Shine a light on the voice and you discover
what has been blocked and oppressed.
Unlock your voice and you unlock your full potential to achieve your highest goals. Voice is not only physical, voice is agency, integrity, confidence and empowerment.
Hi, I’m SJ
I’m an investigator and lifelong learner, and a voice coach for public speaking! I’m extremely curious about the impact of people’s cultural/organizational context on their ability not only to perform well, but to experience the joy of performance. Each client has common and unique challenges. I’ve discovered that the most direct way for me to help professionals excel in presenting, performing and sharing their message is to start with the voice itself.
I know this journey because it’s my own…
I was in an oppressive situation for many years, both professionally and personally. I became a successful business owner in an industry that I initially knew nothing about in order to support my family. My artistic work was pushed to the side. Every day was a challenge to be heard, and every day brought compromises that didn’t sit well with me. My throat closed up and it required a lot of courage to bring forth my truest voice. Many, if not most people in this world struggle with fear and lack of confidence in at least one area of their lives. Doing this work represents complete alignment of self and voice for me. I am passionate in supporting and enabling people to unlock their true voice, for themselves and for the world.
Experience:
20+ years International Experience
- Actor & Producer
- Voiceover & Theatre Teacher
- Playwright
- 12+ Years Successful Business CEO
- Creator of the “Inhabiting” Technique for Actors
- Published Academic Writer
- Mother of a Multilingual & Multi-Ethnic family
- District Leader, Buddhist Practice (SGI-USA)
Credentials & Awards:
- Graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London UK
- MFA in Dramatic Art from University of California, Davis
- Awarded Theatre Artist in 3 Disciplines
- Recipient of the Margrit Mondavi Fellowship
- Research Funded by UC Grants
BIOGRAPHY
Susan-Jane Harrison is a British-American Voice & Performance Coach, Playwright and Performer. Unusual collaborations in Harrison’s artistic work have allowed her to develop across disciplines. Her development of the Inhabiting Technique, a complete physical, intellectual and emotional system for actors resulted in academic publication of her performance research.
Her father, Dr Roger Harrison, was a pioneer in the field of Organizational Culture & Development and her mother, Diana Harrison, a highly sought after Executive Coach. Their mentorship instilled in SJ a sense of respect for ethics, and a sensitivity to the empowerment of the individual within each client’s wider context.
SJ learned Spanish as an adult and is intrigued by linguistics; her love of language originally sparked by performing and teaching Shakespeare throughout her career. Her multi-national experience – she has lived in 3 different countries – as well as training in accents at RADA has made her a sought after accent coach in the U.S.
SJ has an extremely varied work life as a successful entrepreneur and artist. Mother of two and head of a multi-cultural, bilingual household, SJ is highly attuned to matters of identity: the desire of clients to stay true to their own cultural context and be clearly understood in the global environment. Working with ESL speakers is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. SJ is accustomed to having dialogue on matters of race and ethnicity, and is an attentive listener when it comes to each client’s lived experience.
Being a mother is one of the greatest joys in her life, and the learning she has received from this role has been immeasurable. She is profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to continue to learn from, as well as to empower her children.
Courtesy of The Pop Up Globe, NZ 2019; Queen Gertrude in “Hamlet”
With actor Nican Robinson; Love in “Hunting Love”, San Francisco
Modeling New Product; for Mandy B Tees, NZ 2019
photo by Bryon Malik 2020