Aviva: Building Confident, Effective Senior Speakers 

Aviva had multiple senior leaders preparing for conferences, each with strong content but varying levels of comfort on stage. Some speakers needed help moving beyond data‑heavy slides to more relatable stories, while others wanted support with pacing, confidence, and audience engagement. The internal team also saw an opportunity to build skills that could extend beyond one event and benefit a wider group of leaders over time.  

• Several senior leaders scheduled to speak at key conferences. 
• Mixed levels of confidence and stage experience, despite strong subject‑matter expertise. 
• Presentations risked feeling overly data‑driven instead of audience‑focused and story‑led. 
• Desire to build repeatable communication skills that could be shared across a broader VP and leadership group.  

ELP delivered one‑on‑one speaker coaching tailored to each leader’s needs and presentation style. Some sessions focused on clarifying the core message and simplifying slides, while others worked on pacing, presence, and moving from “presenting information” to “telling a story the audience remembers.” After each session, speakers received practical notes and action items to help them refine their talk before the conference and reuse the coaching guidance for future speaking opportunities.  

• Individual coaching sessions for each speaker, focused on their specific talk and goals.  
• Support to sharpen the core message and reduce over‑reliance on data and dense slides.  
• Coaching on pacing, confidence, and how to connect with the audience in a more human, relatable way.  
• Follow‑up notes and action items provided so speakers could review, practice, and re‑apply guidance over time.  

The impact was clear on stage. One initially hesitant speaker became noticeably more confident, composed, and engaging, shifting from heavy data to more meaningful storytelling and audience connection. Aviva observed a visible difference between speakers who completed coaching and one who did not, strengthening the case for offering this support to all future conference presenters. Participants described the coaching as highly valuable, and one leader began exploring how to extend these skills to her wider VP group.  

• Hesitant speaker transformed into a more confident, composed, and engaging presenter.  
• Shift from data‑driven delivery toward clearer storytelling and stronger audience connection.  
• Aviva noted a clear contrast between coached and uncoached speakers at the same event.  
• Leaders expressed interest in using coaching for future conferences and in sharing the approach with a wider VP group.  

Q: When should brands invest in speaker coaching for senior leaders?
A: Speaker coaching is most effective when senior leaders are preparing for high‑profile conferences, leadership meetings, or internal town halls where clarity, confidence, and connection between audience are critical to the message landing well.  

Q: What does ELP focus on in executive speaker coaching?
A: ELP focuses on sharpening the core message, improving pacing and delivery, and helping speakers move from presenting information to telling a clear, memorable story that connects with the audience.  

Q: How is ELP’s approach different from generic presentation training?
A: Rather than generic tips, ELP works directly with each speaker on their real presentation, tailoring coaching to their style, audience, and event context so the guidance is practical, relevant, and immediately useful on stage.  

Q: Can speaker coaching benefit leaders beyond a single event?
A: Yes. The skills developed through coaching—clear messaging, storytelling, confident delivery—translate into everyday leadership communication, internal meetings, and future speaking opportunities.  

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