101. How to Turn High-Stakes Presentations into Unforgettable Theatrical Experiences - with Carmen Sederino

In this episode of Leadership that Sells, I’m joined by Carmen Sederino — performance master, speaking strategist and creator of the Illuminated Story Method — who shows us how to take the stage like a pro and lead from the front with presence, clarity and purpose. If you’ve ever sat through a mind-numbing, forgettable presentation (or worse, delivered one), this one’s for you.

Carmen breaks down how sales leaders and execs can elevate even the most “corporate” moments into compelling experiences. Whether you're running a town hall, delivering strategy updates, or motivating your team through change, you’ll learn how to avoid the biggest presentation pitfalls, and instead connect with impact, intention and theatre-worthy precision. No fluff. Just hard-won insight you can use immediately.

How to deliver unforgettable presentations that lead, not just inform

Stop winging it – Rehearsal isn't the enemy of authenticity. If you think you're better off-the-cuff, you probably just haven't practised enough yet.

Ditch the PowerPoint crutch – You’re the star, not your slides. Cut the clutter and make your deck serve your message, not replace it.

Create a show, not a slide deck – From tone and timing to lights, sound and storytelling, make your message an experience, not an information dump.

Practice like a pro – Amateurs practise until they get it right. Pros practise until it can’t go wrong. Aim for 7 run-throughs, minimum.

Lead with empathy – Put yourself in your audience’s shoes. What do they need to hear, feel and believe?

Timeline summary

[04:28] - How introverts can still own the stage by playing with their authentic range
[06:15] - “You must be believable to be trusted — and to be believed, you need confidence and presence”
[07:16] - The 3 C’s of speaking: clear, confident, and compelling
[11:07] - The #1 mistake leaders make: winging it (and why it’s killing your credibility)
[13:18] - Avoid this one word in your speeches that instantly kills momentum: but
[15:07] - Why Steve Jobs rehearsed like a theatre actor (and why you should too)
[22:00] - “You are so much more interesting than your PowerPoint” — how to own the room without hiding behind slides
[25:22] - What Carmen would put on 10,000 billboards: What if it was you?
[29:00] - Carmen’s book recommendation: Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

Links & resources
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-sederino-0788b513/
https://www.instagram.com/illuminatedstory/
https://www.facebook.com/IlluminatedStory

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