CEO Presentation Rockstars

18 months into my career as a speaker, I got the worst feedback I have ever had on a feedback form. Someone gave me 3/20 for a talk and wrote the word SH*T! So I phoned the person who wrote it. That was a moment, I can tell you. It was the best thing I could have done because brutal, unfiltered, feedback is the ONLY way to reach our true speaking potential. But as a CEO, how the hell can you get that level of feedback on your talks? In this episode, I talk about the astonishing conversation I had with the guy who gave me 3/20 and how you can get the feedback that will turn you into a presentation rockstar.

I spoke at Wembley Stadium to 300 leaders — here's everything I did to prepare, what went wrong on the day and the lessons every presenter needs to hear. Whether you're stepping onto a stage for the first time or you've been presenting for years, this episode breaks down the real behind-the-scenes intensity of delivering a high-stakes talk — from the moment you get the call to the second you leave the stage. In this episode you'll discover: ✅ How to make sure you're the RIGHT fit for an audience before you say yes ✅ Why arriving early is one of the most powerful things a presenter can do ✅ The unexpected last-minute challenges I faced at Wembley — and how I handled them ✅ Why removing the lectern was the best decision I made on the day ✅ How to create genuine connection with 300 people in the room This isn't theory. This is what actually happened — the prep, the nerves, the adaptations, and the wins. 🎙️ David Thomas is a Guinness World Record holder, global professional speaker and leadership presentation skills coach who has delivered keynotes to audiences around the world.

When non-professional speakers can memorise a speech and deliver it without notes, that puts them in the top 1%. But Jamie Oliver won 2010 TED speaker of the Year while clutching a pile of notes a mile thick all the way through. So which is best? Memorise it and get stressed that you will forget something? Or use notes and lose connection with the audience?  In this episode, David goes through three different ways to learn your presentation while still being able to have massive impact on the audience.

Want to smash that next presentation? Put your content in the right order. There is one structure that is perfect for every single presentation whether that is a keynote speech, a sales pitch or 1-2-1 appraisal. But hardly anyone does it. In this episode, David goes through how, working with apprentices, he has been able to hone this process to make it universally powerful.

A presentation with only education in it is like a Xmas tree without baubles. Boring and forgettable. Stories, humour and entertainment are the baubles, tinsel and lighting that bring every presentation alive. In this edpisode, David relates a story and why it works so well with his target audience.