Throughout District 71, women continue to shape the future of Toastmasters through leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to personal growth. One such leader is Clésia Mendes, Area 48 Director.
Clésia currently supports more than 190 members across six clubs in the Manchester area and surrounding communities. In her role as Area Director, she works closely with club officers and members to strengthen engagement, encourage leadership development, and support clubs in achieving excellence.
What distinguishes Clésia’s leadership is her commitment to leading by example. While supporting a large and active area, she continues to prioritise her own development as a communicator. She remains an active member of her home club, consistently completing speeches, participating in Table Topics, and supporting fellow members in their growth.
Her dedication has been recognised through a Best Speaker Award at Toastmasters – PMI UK Changemakers for her speech “The Leader as a Coach,” as well as multiple Best Table Topics Awards in 2026. Her earlier speech, “The Power of Small Changes: Managing Transitions with Authentic Strength,” reflects a theme that runs through her leadership philosophy: meaningful growth often begins with small, intentional steps.
Clésia’s leadership approach reflects three guiding principles:
Stay true to your voice. Authentic leadership begins with clarity, integrity, and the courage to speak with purpose.
Commit to continuous improvement. Growth is built through small, consistent actions over time.
Create opportunities for others to grow. Leadership in Toastmasters is about lifting others as we develop ourselves.
Through her work across Area 48, Clésia continues to encourage members to step forward, develop their voice, and embrace leadership opportunities within Toastmasters.
Connect with Clésia Mendes on LinkedIn to follow her journey and join the conversation on authentic leadership and communication:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clesia-mendes/