From having no public speaking experience to becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster and club president in just over six years, Alistair Driscoll’s journey is a powerful example of growth in action.
My Toastmasters journey began in October 2018 when I joined Voice of Wales in Usk as a brand-new member. I had no public speaking experience to speak of, but I knew that if I wanted to grow as a professional and as a leader, I needed to get comfortable being uncomfortable. What I did not expect was just how much Toastmasters would shape the direction of my life.
The Early Days at Voice of Wales
Voice of Wales gave me my foundation. I threw myself into every meeting role I could, learning the mechanics of structured speaking, impromptu Table Topics, and the art of giving and receiving evaluations. Within a year I had taken on the role of Vice President Education (July 2019 to June 2020), responsible for scheduling meetings and supporting fellow members through their Pathways projects. It was my first real taste of servant leadership, and I was hooked.
Stepping Up to Club President
In July 2020, I became President of Voice of Wales. This was right in the middle of the pandemic, so my entire presidential year was virtual. Rather than seeing that as a limitation, we embraced it. We focused on member engagement, educational quality, and building a supportive environment, even through a screen. By the end of the term, we had earned the President’s Distinguished Award, the highest club recognition Toastmasters International bestows. That achievement belongs to every member who showed up, contributed, and kept the club thriving during an incredibly challenging period.
Founding Toast Titans
The pandemic proved that online Toastmasters could work brilliantly. In 2024, I took that conviction a step further and co-founded Toast Titans, a corporate online Toastmasters club. I served as Corporate Club Sponsor from June to November 2024, handling the initial setup: recruiting our charter members, organising the first meetings, and guiding the club through the chartering process. From there, I moved into the role of Corporate Club Mentor (from January 2024), supporting club officers, maintaining meeting quality, and helping the club become self-sufficient. In July 2025, I became President of Toast Titans, a role I hold today. It has been enormously rewarding to build a club from scratch and watch members grow in confidence week after week.
Mentoring Beyond My Own Clubs
Alongside my work with Toast Titans, I have also served as Corporate Club Mentor for Tribal Masters Galway since January 2024. Mentoring another club in a different country has given me a broader perspective on what makes clubs succeed. The fundamentals are always the same: ongoing support, quality meetings, strong officer training, and a culture where people genuinely want to help each other improve.
Achieving the Distinguished Toastmaster Award
In December 2024, I was awarded the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation, the highest honour in Toastmasters International. Earning it requires completing advanced educational projects, serving in multiple leadership roles, and mentoring others. It took me just over six years from joining as a complete beginner, and it represents everything I value about this organisation: continuous learning, leadership through service, and the commitment to help others find their voice.
Three Things I Have Learned Along the Way
1. Start before you are ready. I joined Toastmasters with zero public speaking experience. Every role I took on felt like a stretch at the time. The growth happens in the stretch. If you are waiting until you feel ready, you will be waiting forever.
2. Leadership is service. The best club officers I have worked with are the ones who show up to make the meeting better for everyone else. Whether you are scheduling speakers, mentoring a new member, or simply giving a thoughtful evaluation, you are leading.
3. Build community deliberately. A club is only as strong as the connections between its members. Social moments, genuine encouragement, and celebrating each other’s progress are not extras. They are the foundation.
Looking Ahead
Toastmasters has given me skills I use every single day in my professional life as Global Sales Enablement Manager at HID Global, where I regularly present to stakeholders, coach sales teams, and design learning programmes. It has also given me friendships, a sense of purpose outside of work, and the confidence to put myself forward for things I once would have avoided.
If you are reading this and thinking about joining a club, getting more involved, or taking on a leadership role, my advice is simple: say yes now and figure out the rest as you go. That is exactly what I did in 2018, and it has been one of the best decisions of my life.
Alistair Driscoll, DTM
President, Toast Titans | Member, Voice of Wales
Last Updated on 20th March 2026 by Allen Paul