About Us – Destination Speech Improvement

About the Program

DSI’s lesson plans are structured to bring out the best in EVERY participant in effective and small support group settings. Every participant gets personalized coaching and role-playing practice that brings on confidence, clear communication and excitement to lead.

A typical DSI YOUTH LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP runs for 12 weeks, with weekly meeting duration being 90 mins, and ends in a grand finale speech show, DSITALKS, which also doubles as a Contest! A panel of independent judges select the BEST SPEAKER OF THE DAY, and BEST IMPROMPTU OF THE DAY. Additional awards, such as CLASS SPIRIT OF SUCCESS, are handed out, in recognition of exceptional effort and participation during the workshop. program.

Youth Leadership Workshops of shorter duration, Summer Workshops and Travel Workshops are also offered.

ADULT LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS have a duration of 4 weeks, with weekly hour-long meetings.

Is DSI a leadership or
public speaking program?

It’s both! Leadership AND Public Speaking! Participants learn how to how to run corporate-styled meetings, how to evaluate performances, how to provide motivational feedback and more, in addition to public speaking.

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How is quality ensured
within the DSI program?

DSI focuses on wholesome communication and leadership skills development. DSI group sizes are kept small and coaching is personalized effectively. Testimonials are proof! Admission to the program needs a strong attendance commitment.

Meet President/ Founder/ Coach Priya!

Priya Sundararaman has been speaking to audiences since her own middle school years, starting her Communication and Leadership journey very early. Besides winning several Speech and Debate contests, she has served as a Youth Leader for as long as she can remember.

Her work experience is varied and diverse, covering a wide spectrum including the Private Sector, the Public Sector AND Corporate America. Her coaching style draws from all those professional experiences and more. She began coaching in 2009, when she was hired to coach teams of Call Center associates in Corporate America, on how to speak to clients and deliver exceptional client service. She then discovered Toastmasters on her work campus.

As an avid Toastmaster since 2011 and a Youth Leadership Mentor/Coach since 2012, she has observed over 1,000 speech presentations and evaluated over 500 speeches as of 2018 – this number continues to increase as she passionately continues her mentoring and coaching activities.

Priya won her way through a Toastmasters President’s Distinguished Legacy Club Contest to reach the Toastmasters Area F63 Evaluations Contest, winning it to become the Speech Evaluations – Toastmasters Area Winner in 2016. She then emerged at the next level as Speech Evaluations – Toastmasters Division Runner-up, just one short of the final District level.

As a strong Toastmasters Leader, Priya served on the Leadership Council of an accomplished Corporate Toastmasters Club from 2012 as VP of Education (twice), Treasurer and finally, President. The Club achieved the prestigious Toastmasters President’s Distinguished Club Status for all four years. Such consistent high performance enabled the Club to eventually earn a special award from the Toastmasters District Leadership – it was recognized with a Legacy Status in 2017.

During the term 2017-18, Priya was invited to serve as an Area Director for Toastmasters International, managing four Corporate Toastmasters Clubs and served on the Division Council. She led the Area to Distinguished status as well and was recognized by the District in 2019 as a Distinguished Area Director.

Priya has been pursuing her own development through the Toastmasters Education program and she is a certified Advanced Communicator Silver and an Advanced Leader Silver.

Given Priya’s passion, Destination Speech Improvement (DSI) was just the next natural thing to do. She established DSI to share knowledge and make a difference through Leadership Workshops for youth and adults.

Try DSI – see the DSI difference!