During yesterday's high-impact #PowerMonday session, that is on Monday, the 6th of July 2026,  we had the privilege of hosting Mercy Kimani, the Managing Director of the Dale Carnegie franchise in Kenya and East Africa. She delivered a phenomenal masterclass on how to make a memorable speech. It got me thinking deeply about why these specific public speaking principles are absolutely critical for every entrepreneur, executive, and corporate leader working today, and yet many people completely ignore them and would rather keep working hard on their pursuit for academics and technical capacity than invest in a skill that is proven to catalyse both professional and entrepreneurial growth.

Slightly over 20 years ago, I attended a public speaking and training course for about 6 weeks, and have always loved and practiced what I learned. I watch people speak and keep evaluating their speeches. In one of our courses, Women in Digital Business (WIDB) ToT, we give a few sessions on this as part of preparing trainers on their tasks. Yesterday's #PowerMonday session refreshed my knowledge and even reignited my passion for professional public speaking. Here are my key reflections from the session and why they matter to your leadership journey:

1. Grounding Your Voice: The "Three E’s" of Effective Speaking

Before you even step onto a stage or log into a virtual boardroom, Mercy reminded us that impact starts with your internal alignment. She introduced the Three E’s framework:

• Earn the right: You must earn the right to speak on a subject through deep personal experience or rigorous study. For a leader, this is where authenticity lives. Audiences can spot a fraud instantly; they trust you when you speak from a place of earned wisdom. In our organization, Live Your Dream, we always insist that one earn the right to train on a subject before getting a chance to do so on our platform. You cannot come and teach us about selling if you have never been a salesperson. Don't bring untested theories, or those you researched but have no emotional, firsthand connection with. Earning the right is key to any influence. It has always been my favourite. All the WIDB ToT candidates will tell you about this. 
• Eager to project value: Being excited about your topic, your idea, your product, or whatever you want to speak about. I love to say that you can't sell what you can't buy. And buying is just about being 'Enthusiastic' about the product or that very idea you want to communicate.  Leaders must enter every presentation eager to give value, ensure clarity, and help their listeners solve a problem. Infect them with your enthusiasm.
• Eye contact: Keeping your eye contact with the audience, whether via a camera for the virtual sessions or a live audience as you master the stage, is a critical ingredient in memorable public speaking. People will be able to read your heart and share in your conviction. It demonstrates confidence and authenticity. When you don't keep eye contact, you may appear fake and deficient in faith about the subject matter. 

2. Flipping the Script: Moving from "Incidents" to "Benefits"

One of the most profound takeaways from the session was how we structure our presentations. Too often, corporate leaders focus entirely on the "incident"—the data dump, the crisis, or the mechanical details of a project.

Instead, Mercy challenged us to utilize Dale Carnegie’s structure of Incident, Action, and Benefit. Highly effective communication starts with the desired action and the ultimate benefit to the listener. When pitching to investors or rallying a team through an organizational shift, they don't just want to know what happened. They want to know: What do we need to do next, and how will this benefit us? Framing your message around clear actions and benefits is how you drive institutional change.

3. Defeating Skepticism: The "DEFEATS" Framework

In business, you will always face doubt. Skeptical stakeholders, analytical board members, and cautious clients require more than just inspirational rhetoric—they need proof.

To overcome this, Mercy shared the DEFEATS framework, a powerful tool designed to build ironclad emotional and logical credibility:

• Data / Statistics & Diagrams
• Examples
• Facts & Focus
• Exhibits
• Analogies
• Testimonials
• Stories

By expertly blending storytelling with concrete evidence—like sharp data, vivid analogies, and detailed testimonials—you anchor your presentation in reality while still connecting emotionally with your audience. Mercy reminded us of the age-old maxim that facts tell and stories sell. That even if we have all the data, which speaks to the mind, it is the stories that will speak to the heart and inspire action.

4. The Power of "One Word"

During the interactive portion of the workshop, participants were asked a striking question: What is the one word you want people to say or remember about you after your speech?

As leaders, we often overcomplicate our messages, leaving our teams overwhelmed by slide decks and competing priorities. True clarity means stripping away the noise until your audience can walk away with one singular, unforgettable takeaway. If you cannot boil your presentation's core impact down to a definitive word or theme, you haven't simplified it enough yet. She advised that having more than one ask in the presentation is not a brilliant idea.

Final Thoughts: The 2-Hour Rule

Public speaking is not a genetic gift; it is a muscle. The session concluded with a direct challenge for all of us: commit to practicing your speaking skills by finding an audience for at least two hours every week.

Whether you are navigating a virtual environment or an in-person boardroom, your voice is your currency. Let’s stop giving speeches, and start driving action.

What about you? What is the "one word" you want your audience to remember the next time you speak? Let's discuss in the comments below!

Watch the recorded video below: