[Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash]
In a given year, I present “Memorable Presentations” any number of times. Sometimes to large groups, often through individual or small group coaching. I’ve honed this presentation over many decades, and I simply love sharing the rich knowledge of how to improve personal presentation skills.
“Whenever you are on your public speaking journey, you’ll find some tools to move you forward from good to better to best,” is something I frequently say during a session.
In October, I had the great pleasure of giving this presentation to the Legal Marketing Association’s Midwest chapter. But this time was different. Why? Because one lovely attendee reported on the session and provided a spot-on summary.
The session write-up was so good, so thorough, that I am sharing it here.
Here’s to all of us moving the needle when we have to present publicly. Let me know if there is a tip or trick here that resonates with you.
Memorable Presentations Start with You - Not Your Slides by Kate Kasella
Thank you to author Kate Kasella, Communications and PR Strategist at Robins Kaplan and Planning Committee member for the 2025 LMA Midwest Conference.
Session Title: Leading with Memorable Presentations
Presenter: Anne Gallagher, Anne Gallagher LLC
Whether you’re stepping up to the podium for the first time or a seasoned presenter fine-tuning your craft, Anne Gallagher’s “Leading with Memorable Presentations” session offered both inspiration and actionable tools to level up your presentation game. With a thoughtful blend of neuroscience, storytelling, structure, and self-awareness, this session reminded us that you — not your slides — are the presentation.
Below are my top takeaways and reflections from this thought-provoking session.
It’s Not What You Say — It’s How You Say It
Anne shared an eye-opening breakdown of what audiences truly respond to in presentations:
Visual (55%): How you appear, move, gesture, and engage visually with your audience is the most important variable.
Vocal Variety (38%): Your tone, pace, and fluctuation are essential to keeping attention.
Verbal Content (7%): Yes, the content matters, but how you deliver it matters even more.
Key Insight: Your presence is your message. Think intentionally about how you show up — not just what you say.
Presenting with Purpose: The Three Pillars
Memorable presentations are rooted in the alignment of three essential elements:
Content: Know your material cold. Forgetting a point? No one will notice unless you do.
Presenter Behavior: How will you move, speak, and interact? Are you standing? Walking around? Inviting participation?
Audience Behavior: What do you want your audience to do? Learn? Engage? Act? Entertain?
Practical Tip: Design your presentation like a lesson plan: structure time, activity, and intent.
Tap Into Both Sides of the Brain
Anne emphasized the importance of designing presentations that engage both hemispheres of the brain:
Left brain: Logical, structured, analytical — supports data, frameworks, repetition
Right brain: Creative, emotional, intuitive — activated through visuals, stories, metaphors
Key Insight: Want people to retain your message? Blend logic with creativity. Storytelling is your secret weapon.
Storytelling: When in Doubt, Get Personal
“We’ve become a world of bullet-point people, and we need more stories.”
Anne reminded us that storytelling transforms you from a presenter into a human. It activates gesture, emotion, and voice, making you more relatable and memorable. Personal stories (even brief ones) create instant connection and stick with your audience long after the slides are forgotten.
Practical Tip: Unsure how to open a presentation? Tell a personal story that connects to your theme.
Master the “Wait Time” Technique
One of the most powerful presentation tools? Silence. Anne introduced two intentional “wait times”:
After asking a question, wait 5–8 seconds before moving on. It will feel uncomfortable — and it’s supposed to.
Then, pose a second question, and wait again. This gives people space to process and engage.
Why it matters: Discipline in silence builds trust and gives your audience time to think.
Small Details, Big Impact
Other tactical gems from the session included:
Chalkboard Theory: Introduce a concept before showing the slide, just like a teacher writing on the board.
Opening Strong: In 60–90 seconds, thank your audience, create common ground, establish your credibility, offer a clear takeaway, set expectations, and dive in.
Audience Engagement Ideas: Use breakout groups, interactive polls, mini-quizzes, or physical movement to keep people involved.
Q&A Tip: Use audience questions not just to answer, but to re-emphasize your core message.
Final Thoughts
Presentation skills are critical not just for public speaking, but for internal leadership, client pitches, and firm-wide influence. Mastering memorable delivery enhances how legal marketers communicate value and drive results.
Anne’s session was a compelling reminder that presentations are more than slides and soundbites — they’re an opportunity to lead, connect, and transform.
Whether speaking to colleagues, clients, or conference attendees, the most memorable presentations come from those who combine structure with heart, and data with story.
If you ever doubt your ability to captivate a room, just remember: “You are the presentation.”
Authored by: Kate Kasella, Communications and PR Strategist at Robins Kaplan and Planning Committee member for the 2025 LMA Midwest Conference.
Although I sometimes cringed, Joe Biden was an excellent storyteller, he would weave a personal story while speaking with folks. It made him human.... Vs. the clown that's in the oval office now.
Just shared this with a friend who has an upcoming presentation- thanks for recapping Kate and sharing your takeaways of Anne’s great advice on this topic!