About Speech and Accent Academy

Our passion is to teach people precision, elegance and influence in their speaking and writing.

Several years ago, Lisa Jeffery was in your shoes. She had to give numerous speeches in a second language to audiences of 5,000 people for her Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship for her MBA at University of Monaco. She learned quickly that communicating in a second language requires a HUGE amount of confidence, but found it difficult to transfer her personality from English to French. In English, she was outspoken, audacious, funny, bubbly, energetic and fun. In French she was shy, quiet, and most of the time,  felt stupid, worrying about her horrible accent and limited vocabulary. So she hired a speech coach and her life changed.

You too can gain your confidence with help from Speech & Accent Academy!

Lisa Jeffery, MBA, MA

Executive Coach, Trainer & Speaker

Lisa Jeffery, MBA, MA is an executive coach, trainer and speaker to Fortune 500 companies in communication skills, accent reduction, public speaking & business writing.  With 28 years international experience in nine countries, she offers executive coaching, seminars, and lively keynote addresses in America and Europe. Lisa has presented speeches all over the word in English and French. 

Her clients include the NBC Today Show, Burger King, DHL, Merrill Lynch, Lloyds Bank, Citibank, Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, TV and sports celebrities.  Lisa coaches CEOs, top corporate executives, lawyers, financial advisers, actors, broadcasters, authors, television show hosts, race car drivers, and scientists. She tailors her coaching to the client and combines accent reduction with public speaking and business writing coaching.

Some of her most-loved programs include, Make Your Voice Match Your Image , The Art of Being Memorable, The Science of Persuasion & “They’re Not Like Us – Communicating Across Cultures.”
Lisa is a former Captain in the US Air Force.  As a young lieutenant in Media relations, Lisa coached Air Force generals how to respond to difficult media interviews. As a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar in the Principality of Monaco, Lisa presented speeches in French all over France and Monaco, as an Ambassador of  “International Education, Understanding and Goodwill”.

Lisa holds a Bachelors degree in Speech Communication and Journalism from Chaminade University of Honolulu, a Masters Degree in Communication from European University, and a MBA in International Marketing from the International University of Monaco. She teaches Advanced Business English at FIU International MBA and Master of International Business programs. At Barry University, she teaches Public Speaking, Voice & Articulation, Interpersonal Communication, Communication Theory and  Persuasion.  Lisa Jeffery is a certified Compton P-ESL (Pronunciation English as a Second Language) trainer in which she utilizes proven scientific assessments and methods to help adult clients change their regional and Foreign Accents.

Alicia D. Harris, M.S.CCC-SLP

Director, Caribbean Division

Alicia D. Harris is a bi-dialectal speech-language pathologist of Trinidadian and Jamaican background who has provided speech-language services in Miami Dade County Schools for the past 12 years. She has also provided home-health services and consulted with private practices in the area of Speech Pathology in Miami Florida.  Alicia D. Harris has worked with clients in accent reduction and various speech /language disorders.  Like Lisa, she is a certified Compton P-ESL (Pronunciation English as a Second Language) trainer to help adult clients improve their regional and Foreign Accents.

Since 2005 she has expanded her knowledge in the field of Accent Modification and Public Speaking Skills in which she worked with ESL clients to improve their communication skills. She has presented workshops at Health Fairs and for Miami Dade County.   Her presentations included Improve Your Public Speaking Skills and Cultural Concepts. She believes that in ever-growing multicultural society that awareness of communication and cultural Issues especially in the area of Accent Modification improves an individual’s quality of life and social interactions. In the Corporate world, it enables companies to increase their productivity and customer service satisfaction.  Alicia attained a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from the College of Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Speech/Language Pathology from the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. And holds  a Master’s of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She holds a Florida Licensed Speech Language Pathologist from the Department of Health and has been a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) since 2001. She is the author of “Acoustical Analysis of Trinidadian Vowels”. This research allowed her to possess an appreciation for the variations that can occur among varieties of English and has aided her private work with individuals of various Accents and Dialects.  Her lifelong dream has been to pursue the field of Accent Modification to facilitate the improvement of communication skills for adults to aid them to attain their highest achievements.

Though Alicia works with all accents and dialects, she specializes in helping Caribbean people modify their accent to standard International/American English and  helps actors obtain a Caribbean accent.

Recommended International Coaches

Christiane Pohl

Athens, Greece Coach, Therapist

Christiane Pohl trained as Coach, Time Therapist and Art of Living Teacher and provides individual coaching sessions and seminars for personal development and successful stress management. She has a diverse background with 20 years experience as a Manager in International Hotel Companies in Germany, Switzerland, England and Greece. Christiane has the gift of being able to help people gain more clarity and focus, identify what is most important to them and enable them to change and develop. She is considered to be resourceful, committed and practical with a healthy sense of humor. Christiane provides coaching, seminars and Silent Retreats for Executives and Managers in Greece. Christiane is a member of the Hellenic Coaching Association, Athens Wing (Women International Networking Group) and the HAU Athens Toastmasters. For more, see Christiane's website