The Art of Discovery

My Toastmasters journey began in 2020, during my first year studying at the Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Joining the IEM Toastmasters Club marked my first step toward becoming a confident communicator and an effective leader. But while I anticipated growing my confidence and public speaking abilities, I never imagined this journey would also uncover a creative talent that had mostly been latent up to then.

It started with a simple request during one of our club’s virtual meetings. We needed a flier designed to promote an upcoming joint meeting between IEM and another club. Designing was completely outside of my comfort zone, so I hesitated to take the task on myself. However, I had seen people use the online design tool Canva to create fliers before, and the supportive Toastmasters environment convinced me to give it a shot. This decision would transform my life.

The first poster I designed was far from perfect, but with constructive feedback and guidance from the other club members, it improved significantly. They introduced me to the Toastmasters brand guidelines and helped me refine the design through several rounds of edits. These collaborative efforts turned the piece into a polished and professional-looking flier. In Toastmasters, feedback isn’t just about critiquing; it’s about empowering. My fellow members appreciated my efforts and provided suggestions that encouraged me to keep improving.

A year after creating that first flier, I became the Area Director for District 41 (North India and Nepal). I supported my Division by managing design and public relations efforts, including handling flier designs, social media, and newsletter content. I also led the PR for unique initiatives such as “U Turn: Reverse Meeting” and “The Camp of Captains,” a meeting hosting District leaders worldwide. I even hosted a podcast called Konnect.

With every new design—be it fliers, social media posts, or newsletters—I felt more confident and creative. As I became more comfortable with Canva, I decided to push myself further. I explored advanced tools like Photoshop, Adobe Spark, and After Effects, delving deeper into the art of visual storytelling.

I used these creative skills to craft compelling slides for my speeches. I also wrote blogs for various Pathways projects and ventured into video editing, creating the first video newsletter edition of District 41’s LiveWire. These experiences allowed me to seamlessly integrate creativity into my presentations and communications to make them more engaging.

Today, I work at a Fortune 500 company as an IT analyst and am a certified Salesforce developer—thanks to the confidence and communication skills I sharpened in Toastmasters. I also freelance and volunteer to help others with their designs and PR requirements. Whether it’s crafting visually engaging presentations or brainstorming marketing materials, the creative abilities I honed at Toastmasters have become an integral part of my skills toolkit.

My journey is a testament to the fact that Toastmasters is much more than just a platform for public speaking and leadership. It’s a space where members discover unexpected talents. For me, designing has become more than a skill—it’s a passion.

What began as a club responsibility has turned into a source of personal and professional fulfillment. Toastmasters didn’t just help me find my voice—it helped me find my canvas. It taught me that growth often comes from unexpected challenges and that every opportunity is a chance to learn. 

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