Company Warms to Fireside Chats

In its company values, Genworth Financial, a financial and senior services company, states: “We learn from the world and each other.”

Genworth backs that value with action, dedicating company time and resources to sponsor two Toastmasters clubs: the Expressions club, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Generally Speaking Toastmasters at the company’s home office in Richmond, Virginia.

In 2025, Genworth received the Toastmasters Corporate Recognition Award. Every year, the Toastmasters Board of Directors and District leadership recognizes companies that integrate Toastmasters principles into their business operations and training. Genworth and its clubs have a unique approach to this: fireside chats.

The chats’ informal setting (held via Teams) allows leaders to share how communication skills have impacted their careers. The idea began with Deannea Dameron, former President of the Expressions club.

Dameron and her fellow club members believed authentic talks would benefit everyone, regardless of position or title.

“People were hooked from the beginning. Since then, we’ve had a broad range of speakers, from senior managers to our president and CEO,” says Dameron.

The quarterly event regularly attracts 100 attendees. There’s a waiting list for corporate leaders who want to speak.

Jenilee Taylor, DTM, Region 6 International Director, who was present when the Corporate Recognition Award was presented, is an ardent chat supporter.

“The fireside chats create space for mentorship, storytelling, and connection,” she says. “The leaders aren’t formal Toastmaster members, but they serve as internal influencers, helping visibility and credibility for the clubs.”

Dameron moderates the chats, asking each guest about their personal experiences and life lessons. Time is set aside for audience questions and comments.

“We’ve had stories ranging from terrified public speakers early in their careers to those who can and do speak regularly yet don’t particularly enjoy it,” Venus Wilmer, DTM, the Expressions Club Treasurer, says. “They encourage everyone to learn and do it anyway.”

Karen Huffman, the Expressions club’s Vice President Membership, says it’s been eye-opening to hear leaders share personal speaking challenges.

“One thing that keeps coming up is that even guest speakers get nervous,” Huffman says. “But they always share the value of practice and preparation, just as Toastmasters does. I’ve picked up tips from each guest and use them daily.”

The clubs actively promote the chats through Genworth’s internal communications channels. The company’s publication regularly runs a chat-related article, and a recording of each event is posted to the company website.

Both Dameron and Wilmer emphasize the chats are not Toastmasters recruitment events.

“This isn’t a pitch meeting,” says Wilmer. “The focus is hearing personal stories from leadership. However, we usually end chat sessions with why the speaker would recommend Toastmasters training.”

The club does make a courtesy appeal through email after the event. Chat attendees are added to a prospect list and receive an invitation to visit either of the Genworth clubs. The invitations do draw visitors; several usually join each quarter, Wilmer says.

The chats offer a “steady stream of interest, engagement, and new members. [They] demonstrate what’s possible when the company sees Toastmasters not just as a speaking club but as a leadership pipeline,” Taylor explains.

Dameron encourages other Toastmasters clubs to try an employee-leadership chat as a one-time or an ongoing event.

“You miss the opportunities you don’t take!” she notes. “So ask leaders to come speak and you’ll be amazed at how responsive and honored they are to be a part of fireside chats.”

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