#272 Presentation Skills | Matt is joined by Vincent Pierri, a speaking coach who helps executives and marketers craft compelling, high-stakes talks. With a background as a pastor and public communicator, Vincent has developed a repeatable framework that helps B2B marketers improve how they show up in front of a room, whether it’s a conference keynote, a boardroom pitch, or a weekly team update.
Matt and Vincent cover:
- The 4-part framework behind talks that stick: Tension, Trust, Teaching, Takeaway
- How to pick the right topic for your talk (and avoid cramming in too much)
- Why authenticity and simplicity matter more than slide design, and how to keep your delivery grounded and effective
Whether you’re prepping for Inbound, Exit Five’s Drive, or just your next big internal presentation, this episode will help you nail the structure and mindset behind a talk that resonates.
Timestamps
- (00:00) - - Intro
- (02:58) - - Vincent’s unusual path to speaking coach
- (06:48) - - Why marketers need this framework (not just keynote speakers)
- (09:28) - - The first step: pick one real person you want to help
- (12:38) - - How to narrow your talk down from too many ideas
- (15:48) - - The 4-part structure: Tension, Trust, Teaching, Takeaway
- (18:38) - - Why your talk should start with a problem (not your points)
- (20:13) - - How to build trust by showing vulnerability
- (23:18) - - The 3 Cs: Catchy one-liner, Creative analogy, Concrete example
- (30:23) - - How to make your points memorable (and not Googleable)
- (33:28) - - Why authenticity beats sounding “smart”
- (35:38) - - What a strong closing takeaway looks like
- (38:53) - - When (and how) to start practicing your delivery
- (40:08) - - Why you should build your talk before your deck
- (42:33) - - How many slides is too many?
- (46:23) - - Connecting without slides: lessons from the pulpit
- (48:38) - - Final advice for marketers prepping talks this fall
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The Exit Five CMO Podcast (Hosted by Dave Gerhardt)