About Mary
A Voice Coach Who Gets You — and Helps the World Hear You, Too
I’m Mary Houle, Executive Speech Coach & Certified Narrative Coach for leaders who want to speak with confidence — not perform for approval.
Why I Do This Work
For nearly three decades, I’ve helped people use their voice — first as a speech-language pathologist, and now as a speech coach for women and underrepresented leaders navigating high-stakes spaces.
But here’s what I’ve learned over three decades:
Most people don’t need help speaking better.
They need support seeing themselves as someone worth listening to.
If that’s where you are — ambitious, intelligent, and maybe feeling a little unsure if your voice fits the room — I’m here for you.
You're not broken. You're just trying to lead in a system that wasn’t designed with your voice in mind.
Stuart Hickox, United Way
“I felt that you knew what I was really afraid of. And I felt less afraid of it.”
My Approach: The Science of Voice Meets the Art of Belonging
As a former speech pathologist, I bring 28 years of clinical experience in how the voice truly works — breath control, tone, resonance, articulation. This is real voice coaching, rooted in science.
As a narrative coach, I help you uncover the stories you’ve been telling yourself:
“I sound too young.”
“My accent holds me back.”
“I’m going to mess this up.”
“Who do I think I am to be in this room?”
Together, we rewrite those stories so you can speak from calm clarity — not fear or performance. That’s what makes this executive speech coaching different. It’s not just about how you sound. It’s about how you feel when you speak.
Who I Work With
I coach impact-driven leaders — especially women, newcomers to Canada, Queer professionals, and neurodivergent folks — who are stepping into leadership or visibility, and want to feel confident doing it.
Whether you're preparing for a keynote, leading tough meetings, or trying to stop dreading public speaking altogether, I’ll help you:
Speak with confidence at work
Build executive presence without becoming someone you’re not
Lead with your actual voice — not a version that’s been edited to fit in
It’s not about changing who you are. It’s about uncovering the full power of who you already are.
A Little Personal (Since This Is the About Page)
I’m the youngest of 8 kids (translation: I learned early how to find my voice).
I grew up in British Columbia and now live in Ottawa, where I run Pronounced, my coaching practice, from my delightfully quirky home.
If I’m not coaching, I’m probably playing music with friends, watching Canadian politics and Wimbledon, or putting my Speech Coach powers to use helping my kids prep for presentations they didn’t want my help with in the first place.
Fun fact? I used to specialize in “accent reduction” — until I realized the work wasn’t about removing something, but about reclaiming identity. That’s when I shifted into what I now call Accent Confidence — and ultimately, voice liberation coaching.
Credentials & Experience
28 years in clinical speech-language pathology
Certified Narrative Coach
Founder of Pronounced Communications (est. 2010)
1:1 coaching, team workshops, keynotes, and custom communication programs
Clients across Canada, the U.S., and abroad
Specialized in supporting diverse leadership voices: newcomers, Queer and neurodivergent professionals, women in government, public service, and corporate leadership
Dr. Jennifer Fraser, Committee Witness
“I could even hear your voice in my head on how to hold my body, how to manage my breath, and how to get myself to the perfect, centred space where I was able to deliver the message.”