How One Student Transformed His MBA Presentation

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Last week, I had the privilege of coaching Manuel, an experienced finance professional preparing for a crucial presentation to his MBA alma mater. What started as a nervous ramble about statistics and benefits became a powerful, story-driven speech that would genuinely move his audience.

Manuel's challenge is one I see constantly: smart professionals who know their content inside and out, but struggle to organize their thoughts in a way that truly connects with their audience.

The Problem with Leading with Logic

Manuel's initial approach was what most of us default to: open with impressive statistics. "Did you know only 10% of students take advantage of mentorship programs?" he planned to say, followed by more data about missed opportunities.

But here's the issue: when your goal is to motivate people to take action, leading with numbers feels preachy. It creates distance between you and your audience instead of connection.

The Power of Personal Story

Instead, we discovered Manuel had something far more compelling: his own vulnerable story of academic struggle.

Manuel shared how he nearly failed out of college as a first-generation student. His GPA dropped to 1.9, putting him on academic probation. He vividly remembered the shame he would have felt disappointing his mother, who had immigrated from Colombia and was so proud when he got into college.

But then came the turning point: a math professor who saw potential in Manuel when he couldn't see it in himself. This mentor didn't just teach him calculus—he gave him a vision of what was possible, even suggesting a high-paying career path as an actuary.

The Framework That Changed Everything

We used what I call the SPAT framework to structure Manuel's story:

• Situation: First-generation college student struggling academically
• Problem: 1.9 GPA, academic probation, facing potential expulsion
• Aggravation: The shame of potentially disappointing his mother and failing when she had sacrificed so much
• Turnaround: A professor who believed in him and showed him new possibilities

This wasn't just a story—it was the perfect setup to reveal his key insight: "Having someone in your corner who believes in you more than you believe in yourself changes everything."

From Statistics to Human Connection

By leading with relatability instead of credibility, Manuel created an emotional bridge to his audience. MBA students could see themselves in his shoes. They felt his vulnerability, his fear, his ultimate triumph.

Only after establishing that connection did the benefits of mentorship become relevant. The audience was now leaning in, wanting to know: "How can I get what Manuel got?"

Your Presentation Transformation

Whether you're preparing for a high-stakes presentation or just want to feel more confident in meetings, remember:

Stories before statistics. People connect with struggle and triumph, not data points.

Structure creates confidence. Frameworks like SPAT give you guardrails so you never feel lost mid-speech.

Practice builds instinct. The more you use these frameworks, the more natural they become.

Manuel went from dreading his MBA presentation to having a clear roadmap for inspiring his audience. That's the power of combining authentic storytelling with proven structure.

Ready to transform your own speaking? Since you're in The ISA, you can join me in The ISA Accelerator for 3 months of live coaching calls with mend practice sessions with fellow students. There's an exclusive discount for ISA students like you, and the next live group session is on September 18th. Hope to see you there.

Best,

Preston

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