In a globalized world that is saturated with information and choices, it is imperative that one possesses effective presentation and communication skills to deliver the intended content in an impactful manner. This is exactly what Dr. Aurelia Engelsberger, researcher and expert in the field of HRM as well as founder/CEO of OMIND consulting, aimed to accomplish with the first year MBA students over a 3-day blocked lecture period. The first day revolved around the creation of a strong pitch deck which includes its do’s and don’ts, best practices, pitfalls and effective tool utilization. The second day focused on the delivery of a convincing story by means of identifying key elements of the presentation, creating a climate of success via openers and building solid conclusions. To supplement this, the students were also provided with pointers on voice projection and body language, as well as stress management associated with presentations. The second day closed with a 1-minute “elevator pitch” by all student participants.
On the third and final day, the MBA students were asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation with an accompanying deck on any topic of their choosing. The goal was to help participants identify areas of improvements via constructive feedback – a topic covered by Dr. Engelsberger before the presentation – from peers and lecturer. It is safe to say that the lessons had been fruitful as evident by the quality of presentations and decks.
The emphasis on two-way communication throughout (one was having participants draw upon their own presentation success stories and sharing it with the rest of the class) and Dr. Engelsberger’s ability to relate to the students made the sessions engaging, educational and interesting!
 
Text and photos: Michelle Ahras, MBA Class of 2023

Note: all participants complied with current Covid-19 regulations.