
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“Glad I attended your workshop. It’s become very useful whenever I have to talk to clients regarding issues and work out a solution for them. I still get nervous but it helps if I position myself in a comfortable manner, regardless of whether I’m standing up or sitting down. It helps calm my nerves. If I find myself in a heated situation, I just try to breathe. It’s really good! I recommended my other colleagues to attend your workshop if given the opportunity ”.
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“I have a greater understanding of how I/we can now enable and be equipped to be authentic, authoritative, trusted and leading (& calm) in managing difficult conversations, across varying personalities, temperaments and expectations.”
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“The most useful thing I took away was learning how to stay calm and assertive during difficult conversations. Through practical role-plays and feedback, I realised the importance of active listening, body language, and tone of voice, in building trust and conveying confidence. It gave me tools I can now apply in both personal and professional situations, especially when facing conflict, or high-pressure discussions”.
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“I now have a good understanding of my own idiosyncratic reactions and default communication style from years of past interactions and know how to now employ better techniques in both convivial and difficult conversations”.
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This was a fresh and new approach to understand and align our individual, deep, embedded psychological and physiological traits, along with our perception of our own strengths and weaknesses, in managing challenging conversations, to bring better communicated outcomes for both our team and our customers”.
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“The most valuable aspect was gaining new perspectives to complement my existing toolkit, particularly in understanding and identifying the needs of the other party. I believe for our Group, it also offered claim managers the opportunity to become more self-aware, helping them recognise their existing strengths and how to apply those effectively in real-world situations”.
© Calm & Ready 2015