Women, Power, and Revolutionizing Speech
Eliza VanCort
Eliza has enjoyed a career of seemingly disparate interests and professions, yet all of her work has one common theme: a fascination with the power of communication. When studying Political Science at CU Boulder and later interning at DCCC, Eliza was intrigued by human behavior’s role in influencing opinions and shaping society. Later, as an actor in NYC, she studied The Meisner Technique, learning from Sanford Meisner’s protege, Phil Gushee. She watched in awe as classmates learned to identify, and adjusted to, micro-behaviors while influencing interpersonal outcomes. Later, Eliza fell in love with teaching Meisner in Boston, exhilarated by the impact teaching communication skills had onstage and in every aspect of students’ lives. Eliza eventually moved back to her hometown of Ithaca, NY and founded The Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca (AWI), now Central NY’s preeminent Meisner Technique studio. Eliza teaches at AWI part-time, helping her students become superior communicators.
Eliza now works primarily on her second entrepreneurial venture, VanCort Consulting (VCC). Her work at VCC achieves one goal: optimizing individual and organizational success by positively impacting professional communication skills. Eliza’s local, national, and international clients in business, academia, and politics become accomplished communicators who realize their professional goals and maximize their organization’s efficiency, cohesion, and productivity. With her work at VCC, Eliza has parlayed her communication expertise, academic and research interests, and love of people into a rewarding and thriving career. She never tires of going to work.