An Introvert at VOA
So here’s the thing…
I really thought I had it figured out. After attending MAVO in the fall of 2023—my very first voiceover conference—I felt like I had cracked the code on how to show up as an introvert in this industry. MAVO is intentionally intimate, with under 200 attendees, and lucky for me, it was hosted right in my backyard in Herndon, VA. I had a buddy there, familiar territory, and a conference vibe that felt manageable. I met people (even when it made me sweat), actively participated in a few breakout sessions, and stretched myself to connect. I was proud of how I showed up. I felt like I belonged.
Fast forward to spring 2024: VO Atlanta. Over 1,000 attendees, a labyrinth of hotel salons and breakout rooms, and a jam-packed schedule that left my head spinning. There were so many panels, talks, and workshops to choose from—and while most of them were recorded, the pressure to maximize every moment was intense. The energy was high, and the pace was non-stop.
I found myself doing wide laps around the conference floor, not quite landing anywhere. I'd walk past clusters of people deep in conversation, wondering how they knew each other, and where I might possibly fit in. Lunch was especially hard—choosing a table felt like emotional roulette. And while there were so many genuinely kind people around me, I couldn’t get past the internal spiral: “Why is this so hard for me? Why can’t I just walk up and say hi?”
At one point, I retreated to my hotel room and just sobbed. I felt like a failure. Like I was squandering an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow simply because I couldn’t get past the pit in my stomach.
But here’s what I want to say to anyone else who has ever felt this way: you’re not alone. And you’re not broken for needing more space, more quiet, or more time to warm up to connection. Being introverted—or socially anxious—doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of being in the room.
VOA stretched me, in ways I didn’t expect. And even though it was hard, I’m still glad I went. Because growth doesn’t always feel good in real time. Sometimes it looks like stepping back so you can step forward again later—with more clarity, more grace for yourself, and more understanding of what support you need in the future.
If you’re heading to a big industry event and feeling anxious—make a plan. Set boundaries. Build in breaks. Identify friendly faces ahead of time. And give yourself permission to feel everything without judgment. Because showing up is brave. Staying true to yourself while you do it? That’s powerful.