Presentation and Public Speaking News

• Events

Metaphors do more than add style to your language; they make your communication stronger and more engaging. In a recent session with Todd Cherches, we explored how metaphors can help us share ideas, connect with others and simplify complex topics. Here’s what we learned. Attention, Comprehension, Retention Attention: Metaphors catch people’s interest by presenting ideas in surprising ways. Todd used the concept of a “leadership weather report” to explain how leaders can impact team morale. He asked his client to think about whether he was a “cloud of doom” spreading negativity or a “ray of sunshine” that lifted people’s spirits. This approach helped the client realise that, just like weather affects everyone’s mood, a leader’s attitude sets the tone for the whole team.

• Awards

In 2024, my book, Confident Presenter, was awarded Highly Commended in the Business Self-Development Book category at the Business Book Awards. And it all started with one quote: “The book that changes your life is not the one you read, it’s the one you write.” Daniel Priestley shared those words during a business accelerator I attended with Dent, his company. From that moment, the idea of writing a book began to take shape.

• Podcasts

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Dr. Vanessa Patrick.  Vanessa Patrick, PhD. is an award winning researcher and teacher at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. She is a regular speaker at both academic and practitioner conferences and her research investigates strategies to achieve personal mastery and inspire everyday excellence in oneself and others. Her new book is The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life.

• Podcasts

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with the legendary Guy Kawasaki. Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

• Podcasts

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with JD Schramm. A passionate coach and gifted communicator in his own right, JD Schramm treasures the opportunity to bring out the best in those he teaches, advises, or inspires through his speaking, coaching, and educating. Thousands of students at Stanford, Columbia, NYU, and USC have benefited from his hallmark style of teaching and rigorous feedback to help them speak with conviction and write for impact.

• Awards

I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve been named the Best Presentation Skills Training Specialist 2024 in the UK by Corporate Vision as part of their prestigious Education and Training Awards. A Humbling Recognition Receiving this award is a humbling recognition of our continuous effort to provide top-notch presentation skills training and coaching. Our mission has always been to empower business owners, leaders and their teams to become more confident presenters. This award highlights our commitment to excellence and the positive impact our training programmes have on our clients.

• Podcasts

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Jeremy Connell-Waite. Jeremy Connell-Waite is passionate about helping others to tell better stories, especially executives and future business leaders in the tech industry. He works as a Communications Designer at IBM where he builds narratives for clients around emerging technologies, write speeches for senior executives and lead a performance coaching program for consultants called Impact Storytelling.

• Events

In a recent web class we hosted, Mark Leruste, CEO of Storycast and a renowned storytelling expert, shared great insights on the power of personal storytelling. Here’s a summary of the key points from the session. The Importance of Personal Storytelling Mark emphasised the importance of personal storytelling in today’s world. With the constant noise and distractions in our digital age, stories have a unique ability to cut through the clutter and connect with people on a deep emotional level. Whether you’re a business leader, an entrepreneur or a professional in any field, your personal story can impact your career and drive change.