Webinar: Presenting Virtually with Impact at the Brussels Chamber of Commerce

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Presenting is a challenge for many of us, even face-to-face, and is an essential soft skill in business.  

I am thrilled to report that I recently hosted a hugely successful webinar hosted by BECI Brussels Chamber of Commerce. The presentation was so well-received that attendees requested I present it three more times. The webinar aimed to help professionals increase their virtual impact, empowering them to drive organizational and external change.

During the webinar, attendees had the opportunity to learn how to fully engage their audiences and gain the skills and confidence needed to present their latest strategies, results, or processes online. I went over four key points to achieve this goal, including:

  1. Online Presence

  2. Goal and Structure

  3. Clear Pronunciation

  4. Vocal Foundations

Online Presence

Our session discussed ways to become more engaging and influential online. I went through 5 core pillars: light, framing, background, sound, and camera.

For each pillar, I provided technical advice, practical tips, and various options that could suit all budgets. I understand that everyone's needs are different, so I gave options that can work for everyone.

I also reminded the participants that they are now like TV stars, whether they like it or not. With the rise of online and hybrid communication, learning how to maximize your online executive presence is essential.

Goal and Structure

During our session, I enjoyed guiding the participants through a Communication Goal Formula using action verbs and inspirational words. This formula is designed to help you identify the change you are trying to drive with your presentation.

Firstly, we focused on understanding the desired outcome you want to achieve. We explored how you want your audience to think, feel, and act after listening to you. By identifying the mindset shift you want to create, you can ensure that all aspects of your presentation, including your content, slides, voice, body language, and language, support your end goal.

I believe that having a clear communication goal is crucial to delivering an impactful presentation. By using this formula, you'll be able to craft a presentation that resonates with your audience and creates a meaningful impact.


I discussed the importance of structure in creating an impactful presentation. To illustrate this, I presented three basic models, including Duarte's storytelling approach.

I also shared a TEDX talk by Nancy Duarte where she explains her approach. 

Her model creates a sense of conflict or imbalance that disrupts the harmony and wakes up the audience with its 'what is' and 'what could be' scenarios. By taking your audience back and forth between the current status quo and your future plans, you can create a compelling narrative that leads to the new, desired norm. This helps to keep your audience engaged and ready for the next challenges.

Clear Pronunciation 

Having clear pronunciation is crucial to ensuring that all members of your audience understand you, regardless of your accent. While accent reduction is not necessary, it's important to focus on crisp consonants, vowels of the right length, and word stress in the right place, especially in fast speech.

We believe that global intelligibility is the goal as no one owns the English language, and all accents are to be celebrated, whether they are from the UK, Australia, Canada, the US, India, or Spain. During our session, I shared my favorite English pronunciation book and the sound chart by Mark Hancock, which can be found on his website: http://hancockmcdonald.com/. I also gave examples of common mispronunciations by typical French speakers.

Using some business examples, I explained how to pronounce English words correctly, such as for English vowels, ship and sheep, lunch and launch, and for word stress, 25 percent and 25 absent.

Vocal Foundations 

During this session, we covered two essential aspects of the voice that are key in speech training.

Firstly, we discussed the art of pausing. We explored why, when, and how to pause in order to add variety and impact to your speech. As a demonstration, I read a passage from Martin Luther King's famous speech and inserted short, medium, and long pauses to showcase the powerful effect of pausing.

Secondly, we emphasized the importance of the rate of speech. Adding variety to your voice is crucial to maintaining your audience's attention. Speaking in a monotone voice can cause your listeners to tune out, so it's vital to adjust your rate of speech to match your communication goals. Whether you want to make a profound point or sound excited and motivated, we encourage you to use the appropriate rate of speech.

We believe that these two aspects of the voice are what make a good public speaker. By mastering the art of pausing and adjusting your rate of speech, you can connect with your audience effectively and communicate your message with confidence.

If you would like to discuss your organisation’s (corporate, NGOs, Associations and Universities) Public speaking or Presentation skills needs, I offer free 30-minute consultations through my site. I’d love to meet you.