What I love even more than writing stories or building decks is what happens after.
It’s the moment someone steps into it.
You see the person behind all the thinking, all the shaping, all the careful preparation, come forward. The nerves are there, but they soften. Something steadier takes over. And suddenly, they’re not just delivering what they practiced… they’re in it. They lift it. They make it theirs.
The best presentations I have ever seen have almost nothing to do with perfect slides. They’re the ones where someone lets you see them. A real story. A real reason. Context into what shaped their perspective and why it matters to them.
It becomes about the human behind it.
This “letting someone really know you” lesson is relatable and effective in lots of different communications, including:
A pitch where you’re trying to earn trust
A message to your team that needs to land with clarity and conviction
A welcome conversation where someone is deciding how safe it feels to show up
A leadership address where people are reading more into how you say something than what you say
An interview where you’re not just evaluating someone’s experience, but getting a real sense of who they are
In all of these moments, people aren’t just listening for information, they’re looking for connection.
When I’m building a presentation—whether it’s for a client or myself—I’m not just thinking about structure or messaging. Of course that matters, but I also think about something deeper: Who is the person telling this story—and what do they want people to feel?
Stories landing in real life
I was working with a healthcare marketing client recently on a presentation that, on paper, was strong. The structure was there and the thinking was strategic.
But if I’m honest? It was boring. I couldn’t feel her in it. So, I asked her to go beyond the content and talk about why this mattered to her. That’s when she shared her experience navigating IVF. It wasn’t in the original deck. It wasn’t something we had planned as a “key message.” But, it shifted the whole tone and way she was able to personally connect with the audience. It was her reason for getting into the industry and her experience navigating the process that made her want to change it for other people.
Afterward, no one talked about her marketing pieces, they talked about her story. Her honesty. The way she made them feel something real.
Especially when so much content sounds the same (“AI slop-of-sameness” as I call it), a memorable presentation has you in it.
In a recent LinkedIn Post, I empowered people to start sharing their stories. It’s been one of my top performing posts ever with over 13k impressions, 20 new followers,187+ engagements.
If you want to elevate how and what you present, here is what I focus on:
Start with your “why,” not your slides
Before you open a deck, ask yourself: Why do I care about this? What experience shaped my perspective?
Anchor your message in a personal story
It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be real. That’s what gives your content weight and credibility.
Use slides as support, not a script
Your slides should highlight ideas, not carry them. The context—the meaning—comes from you. Do not get caught reading the copy verbatim, in fact let your voice be a complement to it all.
Bring in lived examples
Whether it’s a client moment, a team dynamic, or something from your life outside of work, those examples make abstract ideas tangible. For me, I often (and proudly) pull in from my life as a mom and my two boys shaping my perspective.
Leave space for the breath
The best presentations aren’t performances—they’re conversations. Let people react, question, and connect in real time. At a recent ADWEEK Social Media conference, the best sessions were those where speakers engaged the audience, had us take quizzes/challenges, and where we could co-create and go on the journey with them to get to the solution.
If you know me, you know I love to craft and build a great deck—the storylines, the flow, the clarity. But, what I love even more is watching someone step into it and make it their own. My most proud moments for clients is when they are willing to show up fully and share a piece of themselves… and it really, really works.
