Making the Most Out of Company Presentations
Best Practices Across Industries
Chris Oshewolo
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: GSB Life
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I can't believe it is already over a year ago. I walked into the classroom where one of the most-anticipated presentations was going to take place. I glanced at my wrist-watch and realized I was only 5 minutes late. But that was way too much time for the seats and the aisles to fill. "I'll have to stand," I admitted to myself. I wanted an internship and this company appeared to have one I could use. So stand I did for the next hour.
My legs ached, my stomach turned. I made repeated trips to the makeshift bar for cans of soda - whatever it took to keep my mind off my aching legs and on the slides being presented. Oh yes, that required some effort. Revenue charts, organization structure, corporate culture . . . the slides looked so much like the ones I'd seen the previous week I could almost predict the next one. As I made one of those trips to the bar, I remembered my outstanding readings and problem sets. My heart raced as I gritted my teeth. I got my soda anyway and downed it to keep my attention on the slides.
Close to the hour mark, the presentation ended. What was to follow? Another round of standing, this time in circles. Soon, I was going to be smiling and nodding my chin, my neck. I looked behind me, the door was still there and for a second, I contemplated going through it. No, I didn't want to be in that room. But I was there already, and I thought there was a chance I might meet some really interesting personality. Why not? I got more food, downed more soda, shrugged my shoulders and went my way . . . to join a circle being addressed by one of the men in black.
To make the most of company presentations, one imperative is to focus on the present. But that is not all there is to it. That is why "Chibus" went after some second years for best practices - tried and tested ideas.
These articles are not going to tell you how important company presentations are. You have figured that out already for whatever your target post-MBA career is. What you'll get from these, in short, are practical tips. Period. As spelt out in some of these articles, Julie Morton and her team have your back. Remember their words.
My legs ached, my stomach turned. I made repeated trips to the makeshift bar for cans of soda - whatever it took to keep my mind off my aching legs and on the slides being presented. Oh yes, that required some effort. Revenue charts, organization structure, corporate culture . . . the slides looked so much like the ones I'd seen the previous week I could almost predict the next one. As I made one of those trips to the bar, I remembered my outstanding readings and problem sets. My heart raced as I gritted my teeth. I got my soda anyway and downed it to keep my attention on the slides.
Close to the hour mark, the presentation ended. What was to follow? Another round of standing, this time in circles. Soon, I was going to be smiling and nodding my chin, my neck. I looked behind me, the door was still there and for a second, I contemplated going through it. No, I didn't want to be in that room. But I was there already, and I thought there was a chance I might meet some really interesting personality. Why not? I got more food, downed more soda, shrugged my shoulders and went my way . . . to join a circle being addressed by one of the men in black.
To make the most of company presentations, one imperative is to focus on the present. But that is not all there is to it. That is why "Chibus" went after some second years for best practices - tried and tested ideas.
These articles are not going to tell you how important company presentations are. You have figured that out already for whatever your target post-MBA career is. What you'll get from these, in short, are practical tips. Period. As spelt out in some of these articles, Julie Morton and her team have your back. Remember their words.