Mike Acker is a professional speaker, communication coach, and founder of Uplevel Communication. With bestselling books like Speak With No Fear and Speak With Confidence, Mike has guided thousands of people worldwide to overcome fear, build executive presence, and share their voice with impact. His journey from side coaching to full-time entrepreneurship, and now leading a growing team, is an inspiring example of courage, persistence, and belief in transformation. Humans of Fuzia is honored to feature him to inspire our 5 million+ community members—showing that with confidence and clarity, every woman and man can step into leadership. At Fuzia, we believe in He for She and She for She, and Mike’s story reflects the power of both.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey as an entrepreneur?
I started out coaching people on communication as a side hobby. It grew to a point where I needed to officially form a company. Around the same time, I wrote my first book, Speak With No Fear, which became the top-rated book on overcoming the fear of public speaking. Over the years, I wrote more books, left my corporate job in 2020, and went full-time as a solopreneur. In July 2025, I decided to go beyond working alone and launched Uplevel Communication to build a team, expand our impact, and create resources to help even more people.
Q: Who do you primarily work with?
Most of my clients are in the United States, but I also work with people around the world. I have two main groups: professionals who want to advance their careers through better communication, and thought leaders—like authors or entrepreneurs—who want to become paid public speakers. I help them build confidence, refine their executive presence, and communicate their message effectively.
Q: What’s one message you’d like to share with our community members?
A huge truth I’ve learned is: where you are is not where you need to stay. If you feel insecure about your communication, you can gain confidence. If you feel invisible, you can become known. Growth is possible for everyone—your current state does not define your future.
Q: What short-term goals are you working toward with Uplevel Communication?
We’re planning to open a downtown hub where people can meet with us in person, while also continuing to expand virtually. We just launched, and I’m excited about building a team and creating programs that will help people communicate with influence and impact.
Q: What advice do you have for young professionals or entrepreneurs starting their journey?
There are two pillars to success: execution and presence. Execution is your ability to get things done—your expertise, leadership, and skills. Presence is how you communicate, how you show up, how others perceive you. If you execute well but no one sees it, you’ll be overlooked. If you present yourself well but can’t deliver, you’ll lose trust. To grow and lead, you need both.
“Where you are is not where you need to stay. Confidence, presence, and growth are possible for everyone—you just need to step forward.” – Mike Acker
Connect with Mike Acker:
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
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