Relying on 20 years of research, Cara has a deep understanding of how nonverbal communication shapes the perception of leadership presence. She literally wrote the book on projecting credibility and confidence: the critically acclaimed The Credibility Code. In workshops, she’s known for delivering precision feedback with warmth and humor. On stage, she’s an energetic and compelling presenter, having won numerous national awards for public speaking. With a BA in Speech Communication and an MFA in Theatre, Cara’s early career includes professional work as a voice-over artist and commercial actress.

As the founder of SpeechSkills, Cara has provided training to some of the world’s best-known companies, including Caterpillar, Google, Meta, PayPal, Pixar, Samsung, Schwab, and Uber. In addition, she’s lectured at Harvard, Stanford, UCLA and UC Berkeley, worked with numerous top 100 law firms, and appeared in countless media outlets including Forbes.com and USA Today. An international keynote speaker, Cara has had the pleasure of speaking at more than 500 conferences, in 20 different countries.

As an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Cara has served on the board of the National Association of Women Business Owners and is currently featured on the Lean In website with her video series Taming Adrenaline.

When she’s not working, Cara enjoys hiking, yoga, and playing board games with her husband and two grown children in their hometown of San Francisco. 

As the first trainer hired by SpeechSkills, Rebecca initially joined the team in 2002, delivering presentation skills workshops to clients such as Google, Facebook, and UC Berkeley Extension. She has since become our leading one-on-one executive coach, working with top-level executives in the fields of law, finance, technology, and design.

Rebecca is also one of the most sought-after improv teachers in the United States. In addition to working with numerous top universities and theater schools, her corporate clients include Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, and Telltale Games. As a leader in the innovative field of Applied Improv, Rebecca was named an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2005.

A founding member of BATS Improv, Rebecca was the first dean of the BATS School of Improv, celebrating over 30 years of improvisation leadership. With a BFA from the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program, she continues to be an active mainstage performer.

Megan Timpane brings over 10 years of HR and corporate training experience to SpeechSkills, having previously worked for prominent companies in the fashion industry, such as Michael Kors and Rent the Runway.

Originally from San Francisco, Megan began acting at a young age, studying at The New Conservatory Theater, American Conservatory Theatre, and The British Academy of Dramatic Arts At Oxford, before getting her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Performance at UCLA. While pursuing her acting career in TV and film in Los Angeles, Megan wrote and performed her own one-woman show Lymphomaniac - about her experience battling and surviving cancer - to rave reviews and sold out houses.

In her spare time, Megan takes classes in Stand Up and plays on three (yes, three!) basketball teams.