Clarity Up Consulting Leads 2026 Cicero Speechwriting Awards With Five Honors Across Four Categories
Virginia Beach firm earns more recognition than any other speechwriter or organization in this year's competition
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — April 10, 2026 — Clarity Up Consulting has been awarded five honors at the 2026 Cicero Speechwriting Awards—more than any other speechwriter or firm in this year's competition. Founder Brian Miller and Lead Consultant Francisco Mahfuz earned three Category Awards and two Honorable Mentions for speeches spanning healthcare, social justice, leadership, and communication.
The five recognized speeches represent five entirely different industries, audiences, and speakers—with no overlap in topic, subject matter, or context. Yet they were built the same way, using Miller’s proprietary message design frameworks.
The Cicero Awards, presented by Vital Speeches of the Day, are widely regarded as the most prestigious honor in the speechwriting profession, judged by a panel of senior communication professionals including former White House speechwriters.
Award Recipients
Category Awards
Rhetoric and Communication
"The Magic of Message: How to Talk Less, Say More, and Magically Connect with Anyone" Written and delivered by Brian Miller
Healthcare
"The Simple Way AI Can Make You Healthier" (published by TEDx Talks as “How AI Could Be a Complementary Tool in Healthcare”) — Written by Francisco Mahfuz and Brian Miller, with and for Elena Ikonomovska, PhD
Social Justice
"How to Keep Our Kids Safe From Hidden Dangers" — Written by Francisco Mahfuz and Brian Miller, with and for Ashley Hill
Honorable Mentions
"How to Be Successful Without Being a Jerk" — Written by Francisco Mahfuz and Brian Miller, with and for Eric Fletcher
"How to Reduce Stress Without Sacrificing Success" — Written by Francisco Mahfuz and Brian Miller, with and for Erika Coleman
A Speechwriting Firm Wins in Rhetoric and Communication
Among this year's honors, Miller received a Category Award in Rhetoric and Communication for a speech he wrote and delivered himself—a talk about the very craft of clear, compelling communication. It is perhaps the most on-brand win in the firm's history.
Statement from Brian Miller, Founder, Clarity Up Consulting
"Five speeches across four categories, with nothing in common except the structure. That underscores our firm’s core thesis—a framework that works isn't built around a speaker's charisma or a topic's appeal. It works because the design works."
About Clarity Up Consulting
Clarity Up Consulting is a message design firm that helps experts, executives, and leaders turn complex ideas into clear, compelling communication. Founded by keynote speaker and messaging consultant Brian Miller—whose 2015 TEDx talk "How to Magically Connect with Anyone" has surpassed 3.7 million views—Clarity Up works with clients across more than 20 industries and five continents.
Through private consulting and fractional comms, the firm specializes in speechwriting, thought leadership development, high-stakes communication that audiences understand, trust, and act on. Miller is also the author of The One-Page Keynote, a practical guide to designing speeches that work—regardless of topic, audience, or charisma (forthcoming May 27, 2026, Rethink Press).
To learn more, request an interview, or inquire about working with the Clarity Up team, visit clarityupconsulting.com.
Media Contact:
Brian Miller, Founder Clarity Up Consulting
