Here is our lineup of seminars, subject to change, mental machinations, future inspirations, and abject wishy-washyness. The detail below is for the in-person event, which is 95% equivalent to the virtual. All times are Pacific Standard (-8 GMT).
Click either Download button to get the entire schedule as a single PDF file, accurate for roomies or Zoomies.
5:30pm - 6:15pm | After Hours
Welcome Reception
Our unofficial launch party
Detailed outline
6:15pm - 7:00pm | Group Meal
Dinner
7:00pm - 8:00pm | Keynote Address
Brilliant Minds DO NOT Think Alike
The power of thinking in pictures
The power of thinking in pictures
Temple Grandin |
Detailed outline
9:00pm - 10:30pm | After Hours
Business Round Table
Ready to hang out a shingle or connect with like-minded entrepreneurs?
Being an entrepreneur is exciting, but it can be a challenge when you don’t have an opportunity to gather with others and share best practices. This is your opportunity.
Nolan Haims |
Detailed outline
7:30am - 8:30am | Group Meal
Breakfast
8:45am - 9:45am | Keynote Address
Face to Face or Virtual?
Cognitive Conclusions Curated from Covid
Which mode of presentation delivery is the most effective? Scientific results might surprise you
Carmen Simon |
Detailed outline
10:00am - 10:45am | The Studio
The Art of Motion
Animation without embarrassment
Is PowerPoint’s animation engine one of the finest works of digital engineering or one of the most loathsome creations? The real control is in the hands of the violinist, not the violin. This session will help you appreciate properly-conceived animation.
Rick Altman |
Detailed outline
10:00am - 10:45am | The Lab
Charting Secrets
Next-level PowerPoint charting
Take your PowerPoint charting to the next level with more confidence and more solutions for those pesky formatting frustrations.
Nolan Haims |
Detailed outline
11:00am - 11:45am | The Studio
The Makeover Mentor
Before-and-after example slides
Makeovers inspire us by giving us a glimpse of the possibilities.
Julie Terberg |
Detailed outline
11:00am - 11:45am | The Lab
Artificial Presentations?
Is AI the new life-blood or death knell?
Are ChatGPT and other AI engines the best thing ever or the worst ever?
Rick Altman |
Detailed outline
12:00pm - 1:00pm | Group Meal
Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm | Group Think
Birds of a Feather
Discussions among the like-minded
Let's talk! We'll organize and lead several conversations on topics that you have told us you want to discuss
Detailed outline
2:45pm - 3:30pm | The Studio
Accessible Design Gotchas and Goodies
Not just for websites
Learn about PowerPoint’s gotchas and get some time-saving goodies to help out when you’re pressed for time, but need to make sure your presentation is accessible.
Stephy Hogan |
Detailed outline
2:45pm - 3:30pm | The Lab
Template Makeovers
Simple tricks for more effective templates
A little bit of show and tell, a little bit of theory, and a little bit of technique.
Echo Swinford |
Detailed outline
4:00pm - 4:45pm | The Studio
Super-Simple Slide Designs
For the minimalist in all of us
These techniques will take you from busy and complex to clean and clear in no time.
Mike Parkinson |
Detailed outline
4:00pm - 4:45pm | The Lab
You Want What??
Managing (impossible) internal requests as an in-house designer
Company communications are critical to decision making but slide content is typically crammed full of text, data, and visuals too difficult to see on most screens.
Emily Lefebvre |
Detailed outline
4:45pm - 6:00pm | After Hours
Cocktails in the Courtyard
Happy hour at the conference
Happy hour at the conference
Detailed outline
6:00pm - 7:00pm | Group Meal
Dinner
7:30pm - 8:30pm | After Hours
The PowerPoint Trivia Contest
The intersection of creativity, ingenuity, and foolishness
You haven’t lived until you have watched or participated in our PowerPoint Trivia Contest.
Detailed outline
9:00pm - 11:59pm | After Hours
The Guru Session
Drop in and chat with your extended family
Moderated by a guy who started on the PowerPoint team back in the beginning, stay up and learn with us, and maybe teach us a thing or two. This legendary session features things you won’t get anywhere else.
Ric Bretschneider |
Detailed outline
7:30am - 8:30am | Group Meal
Breakfast
8:45am - 9:45am | Keynote Address
Speaking from the Heart(s)
Storytelling at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
How the Aquarium connects people to the ocean using entertaining, empathetic, and educational content—with a not-so-secret mission to inspire ocean conservation.
Detailed outline
10:00am - 10:45am | The Studio
Fabulous Fonts and Terrific Type
Both geeky and inspirational
Make better, more professional presentations and avoid font accessibility pitfalls
Mike Parkinson |
Detailed outline
10:00am - 10:45am | The Lab
Think Faster, Talk Smarter
Effective in-the-moment speaking
Learn science-based strategies for thriving while speaking in the moment.
Matt Abrahams |
Detailed outline
11:00am - 11:45am | The Studio
Neurodiverse Makeovers
Because we don't all think alike
Learn about what neurodiversity is, its various flavors, and how to build presentations in a neurodiverse-friendly way.
Stephy Hogan |
Detailed outline
11:00am - 11:45am | The Lab
No PowerPoint Allowed
Could you present without it?
We all love PowerPoint, but what if you had to present without it? Could you still get your message across? Let's find out in a session delivered with no PowerPoint slides whatsoever.
Glenn Gibson |
Detailed outline
12:00pm - 1:30pm | Group Meal
Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm | Group Think
Office Hours
Like meeting with your professor
Did one of our Monday seminars inspire you? Or confuse you? Here is your chance to sit at the feet of our gurus.
Detailed outline
2:45pm - 3:30pm | The Studio
Think Like a Designer
Because details matter!
Spot and fix slide design flaws like a pro
Julie Terberg |
Detailed outline
2:45pm - 3:30pm | The Lab
Train forward, teach back
The power of retrieval practice in presentation
Retrieval practice is both an instructional and a study strategy with extraordinary benefits for presenters, instructors, and learners.
Sheila Robinson |
Detailed outline
4:00pm - 4:45pm | The Studio
Persuasive Visual Storytelling
Compelling ways to move your audience to action
Marvel at how amazing your presentations can be using the power of visual mind-control and PowerPoint.
Richard Goring |
Detailed outline
4:00pm - 4:45pm | The Lab
PowerPoint Karaoke
Expect the unexpected
PowerPoint Karaoke is a social exercise that helps train you to think quickly on your feet while remembering all the important rules of good presenting.
Ric Bretschneider |
Detailed outline
4:45pm - 6:00pm | After Hours
Beers on the Beach
Happy hour at the conference
Happy hour at the conference
Detailed outline
6:00pm - 7:00pm | Group Meal
Dinner
7:00pm - 10:00pm | After Hours
Evening Celebration
Our courtyard comes alive with music and vibes
Our courtyard comes alive with music and vibes
Detailed outline
7:30am - 8:30am | Group Meal
Breakfast
8:45am - 9:45am | Keynote Address
Look Over There!
What magic taught me about presentation
Enter the secretive world of "prestidigitation" and learn what a magician can teach you about making better presentations.
Nolan Haims |
Detailed outline
10:00am - 10:45am | The Studio
More than Just a Cameo
Coolest thing since Morph?
Creating slides for virtual might never be the same once you have discovered Cameo
Rick Altman |
Detailed outline
10:00am - 10:45am | The Lab
The ROI of DIY
Getting the best return when creating your own presentations
Get into a deeper relationship with your slides by exploring how to engage with them, and the unstoppable power of setting a system for slide success that you can draw upon at a moment's notice.
Jody Wissing |
Detailed outline
11:00am - 11:45am | The Studio
Killer Backgrounds
Creating great virtual art starts with the real world
Learn how to make killer custom virtual backgrounds
John Chen |
Detailed outline
11:00am - 11:45am | The Lab
My Top Ten
Tips and tricks that every PowerPoint user should know
Get your PowerPoint groove on with an array of tricks, from the mindblowing to the mundane.
Echo Swinford |
Detailed outline
12:00pm - 1:00pm | Group Meal
Lunch
1:15pm - 2:15pm | General Session
The Miracle of Pecha Kucha
Embracing two easy rules creates amazing presentations
Twenty slides, 20 seconds each. The Pecha Kucha presentation style entertains, informs, and is the antithesis of Death by PowerPoint.
Ric Bretschneider |
Detailed outline
2:15pm - 3:15pm | General Session
Five Minutes or Fewer
Tips to match your attention span
Here is a friendly procession of short tips, pieces of advice, and anecdotes, as told by both conference team members and patrons.
Detailed outline
5:00pm - 7:00pm | After Hours
Closing Happy Hour
For those sticking around Wednesday night, join us for one final Happy Hour hosted reception.
For those sticking around Wednesday night, join us for one final Happy Hour hosted reception.
Detailed outline
