Name the Stress

Fighting nerves makes them louder. Naming them helps: "This one matters to me, so bear with me." Then move on. A small relabel can also help: saying I'm excited instead of I'm nervous points the same body energy forward.

Nerves and excitement share the same engine: fast heart, quick breath, sharp focus. Your body has already created energy. Calling it excitement aims that energy at the conversation instead of away from it, so you ride the feeling rather than fight it.