Have you ever shared an idea at work, only to wonder if people were hearing your accent more than what you were actually saying?
Maybe you’ve been asked to repeat yourself. Or you’ve felt pressure to change the way you speak so you’ll sound like everyone else in the room.
Over time, that can shake your confidence and leave you feeling like an outsider.
But what if your accent isn’t something you need to erase?
What if it’s part of the perspective, experience, and identity that makes your voice valuable?
My special guest today is communication strategist Nammy Sirur, and she’s simplifying how to turn your accent into an asset.
We’ll talk about how accent bias shapes our ideas about credibility and belonging, and what it means to modulate your accent instead of changing it. Nammy will also share practical ways to adjust your pace, pronunciation, and emphasis while staying true to yourself.
Okay, it’s time to dive into today’s conversation with Nammy Sirur as she simplifies how to turn your accent into an asset.
We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including:
- How to rebuild your confidence when people seem to hear your accent before they hear your ideas
- What accent bias reveals about credibility and belonging in American workplaces
- Why some accents are viewed as prestigious while others are treated as barriers
- The difference between modulating your accent and trying to erase it
- How adjustments to pace, pronunciation, and emphasis can improve understanding
- How cultural upbringing can affect self-promotion and workplace communication
- How to navigate unfamiliar workplace expectations while staying true to yourself
- What leaders can do to help people listen beyond an accent and create greater belonging
What’s catching my eye this week:
- Accent Unmuted: Stories With a Global Voice - Nammy’s live storytelling platform creates space for immigrants to share meaningful stories in their own voices while helping audiences listen beyond an accent.
- The question behind today’s conversation: Are you fully listening to someone’s ideas, or getting distracted by how they sound?
My challenge for you this week:
Pay attention to how you respond when someone speaks with an accent that is unfamiliar to you.
Do you interrupt, finish their sentences, or focus more on how they’re speaking than what they’re saying?
This week, slow down and listen with greater intention. Give the person space to finish their thought, ask a thoughtful follow-up question, and make sure their idea is fully heard.
And if you’re the person who has felt pressure to hide or erase your accent, choose one small communication adjustment that helps you feel clearer without making yourself smaller.
Episode sponsored in part by Goodboy Agency, providing employer branding redesigns for busy HR Teams:
This episode is brought to you in part by Goodboy, helping HR teams compete for top talent. Goodboy helps midsize companies strengthen their employer brand, attract better candidates, and fill open roles faster. From redesigning your careers page to running targeted recruitment campaigns, they’ll help your company stand out in a crowded talent market. Visit www.goodboyagency.com/simplifiers to learn more.
Links, books and apps mentioned:
Resource: Learn more about Nammy Sirur and her communication training - Nammy Sirur
Resource: Learn more about Accent Unmuted - Accent Unmuted
Resource: Read about Accent Unmuted’s storytelling events at KUT - KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station
Resource: Connect with Nammy Sirur on LinkedIn
Podcast: How to build a strong culture as a people manager, featuring Andre Young - The Simplifiers Podcast
Podcast: How to squash the Sunday Scaries (guided visualization) - The Simplifiers Podcast
Mary’s new book is out NOW on Amazon!
My new book, Squash the Sunday Scaries: A Modern Playbook to Rebuild Trust, Transform Culture, and Reignite Your Workforce, is out now — and you can buy it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your favorite independent bookstore. It’s written for HR leaders, people managers, and anyone ready to make work better in a practical, human way. If you’ve been looking for simple tools to improve employee experience, rebuild trust, and create better results for your people and your business, this book is for you. Learn more, visit: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/book
About Nammy Sirur:
Nammy Sirur is a communications consultant, speaker, and personal branding expert who helps highly skilled immigrants and emerging leaders become more confident and influential communicators.
Nammy immigrated from Mumbai to the United States at age 12 and experienced years of culture shock and accent bias. Through study, practice, and trial and error, she developed communication strategies that helped her speak with confidence, command attention, and build authentic connections.
A former video marketing agency owner and consultant to C-suite executives, Nammy has helped leaders at global firms tell their stories. Her work focuses on executive presence, personal branding, cultural competency, accent training, public speaking, and communication strategy.
She is also the founder and executive director of Accent Unmuted, a nonprofit and live storytelling platform where immigrants share their stories in their own voices. Its events are produced in partnership with KUT Public Media in Austin, and selected stories are featured through KUT’s radio programming.
Where Nammy hangs out online:
Website: https://www.nammysirur.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namratasirur
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nammysirur
Accent Unmuted: View upcoming events and information
Nammy’s vote for the perfect guest on The Simplifiers Podcast:
Mariam Shahab is the founder of Chatterbox Consulting, an inclusive marketing and communications consultancy for changemaker brands. She has more than 15 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and advocacy organizations across a range of industries and issues. Her work helps brands create business impact, build communities, and drive engagement by authentically centering and serving underrepresented audiences.
