Ever freeze mid-conversation?
…Let’s fix that!
Date: Monday, 19th January 2026
Time: 6:30 - 8:00pm
Location: Mums of the Hills Hub
6 Hayes Place,
Belgrave, VIC 3160
OVERVIEW
A confidence & connection workshop for women who want small talk to feel less “help I want to evaporate” and more “oh… that wasn’t so bad.”
If the idea of small talk makes you want to hide behind a pot plant, rehearse your name six times before saying it out loud, or overshare your entire life story in 30 seconds flat… please breathe. You’re in the right room.
Awkward to Awesome is a gently-guided, real-life workshop designed for women who’ve had a life shake-up - a move, a baby, a career pivot, a business launch, or a complete identity reboot - and now find themselves needing to build a social or professional circle… without the sweaty-palmed panic.
This isn’t “networking” in the corporate, terrifying, please-don’t-make-me-do-an-icebreaker sense.
It’s a nervous-system-friendly class where you’ll actually learn how to feel calm, grounded, and yourself while talking to new people.
OUR EVENTS LOOK LIKE:
WHAT WE’LL COVER(aka how small talk gets easier):
01. The Science Bit (but make it human)
We dive into what’s happening in your body when you freeze, ramble, or suddenly sound like a malfunctioning robot.
Parasympathetic vs sympathetic… and how each one shows up in conversation.
02. Mindfulness Techniques You Can Use in Real Time
Little things (you can literally do mid-chat) that help you come back to yourself so you can stop spiralling and start connecting.
03. Guided Practice (the fun, non-scary kind)
Because confidence comes from doing, not just knowing.
You’ll move through:
• Comfortable silence practices so pauses feel peaceful, not panic-worthy
• Rapid-fire small talk warm-ups where you’ll try mindfulness techniques in real conversations
04. Your Take-Home Toolkit
Simple conversation prep tips for your next Mugs ’n Hugs, social event, or networking moment:
• Your one-liner about what you do
• An “I’m working on…” sentence you can pull out anytime
• Your own grounding strategy for when nerves try to take over
You’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and way more capable of talking to new people without wanting to sink into the floor.
FACILITATOR BIO:
Hi, I’m Jessica; a socially-anxious, empathic ambivert with a world-class overthinking habit and absolutely zero poker face.
I’m also a women’s mindful connection coach who helps women feel more confident in small talk, self-promotion, and building a network that actually feels like them.
I’ve rebuilt my personal and professional circle multiple times: moving cities, changing industries, starting a family before my friends, and shifting from inner-city life to suburbia (where suddenly no one tells you where the good coffee is). Each time, I did connection the wrong way… until I learned how to do it the kind, human, nervous-system-friendly way.
Now I teach women how to connect without people-pleasing, shrinking, or pretending to be someone shinier. Just themselves — but steadier.
Tickets: $25