TED Talks Daily How to introduce yourself — and get hired | Rebecca Okamoto
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Jan 7, 2026 
Rebecca Okamoto, a communications consultant and speaker, shares her expertise on crafting effective self-introductions. She emphasizes the importance of first impressions and how a concise, 20-word intro can captivate listeners. Rebecca discusses how focusing on the audience rather than just your credentials can transform conversations, leading to those coveted words: "Tell me more." She presents various frameworks, like outlining personal benefits and sharing your passions, to help everyone get noticed and challenge self-doubt.
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Failure Then Fast Redemption
- Rebecca Okamoto bombed an interview despite strong qualifications and a detailed elevator pitch.
- Six months later, a concise one-sentence intro won her a job because it made the listener ask, "Tell me more."
Introduction Can Trump Qualifications
- A tight introduction can be the single difference between being hired or rejected.
- Rebecca reframed failures as an introduction problem, not a competence problem.
Use A 20‑Word Soundbite
- Do use a 20-word introduction designed as a soundbite, not a data dump.
- Aim to grab attention and trigger the response, "Tell me more."