Meet the women of Zoho: Expert presenters share their tips and stories

Gender equality and female empowerment have been key topics of discussion in the workplace for many years now. Whether in technology or farming, rocketry or the arts, women have made tremendous contributions to a variety of fields.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women around the world. In honor of Women's Day, we wanted to celebrate a few notable women presenters at Zoho.

On their journeys from beginners to expert presenters, here's how they have perfected the art of delivering presentations that capture the audience's attention and leave a lasting impression. We will also learn about the challenges they faced and how they overcame them to reach where they are today.

A: There are many skills that can help a person evolve from an average speaker to a great speaker. Some skills that I believe to be essential are: confidence, energy, communication skills, knowledge on the topic, and a funny bone. While some people are naturals, others may have to practice to develop these skills. But one of the key skills a presenter should acquire is the ability to connect with the audience. The ability to relate to your audience is what makes a successful speaker.

A: My first presentation was way back in 2014 for Zoholics in Pleasanton, California, when I was still new to Zoho. I remember being so nervous (which I still am, every time before I walk on to the stage to deliver a presentation). However, the presence of my mentor, Vijay Sundaram, calmed me down and instilled confidence. Here are my lessons from my first presentation experience, which I still follow:

Have a visually appealing deck: The right combination of story and supporting visuals helps to deliver your message in a clear and effective way.

Read the room: I make small talk with the audience and learn a bit about my audience's persona before I get on stage. I also engage with them before the session, which makes it easier to smile and connect with them when I'm on stage.

Run the first few slides in my head: I’m the most nervous when I first get on the podium. I rehearse the first couple of slides to ensure I have my flow in place. This also helps to set the tone for the rest of the presentation.

Challenge 1: Lack of audience interaction: Every time a presenter is up on stage, the responsibility of engaging the audience falls on their shoulders. If it is a small and intimate crowd, the interaction might come organically. But what do you do when you have a huge crowd of people who are attending your session?

Solution: First, make sure to maintain eye contact with the audience—not just with people who are sitting in your line of vision, but also with everyone on either side of you. Address your audience entirely while speaking. Second, take ample pauses and repeat the key points that you would like the audience to take home with them. Third, open the floor for interactions; not just questions. The more you address the audience directly, the more they will feel connected to your presentation and the content that you are sharing with them.

Challenge 2: Slow or non-existent Wi-Fi connectivity: However prepared we are as presenters, sometimes technology might just fail to keep up with us, and a lag in the loading of a slide or a demo account may throw a presenter off their game.
 
Solution: First, always be prepared with a few icebreaker topics to make sure that the audience does not lose interest in your presentation while the screen is loading. Second, if there is an issue, do not hesitate to acknowledge it while on stage. Sometimes, to avoid a particular issue, we tend to ramble on in front of the audience, which results in the audience losing faith in your skills as a presenter. Bring a bit of safe humor to the situation and ask the audience to be patient. Addressing the issue directly on stage will give the audience the impression that the presenter is a pro and they can handle an audience interaction even without prep.

A: The success and impact of your presentation is always decided by your audience—the people who listen to your presentation. My strategies, which I have developed over the years, to deliver a powerful and inspiring presentation are:

As a speaker/presenter, from the get-go, I am acutely aware of the vibes from the audience. I take note of their body language (even as I am presenting). This comes with time and practice and with putting yourself out there more and more. It's important to have two minds/presences—to be able to show your most vulnerable side to the listeners, and couple it with powerful story-telling, and to be able to drive the anchor points of the presentation without getting carried away.

I am so well prepared and have rehearsed my presentation so many times that even as I am speaking, I am able to involuntarily multi-task, sense the audience’s responses/reactions, be able to think on my feet, and change the course of my presentation to make it more relatable to the audience at any given point.
In my experience of 15+ years of public speaking, any presentation/talk becomes naturally inspiring if it has in it, the right amount of relatability, the perfect timing in presenting vulnerability, creates enough space in the audience’s mind to bring about a change (contextual), and also leaves them with hope and motivation.

Whether you are a seasoned presenter or just starting out, there is always something new to learn when it comes to presenting. We hope these stories and experiences shared by our presenters will be helpful for your next presentation.

Any day of the year is a perfect opportunity to encourage and celebrate the women in your life. However, March 8th marks a very important day in recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of women.

Wishing you all a Happy Women’s Day!