How to Present Like a Pro (Even If You’re Not One), with Simon Raybould

Episode notes

If you’ve ever struggled to communicate your expertise in a way that captivates your audience—whether in presentations, pitches, or even casual conversations—this episode is for you. Simon Raybold, a former scientist turned professional speaker and presentations trainer, shares hard-won insights on how to move from "data dumping" to delivering messages that inspire action. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or expert, mastering this skill is non-negotiable for building authority and influence. Three Key Takeaways Focus on Outcomes, Not Processes Your audience cares about the result of your work, not the technical details. Simon’s analogy: "Excel sorts data—do you care about the algorithm? No. You just want the sorted list." Action: Ask yourself, "What’s the one thing I want my audience to do after hearing me?" and reverse-engineer your message from there. Storytelling Is an Industrial Process Great speakers don’t rely on luck—they collect, refine, and deploy stories strategically. Simon’s tip: Treat stories like a library. Tag them by theme (e.g., "customer service," "failure," "breakthrough") so you can pull the right one when needed.