🙈The Hidden Growth Skill That Builds Authority and Attracts Clients

The "messenger effect" and other techniques I used in front of 20,000 people.

Hello hello - Leyla Zenon here and today I want to share how I, an introvert by nature, learned to speak confidently to audiences of all sizes. I'll share training tips I've provided to Fortune 30 teams that help you gain confidence. From one-on-one C-suite meetings to rooms of 20,000 people, I've done it.

Over the last 25 years, I’ve come to know public speaking as one of business's best kept secrets. It’s a skill that shines in both the digital and real-world arenas, and when done well, it instantly boosts credibility and trust with prospective clients, existing customers, and future strategic partners.

I know it’s not easy and those jitters may never fully go away but my hope is today you’ll see the benefits of polished presentation skills and how they complement any business marketing you’re doing.

During my time with the largest internet provider in the US, I gave quarterly presentations to all seven sales channel teams and the entire marketin/product organization, reaching over 20,000 attendees across in-person and virtual formats.

If you're reading this and thinking, “That could never be me,” I get it. I’ve been you.

But here’s what I’ve learned after 25 years in marketing and strategy: presentation skills are one of business’s most underrated growth tools. Not just for extroverts. Not just for keynote speakers. And not just on big stages.

Whether it’s a casual webinar, a well-framed client pitch, a financing meeting, or a camera-on Zoom intro, how you speak about what you do directly impacts how others perceive your value.

And that matters. A lot.

Why Presentation Skills Matter in Marketing

Even When You’re Not Selling

Let’s zoom out for a second. When we think of marketing, we often think of campaigns, funnels, or flashy social posts. But the most powerful marketing tool? Trust. And trust is built in moments of clarity, competence, and connection, all of which are amplified when you speak clearly and confidently.

• 72% of consumers say they would rather learn about a product or service through video than text (Wyzowl, 2024). If you can show up on video, even for two minutes to explain what you do with clarity, you’ve already differentiated yourself.

• Professionals who can communicate ideas well are 60% more likely to be seen as leadership material (Forbes, 2022). Even if you’re not climbing the ladder, people gravitate toward brands (and founders) that demonstrate poise under pressure.

• Public speaking increases perceived expertise. In psychology, this is known as the “messenger effect”: people trust those who can explain complex things clearly and calmly, especially in high-stakes situations (O'Keefe, Persuasion: Theory and Research, 2021).

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For Introverts

Let’s break this myth while we’re here: being an introvert does not mean you’re doomed to be bad at presenting. In fact, it may give you an edge. Introverts tend to prepare thoroughly, listen deeply, and speak with intention, all invaluable traits when your goal is to connect and persuade.

The key isn’t to perform. It’s to show up as your real self, grounded with structure. That’s a subtle but critical difference.

Here’s what I do leading up to the day of a large presentation or keynote,