You are a founder or CEO, your company is growing, and invitations to speak are coming in.
You want to prepare your signature keynote well because you know that a keynote is an opportunity to share your vision, inspire audiences, and amplify your impact. It will help grow your company. Signature keynotes establish the brand narrative.
My personal analysis of an effective founder keynote highlights several ingredients that lift a boring company presentation to a compelling, memorable experience for the audience.
Be sure to include:
A crystal clear message
Your message must give this ‘must-have’ feeling. That ‘I want what (s)he is talking about.’ feeling.
A captivating opening for audience connection
A captivating opening will ensure you keep your audience engaged.
Read more tips on how to start here.
“You’ve got the words to change a nation. You’ve got a heart as loud as lions.You’ve got the light to fight the shadows.” Emeli Sandé
Storytelling as strategy
Great storytelling is never accidental. It’s designed and structured.
Every story you tell should be carefully curated to support your message.
Emotion comes before logic. Customers, users, and communities draw empathy from the audience.
The right mix of stories
A mix of founder story, customer story, and purpose story.
Each of these stories contributes to your unique signature keynote.
A structure that convinces
Structure is the invisible architecture of any great speech.
An example of a convincing structure:
- 1. Hero – customer
2. Mission – what are they chasing/what are they missing
3. Obstacle/What’s in the way – something is stopping your customer from achieving what they are seeking
4. Guide – who is the guide / mentor/enabler = your brand
5. Journey – 3 steps you take the customer through to achieve their mission
6. Resolution – higher purpose, bigger than me, bigger than you
Every great signature keynote is a unique mix and match of the above ingredients.
I have helped countless clients design and write theirs. And I have written a workbook that guides you step by step through the whole process.
From fully embodying your leadership, and the process of writing and delivering your signature talk.