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Gilda to Present "How to Schmooze" at Marist College 3/6

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Gilda Bonanno LLC | Confidence. Influence. Success.
Executive Coaching · Keynotes · Strategic Facilitation · Leadership Development
www.gildabonanno.com

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From Panic to Presence: The Power of a Pre-Game Ritual

by Gilda Bonanno LLC Whether you’re stepping onto a stage, joining a high-stakes meeting or presenting new ideas to key decision-makers, those few minutes before you start can make all the difference. The Athlete’s Lesson Think of it like sports. Every elite athlete has a pre-game ritual , a routine that gets their body and mind into peak condition. They listen to specific music. They follow precise warm-up routines. They eat the same breakfast, lace their shoes the same way, even visualize the first play before they take the field. Why? Because they know that what happens before the game affects what happens during the game. They don’t leave their mindset to chance. We shouldn’t either. Your presentation, pitch or meeting is your performance moment and like any performance, it deserves a ritual that prepares both your mind and body to perform at their best. What Counts as “High Stakes”? Maybe you’re presenting to senior leadership for the first time or presen...

Storytelling: The Skill That Transforms Good Presenters into Great Ones

by Gilda Bonanno The most powerful presenters don’t just share information, they tell stories. Stories engage the heart as well as the mind. They bring your ideas to life, turning abstract concepts into something your audience can feel, remember and act on. That’s why storytelling is one of the most sophisticated (and human) presentation skills you can develop. Stories Come in Many Forms You can tell stories with words , of course, but also with numbers. A clear chart, a meaningful trend line, a well-designed dashboard - all of these can tell a story when crafted with care. They can reveal patterns, progress, and purpose. But here, let’s focus on stories told with words. Make It Relevant The first rule of effective storytelling in presentations is relevance. Your story should connect directly to your point. If your audience can’t tell why you’re sharing it, it becomes a distraction rather than a tool. Adapt your story to the audience. Adjust the length, detail and language depend...

What It Takes to Emcee a Live Event (And Lead a Room in Real Time) - WBDC's Women-Owned Business Day

Last week, I was back at the State Capitol in Hartford to emcee Women Owned Business Day — my 11th year with the event. It’s a day that brings together women entrepreneurs, public leaders from both sides of the aisle, and a highly engaged audience around a shared focus: expanding opportunity and supporting business growth. From the outside, emceeing can look straightforward — introductions, transitions, keeping the program moving. In reality, the role is far more dynamic. Structuring in Real Time Live programs rarely unfold exactly as planned — and in this setting, flexibility isn’t optional. Because the legislature was in session, several legislative leaders needed to step away from caucus meetings to participate. In real time, that meant adjusting the order of speakers so they could join the program and return to their responsibilities. Maintaining structure under those conditions requires quick judgment — preserving the flow of the program while accommodating the realitie...

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