We’ve been told, time and time again, that simply putting in the work will lead us to success.
But, deep down, we both know that’s not enough.
To get ahead in your career, you need to communicate your worth.
Welcome to Word Cortex
Hey there, I’m Anita Ramanathan, an award-winning speaker, communication consultant, and former neuroscientist.
I help ambitious professionals (like you) get clear on their message and use storytelling principles to communicate effectively.
As a long-time public speaker and science writer, I know first-hand that communicating a message effectively requires a diverse set of skills and tons of practice.
I’ve probably made every embarrassing communication mistake you can think of:
- Going completely blank in the middle of a speech, check
- Sweaty palms and knees knocking before a big presentation, check
- Um, used filler words, like, every three seconds, you know? – check
- Spoke-so-fast-that-I-was-breathless, check
- Too scared to raise my hand at a meeting, check
But something changed in 2014 when I took a New Year’s resolution to actively improve my communication skills.
- Within a year, I started winning public speaking contests, quickly rising to higher levels year-after-year
- In 2 years, I switched careers from research to communication
- In 5 years, I started getting invited to conferences as a keynote speaker
While my public speaking journey has been nothing short of challenging, it has been, by far, the most fulfilling.
Now, I’m sharing all the strategies and insider secrets I’ve learned about effective communication with you.
But shouldn’t my work speak for itself?
“Just work hard and you’ll get rewarded.”
Is that something you’ve heard before?
I used to believe that too until I learned otherwise.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret I learned during my time as a science writer, walking around global conferences as part of the press pool and interviewing world-renowned leaders:
No matter how hard you work, no matter how many degrees you earn,
when the stakes are raised, what sets you apart from others is how well you communicate.
How Word Cortex can help
My goal here on Word Cortex is simple:
To offer no-fluff, easy-to-implement communication strategies to hardworking professionals who deserve to be seen, heard, and appreciated.
Across the blog posts here and the videos on the YouTube channel, you’ll find:
- Practical tips to know your audience before any presentation
- Storytelling techniques to captivate your audience
- Step-by-step guides to plan, prepare and deliver persuasive presentations
- Tips to anticipate audience questions and handle any unexpected curveballs with grace
…and so many more tactics to improve your public speaking and presentation skills.
Remember, the choice is yours
You can either quietly continue doing the work and hope that someone notices. 😰
Or.
You can hone your communication skills, so your work gets the recognition it needs, and you attract the opportunities you deserve. 💪🏼
Which path will you choose?
Free Worksheet
15 Question Prompts to Know Your Audience Before a Presentation
Step-by-step prompts to help you know your audience and tailor your message for your next presentation.
By the end, you’ll have the clarity to determine what to include (and exclude), and anticipate audience resistance in advance.
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Professional Bio
Anita Ramanathan is an award-winning speaker, communication consultant, and former neuroscientist. Through the Word Cortex website and YouTube channel, she shares practical tips on effective communication, persuasive presentations, and storytelling backed by real-world experience.
Being actively involved in science communication and public speaking for over a decade, she brings the best of both worlds: the ability to craft compelling narratives with plain, dry facts and the skills to communicate them to any audience.
Anita lives in Bristol, United Kingdom, with her husband and toddler. When not speaking or writing, Anita enjoys testing new recipes and binge-watching Netflix.
My ‘unusual resume’ story
From SCIENTIST TO SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Before becoming a science communicator, I was a neuroscience researcher at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, where I studied neurological diseases.
I explored the art of communicating science as a hobby.
While still working in a lab, I co-founded the award-winning, Forbes-featured science education website, Knowing Neurons, along with three other colleagues. For its contribution to science communication and outreach, our team received the Society for Neuroscience ‘Next Generation’ award in 2016.
I then went on to work alongside the editorial team at NIH Research Matters in Bethesda, Maryland, where I wrote and published articles to educate the public on relevant science topics.
FROM SCIENCE BLOGGER TO EDITOR
Upon moving to the UK, I began my role as a life sciences editor at the digital publishing company, SelectScience, where I produced and oversaw editorial campaigns for top life sciences companies and travelled to international conferences as part of the press pool.
In my capacity as a freelance science writer/editor, I continued to uncover and craft hundreds of stories buried under numbers, data, and dry facts.
This unique career journey has given me an excellent perspective on the real challenges that professionals face when communicating technical messages effectively—and with integrity.
From SCIENCE EDITOR TO WORD CORTEX FOUNDER
I finally followed my deeper calling and founded Word Cortex as a done-for-you communication service. I have since worked 1:1 with clients in biotech, pharma, academia, and marketing to develop communication strategies, produce content, and design high-stakes presentations.
A couple of years later, Word Cortex launched its training programs, as I began offering value-packed workshops to train professionals on tried-and-true communication skills.
You’ll often find me speaking at scientific and marketing conferences where I love to spill industry secrets on topics such as scientific storytelling and persuasive communication.
When I’m not speaking or writing, I’m probably testing a new recipe or busy doing serious research on storytelling… by binge-watching Netflix.
What’s your next move?
START STRONG
Audience Analysis Worksheet
This worksheet takes you through 15 questions to know your audience and tailor your next presentation.
IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS
Attend an upcoming workshop
Elevate your communication skills by attending one of my high-value, energetic and actionable workshops.
GET USEFUL TIPS
Watch informative videos on YouTube
Watch videos enjoyed by thousands of people, and learn useful communication tips and strategies.