A speaker introduction is a bridge between the audience and the talk. It should answer three questions: who is speaking, why this subject matters here, and why this person is a useful guide. Reading an entire biography rarely answers those questions efficiently.
Ask for the right information
Request the speaker's preferred name, pronunciation, current role, talk title, and a short approved biography. Ask whether there is anything they would prefer you leave out. Verify unfamiliar qualifications instead of guessing what an abbreviation means. Choose one or two credentials relevant to the topic. A novelist speaking about revision may be better introduced through their editing experience than through an unrelated award. Keep the introduction proportionate to the session; a short presentation should not have a lengthy preamble.
Sample introduction
Write for speaking, not for a program
Shorten dense job titles and long institutional descriptions with the speaker's agreement. An audience cannot reread a complicated sentence while you continue talking. Say the introduction aloud and check that the central connection is easy to follow. Do not reveal the speaker's main story, repeat a surprising opening they plan to use, or promise answers that are outside the talk. If they provide an introduction, use it as the starting point and ask before making substantial changes.
Handle the handoff
Agree on whether you will stay at the microphone, shake hands, or simply move aside. Look toward the speaker when you say their final name, and allow applause before any logistical announcement. If the session is online, confirm that their microphone and screen are ready first. When a name is difficult for you, write a pronunciation cue on your notes and rehearse privately. Making a joke about mispronouncing it puts the speaker in an uncomfortable position just as they begin.
Make the next draft yours.
Adapt examples to your situation and verify names, details, and requirements before sharing.Suggest a correction →