Making Technical Presentations More Relatable

You might as well be speaking “Klingon” Just dropped from a meeting where the IT Director provided his update to the leadership team. The c-level folks and non-technical leaders had no clue what he was talking about… From my experience this is the #1 mistake technical professionals make when meeting with business stakeholders I'll be blunt… business stakeholders don’t care about your technical architecture diagrams, your configuration details, or how cutting-edge your solution is. They care about outcomes. They care about results. They care about impact. BUT most technical professionals go into meetings armed with technical jargon & acronyms and leave the room wondering why no one bought in. If you’re presenting to business leaders, here’s the reality check… you are selling and you’re not selling technology - you’re selling business value. I don’t like to present a problem without a solution – so let’s try this… Step 1 Start every conversation by answering this “How does this solve a business problem?” If you have a technical solution that reduces costs, increases revenue, mitigates risk, or makes life easier for users, lead with that. Everything else is just details that nobody cares about. Step 2 Translate technical features into business benefits. Instead of saying, “We’re implementing zero trust,” say, “We’re reducing critical risks to our top revenue producing critical business functions.” Step 3 Stakeholders want to hear about how your solution will reduce downtime, increase productivity, save $$$, or improve client satisfaction. Make your impact measurable and relatable. Step 4 Can you reframe your message using an analogy or better yet a story. Numbers are great, but stories are sticky and resonate. Frame your solution in the context of a real-world scenario, like something stakeholders can visualize and connect with. Step 5 No one likes a squeaky wishy washy technical expert. Take a position, back it with evidence, and be clear about the path forward. Confidence inspires trust. Stop talking about the “how.” Start owning the “why.” And STOP speaking “Klingon” When you shift your focus to business value, you’ll see interest, buy-in, alignment, and support. #ciso #dpo #msp #leadership

I often say, “𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠, 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠.” Public speaking is not just about knowing your subject. After all, knowing the words to a song doesn’t mean you can sing it. To engage an audience, you need to deliver your content in a way that captures attention. After delivering my keynote at a construction industry conference, I led a breakout session and coached volunteers on their presentations. That’s when I made my statement. A gentleman in the third row raised his hand and said, “Ms. Fripp, my subject’s boring.” I was up for the challenge. “What’s your subject?” I asked. He replied, “I teach OSHA rules and regulations—for five hours.” I’ll admit, that’s not easy material. I invited him to the front and asked, “Tell me one rule.” He said, “You have to wear your safety goggles.” “Good,” I replied. “Now, tell me about a time someone didn’t wear their goggles. Let’s imagine the story from his wife’s point of view.” Here’s how I suggested he begin his presentation: “Imagine you’re a 22-year-old wife and mother of two. One morning, you kiss your 24-year-old husband goodbye as he heads to work. While drilling through concrete, a chunk flies out and hits him in the eye—because he wasn’t wearing his safety goggles. He ends up in the hospital. You nurse him back to health. Now, how do you feel when he returns to that same site, knowing he still won’t wear his goggles?” With that opening, he immediately had his audience’s attention. From there, he could transition naturally into the regulations: “Welcome. As you know, OSHA construction regulations consist of hundreds of specific standards and subsections under 29 CFR 1926. Each year, new updates and revisions are added. This morning, let us reinforce why it’s crucial to stay vigilant and ensure your crews follow these guidelines.” The audience gasped—and then went wild. That’s the power of story. Even the driest content can come alive when you frame it with people, emotion, and relevance. Whether you’re explaining safety regulations, software code, or financial reports, your audience deserves more than information. They deserve an experience. That’s what I help my audiences and clients create. #presentationskillsexpert #keynotespeaker #publicspeaking #frippvt

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁. There are FAR too many people who make things sound complicated just to look smart. “Multi-modal LLMs,” “vectorized embeddings,” “RAG pipelines,” “agentic workflows.” Big words. Vague diagrams. Endless jargon. Not to clarify, but to 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦. Not to teach, but to 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴. But here’s the truth: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘇𝘇𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀. I became a better engineer by teaching non-engineers. By breaking down complex ideas so anyone could understand them. That’s when I realized true intelligence isn’t about sounding smart. It’s about making others smarter. I started explaining data structures with Oreos, showing merge sort using Skittles, and visualizing tech roles with juice in a flask. And you know what? People 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘵. And I did too, on a much deeper level. If you can explain something to a 12-year-old, your PM, or even your mom... You don’t just know it. You’ve truly mastered it. Gordon Ramsay isn’t just a great chef; he’s a master because he teaches others to cook like him. For engineers, the secret is • Clear communication • Sharp analogies • Real empathy for your audience These skills don’t make you less technical. They make you unstoppable. Because real engineers don’t flex with fancy words. They teach with clarity and build with impact. ♻️ Repost to help teach, not flex.

You might be making a huge mistake in your presentations— And it has nothing to do with your slides or delivery. Sure, those things matter… …but there’s a crucial step most people miss: 🎯 Knowing your audience Think about it— If you were writing a letter to someone you love… …would you start with “To whom it may concern?” Of course not. You’d think about: → Who they are → What they care about → How you want to make them feel The same goes for presentations— If you don't consider your audience, you might as well be talking to an empty room. So, how do you tailor your message? ↴ 1️⃣ Know their pain points → What keeps your audience up at night? → What challenges are they facing? Address those concerns head-on and show how your ideas can help. 2️⃣ Speak their language Skip the jargon and use words that resonate. Presenting to executives? → Discuss bottom-line impact Marketers? → Talk about engagement and ROI Developers? → Get technical with specs and features The key here is to frame your message in terms that matter most to your audience— Show them you understand their world and priorities. 3️⃣ Tell a compelling story People remember stories, not statistics. Use anecdotes, examples, and analogies to make your points stick. Suppose you’re presenting to a group of execs about a new software solution. Instead of diving into technical details… → Share a story about how one of their competitors struggled with manual data entry errors that cost them a major client Then, show how your software could’ve prevented that from happening. When you make your *story* relevant and relatable… ↳ You grab their attention and make your *point* memorable So, next time you're getting ready to present, remember: A great presentation isn’t about you—it’s about your audience. Know them. Speak to them. …and watch your ideas take flight.

There’s a simple secret to making complex ideas instantly understandable. It’s not in the details, it’s in the metaphors They can make even the most complex ideas, like Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), way easier to understand and relate to. Here’s how you can break things down with powerful analogies: 1. Know who you’re talking to - For homeowners, focus on things that matter to them—like saving money on energy bills and becoming more energy-independent. - For energy pros, dive deeper into the tech, explaining how VPPs integrate things like solar panels and batteries to keep the grid stable. 2. Use analogies A great metaphor can simplify a tough concept without making it sound too basic. For example: "A VPP is like a conductor leading an orchestra. Each instrument (think solar panels, batteries, smart appliances) plays its part, and the conductor (that’s the VPP software) makes sure everything comes together to provide a steady, reliable energy supply." 3. Break it down step by step and make things easy to follow For example, here’s how a VPP works: - Aggregation: You connect individual resources like rooftop solar panels and home batteries to a central system. - Management: VPP software keeps an eye on everything in real time. - Dispatch: During peak demand, the VPP sends energy from storage to the grid to keep things running smoothly. - Compensation: Participants earn rewards, like lower energy costs or rebates, for contributing. 4. Simplify the language Avoid the jargon! Use everyday language so anyone can understand. For instance, instead of “demand response,” say "adjusting your energy use during peak times to help out the grid." 5. Use visuals Infographics or diagrams are your best friend. Example: Imagine a home with solar panels and a battery, all connected to a VPP system, which then interacts with the larger energy grid. 6. Tell a relatable story People love stories, and they can help illustrate how VPPs work in real life. For example: "In a neighborhood with solar panels and batteries, the VPP makes sure that during a heatwave, when everyone’s cranking up the AC, the homes stay powered without overloading the grid. Not only do residents save on their energy bills, but they also help make the energy system more reliable." 7. Highlight the benefits Make it clear why this matters. "By getting involved in a VPP, homeowners can lower their energy bills, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute to a cleaner, more reliable energy grid." 8. Be empathetic People worry about the details, so address those concerns upfront. "You might be thinking, 'This sounds complicated,' but don’t worry. Joining a VPP is pretty straightforward, and a lot of programs offer help along the way." Metaphors can truly transform how we communicate and make even complex topics feel a lot more accessible. So, the next time you need to explain something, give it a shot. What’s the best Climate metaphor you’ve heard of?

Do you think you sound smart when you talk? After almost 20 years in marketing, I've watched thousands of "smart" presentations fail. The ones packed with industry jargon? Ignored. The complex frameworks? Forgotten. The sophisticated analysis? Collecting dust. Want to know what actually works? The pitch your 5th grade nephew could understand. The strategy explained in simple, plain words. The presentation without one single buzzword or acronym. Turns out, sounding "smart" can actually make you look stupid. Here's the uncomfortable truth: If your audience needs to be as "educated" (whatever that even means) as you are to understand your point, you've already failed. Here are 6 ways to make your complex ideas stick with anyone, no matter how much exposure they've had to your work or your way of working: 1️⃣ Start with the "why" before the "what" Don't dive into the technical details first. Lead with the problem you're solving. Instead of: "We need to implement a multi-channel attribution model..." Try: "We're missing sales opportunities because we can't tell which marketing efforts are working. Here's how we fix that..." 2️⃣ Use analogies Complex concepts become simple when you connect them to familiar experiences. Explaining marketing automation? "It's like having a personal assistant who never sleeps, sending the right message to the right person at the right time." Brand positioning? "Think of it as your personality at a party -- it's how people remember you when you're not in the room." 3️⃣ Kill the jargon, keep the precision Every industry has its secret language. Your audience probably doesn't speak it. Replace "optimize our conversion funnel" with "help more website visitors become customers." Swap "synergistic collaboration" (🤢) for "working together better." 4️⃣ Break big concepts into bite-sized pieces Don't explain an entire marketing campaign in one breath. Start with the goal, then the target audience, then the execution plan. 5️⃣ Use visual aids that actually aid A good diagram beats a thousand words. A bad one creates a thousand questions. Flowcharts for processes. Simple graphs for data. Quick sketches for concepts. Even stick figures work if they make your point clearer. 6️⃣ Check understanding in real time Don't wait until the end to see if they're following along. "Does this make sense so far?" "What questions are popping up?" "How would you explain this back to me?" The goal isn't to sound smart. It's to be understood.

Technical skills get you considered. Stories get you hired. Earlier this year I interviewed two CTOs with identical technical backgrounds. Both had led cloud migrations. Both built high-performing teams. Both deployed enterprise AI solutions. One got a $75K higher offer. The difference wasn't technical skill. It was storytelling. First candidate: "Migrated 200 applications to cloud. Reduced costs by 32%." Second candidate: "When I joined, our legacy infrastructure was blocking innovation. I created a migration approach that preserved institutional knowledge while enabling new capabilities. Now product teams launch features 3x faster." Same accomplishment. Vastly different impact. Technical leaders often make this mistake: thinking their work speaks for itself. It doesn't. After advising technology executives on career advancement, I've identified three storytelling patterns that separate those who get noticed from those who get passed over: 1. Impact storytelling beats solution storytelling Average tech leaders talk about what they built. Exceptional tech leaders talk about what changed because of what they built. A healthcare CTO I coached kept highlighting his microservices expertise. We reframed his narrative: ❌ "Implemented microservices architecture with 24 services" ✅ "Transformed a monolith that required 6-week release cycles into a flexible architecture where teams ship independently, reducing time-to-market from months to days" The second version answers the question every executive committee cares about: "So what?" 2. Business storytelling beats technical storytelling Most tech leaders present technical narratives to business audiences. The rising stars translate technology into business value. A security director at a financial services company couldn't get budget approval for critical infrastructure. Her presentations were technically flawless but gained no traction. We shifted from technical risk language to business outcomes: "protecting our customer trust advantage." Budget approved within 30 days. 3. Challenge-Action-Result beats achievement listing The typical approach: Lists of technologies and achievements without context. The approach that creates opportunities: Structured narratives showing how you think. "We faced [specific challenge]. I approached it by [specific action]. This resulted in [measurable outcome]." This framework doesn't just communicate what you did. It demonstrates how you approach problems. Your technical skills might get you considered. Your story determines whether you advance. What's one career achievement you've undersold by focusing on the technical details instead of the business impact? If you're struggling to translate your technical expertise into leadership opportunities, let's talk. ♻️ Repost and comment if you found this valuable ➕ Follow me (Phillip R. Kennedy) for more like this.

After decades of working with leaders at companies like Apple, Salesforce, and Cisco, we've identified 4 storytelling techniques that consistently work to deliver important messages in high-stakes settings: 1. Start with the unexpected Don’t begin your presentation with context. Instead, begin with the moment that makes people think, “Wait…what?” Instead of something like: “Here’s an update on our September campaign…” Try starting with the most interesting detail: “I broke our biggest marketing rule last month, and it worked.” Lead with the surprise. You can add context later. 2. Let people feel the tension After the surprise, don’t rewind to the beginning. Take your audience to the moment where things weren’t working. Flat numbers. Missed goals. Stalled progress. Instead of: “The campaign was underperforming, and our team went back to the drawing board.” Try:  "We were two weeks out from the end of the quarter. The campaign wasn’t producing results, and the team was out of ideas. That’s when I decided to take a risk...” You don’t need to explain the problem. You need to make people feel it. 3. Use real dialogue When your audience hears what was actually said, they stop listening to you and start visualizing the moment. This helps them connect emotionally with what you’re saying. Instead of: “The campaign manager said team morale was low and they were struggling to find a solution.” Try: “My campaign manager pulled me aside in the hallway and said, ‘We’ve tried everything. The team has been working overtime, and we don’t know what else to do.’” Dialogue brings listeners into the moment with you. It makes the story real. 4. Share the lesson Never assume people will infer the meaning you intended. End your story by answering: - What does this mean? - How should someone act differently now? Example: “Breaking our biggest marketing rule helped us turn this campaign around and hit our numbers. I strongly suggest we revisit our marketing guidelines. We could be leaving a ton of revenue on the table.” Without the lesson being clear, even a good story feels unfinished. These are the same techniques we teach to our clients at Duarte. Try them out during your next presentation and watch how people lean forward and tune in to your message. #ExecutivePresence #BusinessStorytelling #PresentationSkills

Do you want to be the smartest person in the room or the most understood person in the room? Over lunch, while catching up with a client, I told her, “I loved watching you in action. You owned that panel. You built on everyone’s ideas, made your other panellists look good, and really engaged the audience. You simplified complex ideas. It was the perfect combination of wit, humour, and stories on stage. Here’s to you!” She glowed, “Thank you! I did, didn’t I? I know I’m not the smartest person in the room.” I replied, “The other panellists (especially the men) were very knowledgeable and made sure the audience knew it. They talked over them. In contrast, you talked to the audience. You met them where they were at, used stories and metaphors, making your answers relatable, which drew the audience in.” Her eyes lit up. “You know what? You’re not the first person to say that. I’ve been getting a lot of requests to speak, and they said my sessions get the most engagement from the audience.” I smiled, “Well, that’s because you connect with the audience through your stories.” When we speak, do we want to show off how smart we are, or do we want our audience to relate to us? Do we want to display our knowledge, or do we want to impart it to others? I’d rather be the latter. Here’s how you can find the balance between being smart and relatable: 1. Use Simple Language: Avoid jargon and complex terms. Speak in a way that everyone can understand. 2. Share Personal Stories: Connect your points to real-life experiences that your audience can relate to. 3. Engage Your Audience: Look at them when you speak. Ask questions and invite participation to make your audience feel involved. 4. Be Humble: Acknowledge what you don’t know. It makes you more relatable and trustworthy. 5. Focus on Value: Always aim to provide value to your audience rather than just showcasing your knowledge. P.S. How do you balance being knowledgeable and relatable in your speaking? #whatsyourstory #storytelling #publicspeaking

Everyone says "engage your audience" when you're speaking on stage. But nobody really tells you how to own that stage and make it yours. As someone who used to shake before every presentation, I've learned a few things the hard way. Things that turned that fear into something I could actually use. Here it is. Save this for your next presentation 👇🏻 1/ Ride on Shared Narratives → Find common ground fast. People don't connect with perfection. They connect with "me too" moments. 👉🏻 I like to open with a story about struggling with something my audience faces too. 👉🏻 Like feeling invisible in a crowded room or doubting whether anyone's listening. 2/ Keep the Energy Up → Your energy sets the room's energy. If you're flat, they're flat. If you're alive, they lean in. 👉🏻 I move around the stage, vary my tone, and throw in pauses. 👉🏻 It keeps people awake and engaged, even in long sessions. 3/ Speak with Them Before You Speak to Them → A little interaction beforehand goes a long way. I used to hide backstage. Now I walk the room early. 👉🏻 Before I present, I chat with a few people in the audience, ask about their day, their challenges. 👉🏻 So when I'm on stage, I'm speaking to familiar faces. 4/ Don't Skimp on Preparation → Being prepared is your best defense against nerves. I used to wing it. I paid for it every time. 👉🏻 I rehearse my opening and closing until I can say them in my sleep. 👉🏻 It gives me confidence even when my mind goes blank mid-speech. 5/ Learn Their World, Speak Their Language → Tailor your message to resonate. Generic talks don't land. Personalized ones do. 👉🏻 When I speak to financial advisors versus tech founders, I adjust my examples and references to match their daily reality. 👉🏻 Never use a one-size-fits-all script. 6/ Use Your Stories → Personal stories make your message unforgettable. Facts inform. Stories transform. 👉🏻 Instead of listing my credentials, I share how a kid who got bullied and avoided stages now trains leaders across Asia. 👉🏻 Story sticks more than any resume. 7/ Mirror What You Want to See → Project the confidence you want your audience to feel. If you're uncertain, they'll be uncertain. If you're grounded, they'll trust you. 👉🏻 If I want my audience to feel calm and confident, I start by being calm and confident myself 👉🏻 Even if I'm nervous inside. I'm not a natural speaker. I'm someone who learned through repetition, failure, and intention. If you apply even one of these, you'll already be ahead of most people on stage. You don't need perfect English. You don't need years of experience. You just need presence, preparation, and a message that matters. So. what strategy helps you most before speaking on stage? Let's learn from each other 💬 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #publicspeaking #professionalgrowth #coaching #careerdevelopment #financialadvisor