Master Public Speaking

From Debate to Delivery

Master Public Speaking: From Debate to Delivery

The best education I got throughout high school and college wasn’t in the classroom. It was through competitive debate. I spent years immersed in it—first in high school, and then on a parliamentary debate team in college. While I certainly learned a great deal from formal academics, when I look back, the skills I rely on every single day as a product leader came from those debate rounds.

Quickly responding to complex argumentation. Pre-morteming potential objections. Structuring a compelling narrative under time pressure. Presenting with clarity and confidence in front of a skeptical audience. Debate taught me all of this.

In college debate, the format was fast and intense. You’d get the topic 20 minutes before the round. That meant 20 minutes to determine your position, prep arguments, anticipate rebuttals, and structure a case. You didn’t get hours to plan. You got 1,200 seconds. The pressure forced clarity.

You had to:

• Come up with a strategic argument

• Think two steps ahead of the other side

• Practice mental agility by preparing to argue both sides

• Deliver it with composure and persuasion

If that doesn’t sound like product work, I don’t know what does.

Those foundational skills—structured thinking, anticipation, clarity under pressure—became my superpowers later as a PM and product leader. Whether it’s in a pitch, a team offsite, or an executive review, the same lessons apply.

Now, I’m teaming up with Elena Luneva to teach a FREE 45-minute virtual Lightning Lesson called Master Public Speaking. It’s designed to help senior leaders and professionals become more confident, composed, and clear in external presentations. Whether that’s on stage, in a boardroom, or on a client call.

Enroll here → https://maven.com/p/84a825/master-public-speaking

---

What We’ll Cover

This isn’t a webinar. It’s a hands-on session focused on tools, not theory. The goal is to give you a structure and a set of habits that help you deliver your message with authority.

Start with Why: Presence = Perception

Your presence is often the first thing people notice. In high-stakes settings, it’s how they decide whether to trust you. We’ll start by unpacking that idea and reframing what presence really means. It’s not polish. It’s being composed, clear, and connected.

Build a Structure That Works

A strong presentation needs to feel effortless, even when it’s not. We’ll break down a practical, four-part structure:

• Understand your audience: Who are they? What matters to them?

• Focus your message: One clear takeaway beats five scattered ideas.

• Reinforce with the right details: Use a few well-placed stories, stats, or analogies.

• Close with intention: Leave people with a point of view, an ask, or a moment that sticks.

Simple structure = better retention.

Prep Smarter, Not Just Longer

Most people under-prepare for external talks. Even fewer prepare the right way. We’ll show you how to:

• Rehearse out loud (yes, always out loud)

• Use video feedback to identify weak spots

• Leverage AI tools like Yoodli and ChatGPT to pressure-test your message

• Anticipate tough questions and map out bridge-back answers

• Tighten up areas where you tend to ramble or over-explain

The goal here isn’t to memorize. It’s to get comfortable and intentional.

Show Up with Authority

How you deliver your message matters just as much as what you say. We’ll cover:

• Eye contact that actually feels like connection (even over Zoom)

• Posture, stillness, and how to avoid distracting habits

• Using your voice as a tool to carry meaning

• How to pause effectively, instead of filling space with “um” or “so”

This is where a lot of people lose the room. But it’s also where small changes create outsized results.

Make Them Care

You can’t influence people if they don’t feel something. That’s why we’ll spend time on emotional connection:

• Tell a short, relevant story that shows what’s at stake

• Use analogies to simplify complex ideas

• Don’t just present information—relate to the audience’s goals or struggles

If you want your message to be remembered, it has to resonate.

Wrap with Intention

We’ll close with a quick recap:

• Clear structure earns attention

• Deliberate prep builds confidence

• How you show up shapes how you’re perceived

• Stories help people connect and remember

And we’ll leave you with a question to reflect on: What’s one change you’ll make before your next talk?

---

This session is for anyone who wants to become a more effective external communicator. You don’t need to be flashy. You just need to be clear, prepared, and intentional.

Join us for Master Public Speaking. You’ll walk away with a repeatable system and sharper instincts—skills you can use immediately.

Sign up here → https://maven.com/p/84a825/master-public-speaking