I'm Hannah, and I'm not your usual corporate public speaking and presentation coach
In 7th grade, I gave my first persuasive speech.
I decided to convince my classmates that small dogs are better than large dogs. On the day of our speeches, the classroom was electric with middle school angst, nerves, and barely contained vomit. I was on cloud nine, ecstatic to present and do my own thing.
Instead of stoically listing snooze-fest canine facts which would go in one ear and out the other, I brought in three carefully curated items:
A small dog carrier
A large dog carrier
A neon yellow homemade poster shrouded in a Costco-sized black plastic bag (this $.99 visual aid was my piece de resistance for the St.Bernard holdouts).
My presentation ended in raucous laughter, 26 nods of agreement, and an A.
I’ve never stopped being myself in my presentations, and that has made all the difference.
If you feel like you want to be yourself, but can’t (or “shouldn’t”) when you present, you’re in the right spot ✨
Your presentations are an extension of you, no matter how you slice and dice your slides.You’re inextricably linked to them thanks to the sheer fact you’re presenting them.
Whether you need:
Audience engagement techniques
Confidence - be it a tablespoon or a truck load
Pointers for persuasion to convince listeners to take action on what you’ve sharedA speaking system reboot (not a return to original factory settings)
I’m the public speaking superpower you want to book who’ll help resurrect your personality so your presentations don’t just shine like the sun, but so will your skills, talents, and value.
Be seen and heard for all the marvelous qualities you posses and and have to offer when you speak.
Believe me, I tried (fleetingly) to give my work presentation a personality lobotomy.
First, I disregarded a college degree’s worth of knowledge studying public speaking and persuasion. Worse still, I eschewed intuition and years of practical experience presenting and pitching to senior leaders and executives at companies like enterprise rent-a-car, KeyBank, and Under Armour.
Like every 1849 whaling ship captain, I was drawn to the Corporate America presentation siren song:
Remove yourself
From your presentations (backup vocals: forever, forever)
Everyone does it
Your 93 slides of data and pie charts will shine
I removed myself from my presentation completely.
I shudder to admit this publicly, but I started with “hello everyone, my name is Hannah Michelotti, and I’m so excited to be here today to talk to all of you. A big thank you to Mike and Jerry for having me today.”
The results were pretty rotten. I remember my boss saying, “…what happened? That wasn’t you at all.”
❌ Not a single person approached me after the presentation.
❌ The content faded into the background of the inspirational posters lining the walls of the conference room.
❌ My conversion rate was in the toilet.
As it turns out, you, in your presentations, is pretty critical.
Anyone can share data, facts, and stats. Those aren’t what set you apart as a presenter and speaker.
You belong in your presentations.
Always.
Why so serious? - Me
(not Heath Ledger as The Joker)
Public speaking by its own definition is an art, not a science. I treat it like your personal canvas. I’ve found Corporate America treats it like a regimented torture technique. If you’re looking for more of the same advice you receive at work from Ned in Numbers, you won’t find that here.
I’m going to ask you to tap into your right brain creative side, and storytelling center.
This sounds like the start of something good.
From Corporate Cubicles to Mountain Tops
I speak English and Corporate America. After spending nearly 10 years in the concrete jungles and branded cubicles of fortune 500 companies giving high-stakes presentations internally and externally (I know my way around a business development pitch), I understand what makes them tick. Most importantly, I know how to help you stand out when you speak.
When I’m not in the office, you can’t keep me away from the mountains. No matter the season, I’m running around them, climbing up them, and skiing down them. Usually, I have my sidekick supreme (Maggie, border collie mix) with me. You’'ll meet her on our virtual calls.
Whether you’re an engineer, a DEI consultant, or the VP of outdoor footwear marketing, excellent presentations have the same threads I’ve helped professionals weave together for over two decades (hint: they’re a blend of you + your content).
Join the public speaking revolution*
*Putting personalities back in presentations
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