Guy Kawasaki to speak at the 2015 Presentation Summit

In what conference organizers are calling their “best catch ever,” Guy Kawasaki joins the team of keynoters and presenters at the 2015 Presentation Summit, September 27-30 in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The former chief evangelist at Apple and current chief evangelist at Canva, Kawasaki has a long and storied history with public speaking and public speakers.

“I was deathly afraid of public speaking when I started in 1986,” he recalls. “Working for Steve Jobs was hugely intimidating — how could you possible compete with Steve? It’s taken me 20 years to get comfortable with it and I want to share some of what I’ve learned along the way.”

The author of a dozen books on communication and business strategy, Kawasaki is widely regarded as one of the most recognizable figures in international business today. “We have been inviting Guy to come speak for nearly a decade,” notes conference host Rick Altman. “In that regard, this business is a lot like real estate — you have to expect to get turned down 50 times before you make the sale. I’m glad we were patient.”

“This conference is one of the premiere events for presentation designers and communications experts,” Kawasaki says. “It connects a talented network of people committed to influencing and inspiring through beautiful design. People come from around the world to collaborate and innovate, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

Kawasaki’s keynote is entitled, “Ten Things All Presenters Should Do,” and promises to offer his trademark blend of the simple and profound. Here is a sampling of his writings on creating connections and engagement:

• Have something interesting to say. If you have something interesting to say, then it’s much easier to give a great speech. If you have nothing to say, you should not speak. It’s better to decline the opportunity so that no one knows you don’t have anything to say than it is to make the speech and prove it.
• Understand the audience. If you can prove to your audience in the first five minutes that you understand who they are, you’ve got them for the rest of the speech.

and perhaps his most well-known gem of all:

• The 10-20-30 Rule: Ten slides, 20 minutes, minimum type size of 30 point.

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The Presentation Summit is in its 13th season as the most notable user conference in its industry. Attendance is limited to 200. Visit the conference website for complete information — the other keynote speakers, the technical sessions, the design seminars, and a detailed schedule of events. Online registration is available now.