| Building Our New Corporate Toastmasters Club: A Journey Worth Taking Over the last 18 months, I’ve had the privilege of successfully chartering a brand new Toastmasters corporate club where I work. Toastmasters at the BBC’s first official meeting took place on 21 October 2025, but the road to that moment was anything but simple. It was a journey filled with excitement, setbacks, breakthroughs, and countless learning opportunities — all sparked by one simple question: Could I create a new club, and what would it take? It all began with a single conversation. I shared my story — how Toastmasters has transformed my life since I joined my first club in February 2023. Once I opened up about the impact it had on me, others became curious. That curiosity quickly grew into interest, and from there, the vision became clear: we needed a corporate club of our own. To make it happen, I built a small team of people who believed in the idea and were willing to help bring it to life. I reached out to the leadership team in District 91, where the club would be based, and I leaned on the support of friends and mentors from District 71 and the two Chelmsford clubs I’m part of. Their encouragement and guidance were invaluable. If you’re thinking about setting up a club yourself, here are a few things you’ll want to consider: Key Steps to Building a New Club • Create clear milestones with realistic dates to work toward. • Run a series of demo meetings to inspire potential members and test logistics like room setup, technology, and meeting flow. • Understand the financial model — how the club will be funded and how members will contribute. • Build a support network across districts, clubs, and colleagues. You’ll need it. Why It’s Worth Doing Starting a corporate Toastmasters club isn’t just about forming a group — it’s about creating opportunities. You’ll gain: • Strong leadership development • Improved communication skills • Better time management • Visibility and connection with senior leaders in your organisation Yes, there were challenges along the way — plenty of them. But working together across D71 and D91 proved something important: even with limited Toastmasters experience, you can achieve a great deal when you have a clear objective and a compelling story to tell. And that’s really what Toastmasters is all about: growth, courage, and the power of shared stories John Cameron-Mcintosh Chelmsford speakers club |
