Logan Hall

Briefly describe your daily job duties.
As a consultant, I am constantly working with clients, whether it be communicating status of deliverables over video calls, coordinating with my team members, or celebrating milestones in person over drinks and food. Speaking verbally is a core part of the job. Initially, this was daunting. But instead, it forced me to practice techniques I learned in speech therapy, and put them to use.

As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job.
Giving presentations to either clients or internal teams can be challenging. It requires practice of speaking through the material, notating words or phrases that give me trouble, and applying techniques I’ve learned through speech therapy to overcome those hurdles.

What are your long-term career aspirations?
I plan to stay in consulting for the next 10-15 years. I may eventually want to work for a large auto manufacturer, like Porsche, Volkswagen Group, or BMW. I have a passion for cars and would like to bring the experience I’ve gained in consulting to auto manufacturing.

Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process?
I disclose that I have a speech difference in several situations, including when I interviewed for this job. Anytime I am speaking in front of a large audience, a new client, or a new team I have not previously worked with, I disclose by saying something along the lines of “Bear with me as I speak during the course of this call or meeting, as I have a speech difference. You may hear me have blocks or struggle getting words out, but it’s a totally normal part of who I am”.

What is your proudest moment at your current company?
I recently presented my stuttering journey to an internal diversity and inclusion (D&I) group that focuses on disabilities. I spoke about my struggles, what I did to overcome them, and guidance for others that are also going through the same thing. At first, it was daunting to speak in front of such a large audience (100+ people), but knowing that everyone on that call was caring and understanding made it not only bearable, but enjoyable.

Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work.
Being someone who stutters forces you to work harder. You are constantly thinking of how you will say things. That heightened thought process can carry over to normal day to day tasks, such as critical thinking, planning, meeting with clients, and general task execution.

What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success?
Don’t be afraid to fail. The fact that you made it past the hiring process and have been onboarded shows that the recruiters saw beyond your speech difference and know that you can be a valuable asset to your company. Performing day to day tasks that are “normal” to others, such as making phone calls, giving presentations, etc. may be challenging at first. But the more you are exposed to speaking situations, the more you can practice speech therapy techniques, and the more confident you will become overall.