Delivering great presentations (and helping others do it too!)

Session description

Do you get nervous when thinking about speaking to a group of people?  Public speaking can be very rewarding, but the desire doesn't come naturally.

The good news is that YOU have something important to contribute, and you don’t have to be an expert. All non-technical and underrepresented people have unique stories to tell that can benefit the entire community — regardless your background.

We’ll start by talking about easy ways anyone can get experience speaking. (Spoiler: you don’t have to present alone). We’ll brainstorm new topic ideas anyone can use and learn how to submit a session that will get noticed. From there, we’ll learn storytelling techniques to stay on track and calm your nerves when presenting.

Presenting is my full-time job and I still have self-doubt and nervousness. I’ll share my story and talk about how I quiet my doubts and pump myself up to speak in front of a large crowd. I'll also discuss my techniques for mentoring and encouraging others to speak for the first time and highlight Global Diversity Call For Papers Day.

By the end of the talk, you'll be ready to volunteer to give a presentation at your workplace or community event. I want to hear your story!

Key takeaway: "By overcoming my fears and sharing something I'm passionate about, I can inspire my peers to do more than I realize."