Engaging Speakers For Panels

Sustainability Voices to Follow in 2025 🌍 Sharing is caring, and in the realm of sustainability, accessing the right voices can profoundly shape our understanding and actions. This list represents a curated selection of professionals whose work I consider exceptionally insightful and beneficial for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of sustainable practices in various sectors. David Carlin: Climate and Sustainability Leader, Advisor, and Expert; Founder, D.A. Carlin and Company Vojtech Vosecky: LinkedIn Top Green Voice | The Circular Economist | Helping you make less more! Harald Friedl: Circular economist | Keynote Speaker | Masterclass Coach Roberta Boscolo: Climate & Energy Leader at WMO | Climate Risks & Policy Expert | Advisory Board Member | TEDx Speaker | GTEX IMPACT Leader Elena Doms: CEO at #EARTH, nature tech for land regeneration | Keynote Speaker on Bold Ideas & Nature-Based Innovations Katharine Hayhoe: Climate Scientist | Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech | Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy | Author, SAVING US | LinkedIn Top Voice Alessandro Blasi: LinkedIn Top Voice | 115,000+ | Energy - Economy - Sustainability - Climate | Works at IEA, the global leading energy authority Kate Brandt: Google's Chief Sustainability Officer and leads sustainability across Google's operations, products, and supply chains worldwide Sophia Kianni: Founder of Phi | Founder of Climate Cardinals | Stanford | Forbes 30 under 30 | Youngest UN Advisor Adam Elman: Sustainability Director at Google | Previously leading sustainability at Amazon, M&S (Plan A), and Klockner Pentaplast Dan Sherrard-Smith: CEO | Dragons' Den best ever deal | Founder -> impact | Creates tools for how to leverage LinkedIn to grow quality leads, income & impact Oliver Bolton: CEO at Earthly | Optimistic Keynote Speaker | Host of Wilding Earth | On a mission to Restore >1% of the Planet by 2030 This list is built on the personal relevance of the content creation from these individuals; however, I recognize that many names are missing here, each equally deserving of mention for their contributions to sustainability. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #education

What makes a keynote truly resonate with an audience? I was recently helping a colleague prepare for his first keynote presentation. He knows that I spend a lot of time on keynote stages and that I enjoy coaching others who do as well. Stepping onto a keynote stage can feel daunting, but managing that adrenaline and delivering a compelling message comes down to preparation. When preparing a keynote, many people focus on gathering information. I encourage them to think instead about building a bridge of comprehension so the audience can clearly follow and connect with the message. One framework I often share is what I call the 5 P’s of keynote preparation. 1️⃣ Purpose. Define your goal. What exactly do you want your audience to Know, Feel, and Do? A clear purpose acts as a filter for what makes it into your keynote and ensures the content is relevant and meaningful. 2️⃣ Prime. Your keynote actually begins before you step on stage. Think carefully about your talk’s title and how it is announced. When you prime your audience well, they arrive ready and eager to hear your message. 3️⃣ Plan. Our brains crave structure. Instead of a wandering list of ideas, package your keynote logically. One framework I often use is “What? So What? Now What?” It keeps ideas concise, establishes relevance, and makes them easier to remember. 4️⃣ Premise. Avoid starting with “I’m glad to be here.” Capture attention immediately with a thoughtful question, a compelling story, or a surprising insight. Make it clear where you are taking the audience. 5️⃣ Presence. How you deliver matters just as much as what you say. Keep your posture strong and balanced, gesture with intention, use the space around you, and vary your vocal tone and pacing. These 5 P’s can help strengthen your keynote and improve any high-stakes communication. Always happy to help in crafting your keynote or delivering one to your firm. A quick glimpse at my keynote address at TiEcon last year, where I used the 5 P’s to prepare my own presentation. 👇

Confession: I'm a nervous public speaker… (yet I’ll make $1M+ from keynotes this year). Here are 9 strategies that turned my deepest fear into a powerful strength: PHASE 1: PREP WORK Strategy 1: Study the Best. We have the world's best speakers at our fingertips. Use them. Find 3-5 speakers you admire. Watch their talks on YouTube at 0.75x speed. Take notes on their structure and pacing, voice modulation, movement and gestures, audience engagement. Strategy 2: Create Clear Structure. Great speakers don't deliver speeches, they tell stories. Map your journey explicitly: opening hook, 3 key points, memorable close. Tell the audience where you're taking them. Strategy 3: Build Your "Lego Blocks." Don't memorize your entire speech. That's a trap. Instead, perfect these moments: your opening 30 seconds, key transitions, punchlines and closers. Practice in segments, not sequences. When things go sideways (they will), you'll adapt instead of freeze. Weird trick: Practice once while walking or jogging. It simulates the heart rate spike you'll feel on stage. PHASE 2: PRE-STAGE Strategy 4: Address the Spotlight. The Spotlight Effect: We think everyone's watching our every move. They're not. Use the "So What?" approach: Name your worst fear, ask "So what if it happens?", realize it's never that bad. You'll stumble? So what. Life goes on. Your family still loves you. Strategy 5: Get Into Character. Create your speaker persona. Ask yourself: What traits do they have? How do they move? What's their energy? Flip the switch. Become that character. It's not fake, it's your best self. Strategy 6: Eliminate Stress. The "Physiological Sigh" kills anxiety fast: Double-inhale through your nose, long exhale through your mouth, repeat 2-3 times. Science-backed. Immediate impact. PHASE 3: DELIVERY Strategy 7: Cut the Tension. Last week, they asked what song I wanted to enter to. I said "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys. They thought I was joking. I wasn't. "It's my 1-year-old's favorite song. Figured he'd be more excited to watch if Dad entered to his jam." Instant laughter. Tension gone. Audience on my side. Find your tension breaker. Use it early. Strategy 8: Play the Lava Game. Your pockets and torso are lava. Don't touch them. This forces you to gesture broadly, open your body, project confidence. Big gestures early build momentum. Strategy 9: Move Purposefully. Don't pace like you're nervous. Move like you own the room. Slow. Deliberate. Purposeful. Use movement to create dramatic pauses. Let your words land. Start with one speech, one strategy: Pick your next presentation—could be a team meeting, a toast, whatever. Choose ONE strategy from this list. Master it. Then add another. Public speaking is a muscle. These strategies are your workout plan. The more you practice, the stronger you get. Remember: Everyone gets nervous. The difference is having a system. Now you have one. Use it. Practice it. Watch yourself transform.

Diplomatic speeches 10 simple steps to inspire (now updated): In my recent LinkedIn poll, only 12% of you called “giving a high level speech” your most difficult diplomacy challenge. Yet there’s no shortage of dull speeches in diplomacy. I’ve sat through enough. My own first speech (in a library) was hesitant and boring. I was nervous and didn’t inspire anyone. Fast forward: I’ve given hundreds, from a gathering in a conference room to 60,000 in a stadium with 10 million watching on national TV. I came to love it. “Inspirational”, my audiences say. You too can inspire: 1️⃣ Clarify the scenario, context & objectives. Research your audience. Who they are, their background, culture, politics, society, language, identities, motivations, communicating styles. What do they want? How can you help them, give them value, knowledge, inspiration? 2️⃣ Pin down the ONE message you want your audience to take home, and remember a year later. Tailor your message to the audience. 3️⃣ Structure your speech. Use personal stories to support your main message. Maximum 2-3 supporting messages. “Signpost” the way. If in doubt: Short & Simple. 4️⃣ Practice content, voice & body language with a mentor, coach or friend. Use video and voice-notes. Take conscious steps to prepare to be calm & confident. More separately on this. 5️⃣ Get the set-up how you want it. Announcement, time, space, format, physical set. Facilities for special needs? Microphones? IT? Cameras? Phones? Lights? Water? Can someone video your presentation for you to use (with permissions) or review? 6️⃣ Start powerful. Have your first words clear in your mind. A surprising fact, a thought-provoking question. Get a great line out there first. A “James Bond” opening drops the audience right in the action. 7️⃣ Speak with conviction. Your tone & delivery reflect your belief in your message, inspiring trust & engagement. Make personal, honest connections. Use clear, concise language. Add humour. The more spontaneous the better. Smile, laugh at yourself, enjoy the ride. 8️⃣ Work consciously on your non-verbal communication. Your posture & gestures convey confidence & sincerity. Look people in the eye. Be mindful of cultural nuances, idioms, or gestures that might be misunderstood or offensive. 9️⃣ Take your audience on a journey. And if appropriate, involve them as you go. Throw out questions. Ask what they would do in your scenario. Listen to what they say. Respond positively & with attention. Time for discussion near the end is invaluable too. But don’t wait. 🔟 Finish with your simple headline message and a call to action. Leave a lasting impact. *️⃣ After: thank your hosts. Review, identify lessons, practice again, improve. What’s your best tip? #diplomacyforall

🌟Behind the Scenes of Public Speaking 🌟 I've often received messages complimenting me on how my public appearances and addresses come across as being effortless. As senior representatives of the larger industry and our organisation, we’re often invited to speak at events and share our insights on stage or in front of a camera. The first time going up on an imposing stage in front of an audience, or the first time facing a camera, can be overwhelming to anyone. But remember, while it may seem like public speaking comes naturally to some, this ability isn’t necessarily innate—it can be practised, honed, and carefully crafted over time. What appears effortless on stage is often times a product of deliberate preparation. Sharing the 5 principles I follow to ensure my presentations are impactful: 🗒 In-Depth Research: Mastering the subject matter is crucial. This is a continuous process and needs dedication. I dive deep into data, trends, and case studies regularly, to make sure I have relevant and compelling insights at my fingertips - and not just for a speaking engagement. ➡ Deliberate Practice: Rehearsing just before an engagement will only take you so far. It’s about refining your delivery style, flow of thoughts and anticipating transitions, over a period of time. Only then will you truly own the material - so that it feels completely natural. 🗣 Personalised Delivery: The best speeches are the ones that mirror natural conversations. So, as you delve into the exercise of learning and practising public speaking, you will find that the best way to structure what you have to say, is to keep it as close as possible to your natural conversation style. This approach fosters authenticity, ensuring the message lands in a way that feels completely you. 👥 Audience-centric Approach: Understanding who you are speaking to —what they care about, what challenges they face, what is relevant to the context of the engagement — will help you fine-tune and tailor your message for maximum impact. 🔄 Continuous Refinement: Actively seek feedback after each and every talk, in order to continuously refine your technique. This cycle of reflection and improvement is key to evolving as a communicator. The magic of public speaking often lies in the unseen hours of preparation that goes before it. What seems effortless in public is, in fact, shaped before and after the actual delivery.

Regardless of how great your ideas are in your virtual sales pitch, webinar, or team meeting… People are most likely checking their email, browsing social media, or working on other things while you present. How can you prevent that and actually get your audience to pay attention? Here are 4 of the most powerful techniques we use for our own virtual training courses: 1. Win the first five seconds According to research from the University of Toronto, people need only five seconds to gauge your charisma and leadership as a speaker. In virtual environments, this first impression is even more critical. To establish instant rapport: - Keep your posture open and inviting (avoid fidgeting, crossed arms, and closed-off postures) - Use open gestures that welcome the audience into your space - Gesture with your palms showing at a 45-degree angle - Speak with clear articulation and energy from the very first word The quickest way to lose your audience? Starting with tentative body language that signals you’re unsure or unprepared. 2. Design your presentation for virtual viewing When designing slides, assume varied viewing conditions. Design for the smallest likely device and the slowest likely Internet speed. Make your slides accessible by: - Using larger fonts (24-32pt) - Applying higher contrast colors - Limiting each slide to ONE clear idea - Adding more space between lines when using smaller text - Stripping excess content (you can provide additional information in a separate document) 3. Vary your delivery Our research shows the optimal length for linear presentations is just 16-30 minutes, while interactive ones can maintain engagement for 30-45 minutes. People’s attention will go through peaks and valleys during that time, so try these techniques to keep their attention: - Vary your speaking pace (faster to convey urgency, slower to express gravity) - Use intentional pauses to let key points land - Adjust your vocal tone (lower pitch for authority, higher for approachability) - Shift between slides, stories, and data at regular intervals Each change helps reset your audience’s attention and signals importance. 4. Build in structured interaction Don’t make your audience wait until the end of your presentation to interact. According to our research, presentations that incorporate audience engagement through polls, chat responses, or breakout discussions maintain attention longer. For the highest engagement: - Use a variety of interaction types throughout your presentation - Incorporate breakout rooms for small-group discussions - Switch modalities regularly to keep it interesting Remember: In virtual environments, you need to recreate the natural engagement that happens in person. Your virtual presentation success isn’t measured by perfection…it’s measured by action. Master these techniques and your audience won’t just pay attention, they’ll respond. #VirtualPresentations #CorporateTraining #WorkplaceLearning

I haven't met anyone with a clearer, singular mission to address the adverse effects of climate change than Sean Kidney. Here's why 👇 🌍 Through Climate Bonds Initiative, he has been tirelessly working across the green finance ecosystem —from regulators, policymakers, companies, sovereigns, investors, and the general public—to advocate for one clear message: we need more climate bonds to accelerate investments and keep temperature rises well below 2°C (as per the Paris Agreement) Despite the pandemic and global economic turbulence, it's heartening to see that total outstanding green bond financing continues to climb 📈 (Chart 1). However many sectors are underperforming ... such as cement and shipping (Chart 2). Side note: Sean's energy and humour have grown at the same rate! 5 perspectives worth considering from his talk today: [1] 💬 The financial ecosystem has played a pivotal role in the net zero transition through engagement with policymakers, investors, and companies driven by commercial interests. [2] 🏛️ Market forces alone were not the catalyst—it required structural planning and policy engagement with many stakeholders. [3] ❌ We must tackle false green plans like "green gas" for long-term change. [4] 📊 The intense focus on impact reporting may be misplaced if it drives out market participants and increases transaction costs. [5] 💹 Developing a liquid market for green financing is essential to attract more issuers and investors —even if secondary market activity doesn't have as strong a positive climate change impact (e.g., refinancing a solar farm isn’t the same as the initial issuance). After our first meeting 7 years ago, it was lovely to finally attend one of his sessions today hosted by White & Case LLP. On a gloriously beautiful day, no less! 🌞 Great to see active members of the impact and green investing community Murray Ackman Visakhan Vythilingam.

If you’re speaking on a panel this month, read this first. I’ve spent 10+ years on panels and moderating them, one pattern is constant and costly. Most panelists don’t struggle with knowledge. They struggle with answering. So they ramble or they stay shallow. Here are three simple structures to answer like a pro, in under 90 seconds. (I teach this to CEOs who have to be on panels) Structure 1: PREP Perfect if you want to get to the point which your audience will appreciate. - P(oint): Answer the question directly with one key point - R(eason): Explain why you make that point - E(xample): Back it up with an example or a piece of evidence - P(oint): Recap the key point Structure 2: STORY-INSIGHT Perfect if you need to first set up some context and also stay memorable. Reply with a story (that you have prepared ahead of time preferably). Follow this structure to tell your story in an engaging way that is within time. - Setting: when and where did story happen - Hero: who was involved (usually someone your audience can relate) - Conflict: what was the big problem - Consequence: what will happen if this problem wasn't resolved (optional) - Sweet spot: what was the positive outcome the hero wish for - Resolution: how was the conflict resolved - Insight: what can we learn from this story Structure 3: ABCIO Perfect if you want to offer depth and spice up the panel discussion. A(cknowledge) - building on (panelist)'s point (a) B(ridge) - we all want (shared goal) C(counter) - but where i differ is (your point) I(llustrate) - in my case, (share story or present evidence) O(pen) - curious if anyone have similar observations/results Want to see this in action? Watch my 90-second response on a panel with the Minister of State at a business panel. This clip went viral on TikTok because my insight (inspired from gaming) resonated with the audience of founders. Any follow up questions on participating in a panel discussion? Ask away in the comment section below.

Yesterday, I scrolled through profiles of 10 founders in the business consulting space. An hour later, I couldn't tell what made any of them different from each other. Think of how, if you see a list like this: A, B, C, D, E, 7, F, G You'll remember the 7 because it breaks the pattern. That's the Von Restorff Effect. When multiple similar things are presented, the one that's different gets remembered. This is what's happening with most founder brands. Same frameworks. Same language about customer-centricity and results. Same polished case studies. When everyone sounds professional and insightful, buyers can't tell who's who. They end up choosing based on who they already know or who was referred. Here's how you can actually stand out: 1. Question something most people accept without thinking, but base it on your actual experience. There's a difference between being provocative and being informed. One gets scrolls, the other gets remembered. 2. Use real examples from your work. The decision that went wrong. The adjustment that made things click. When you get specific, people feel like they're learning from someone who's done it, not someone who read about it. 3. Choose a few topics and talk about them consistently. People don't need you to cover everything. They need to know what you consistently think about, so when that topic matters to them, you're who they remember. Being good gets you respect. Being distinct gets you remembered. Being remembered is what gets you chosen when the need shows up. #PersonalBranding #FounderBrand #LinkedInStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #Positioning

I was easily the shyest boy in school by a mile. But wanting to be a barrister meant that had to chance, fast. By understanding the key characteristics that academic studies have identified as central to charismatic speaking, speakers can refine their approach to deliver more impactful and memorable speeches. 1. Authenticity: The Foundation of Influence Research by Kouzes and Posner (2002) in "The Leadership Challenge" emphasizes that credibility, derived from authenticity, is the foundation of leadership. Audiences are more likely to be persuaded by speakers they perceive as genuine and honest. 2. Confidence: The Power of Presence Confidence is another key attribute of charismatic speaking, supported by a wealth of research. According to a study by Tskhay and Rule (2014), published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, confidence is often inferred by an audience from nonverbal cues, such as posture, gestures, and eye contact. The concept of "power posing," popularized by Amy Cuddy's research, also highlights how body language can influence both the speaker’s confidence and the audience’s perception of the speaker. 3. Audience Connection: Engaging with Relatability Connecting with the audience is a hallmark of charismatic speaking. Academic research highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the audience's needs. A study by Burgoon et al. (1990) on interpersonal communication found that effective speakers use adaptive communication strategies to engage their audience. This includes adjusting one’s speech based on audience feedback, which can be nonverbal (e.g., body language) or verbal. My approach in Parliament was to maintain eye contact and use inclusive language, which fostered a sense of connection and made the audience feel involved in the discourse. 4. Emotional Appeal: Harnessing the Power of Emotions The role of emotions in persuasive speaking is well-established. Research by Chaiken (1980) in the Heuristic-Systematic Model of persuasion demonstrates that emotional appeals can be more persuasive than purely logical arguments, particularly when the audience is less motivated to engage in deep processing of information. Similarly, the study by Barge and Oliver (2003) highlights how stories and metaphors, which evoke emotions, can make a message more memorable and impactful. In my speech, I utilized storytelling to humanize the policies under discussion, tapping into the audience’s emotions to create a lasting impact. 5. Vision: Inspiring Collective Action Articulating a clear and inspiring vision is essential for charismatic speaking. Research by Conger and Kanungo (1987) in their Charismatic Leadership Theory suggests that effective leaders articulate a vision that not only aligns with the audience’s values but also presents a compelling future state. This vision serves as a rallying point, inspiring collective action.