Isaac Kuruvilla is the Head of Investments at Sydney Diocesan Services. He helps charities to achieve their long term financial goals without compromising ethical beliefs.
He is very passionate about volunteer work (magic and balloon twisting) through the Starlight Foundation which brightens the lives of children.
He is also a “squash tragic” and plays in a few squash competitions each week.
What kind of presenting do you do at work?
I mainly present on investment matters relating to charities/endowments and foundations. I often MC corporate gatherings and throw in a magic show or two during the annual work Christmas party!
What prompted you to study with Michelle?
I wanted to improve the effectiveness of my delivery, especially my non-verbal behaviour.
How did Michelle's teaching change your attitude to presenting in business?
Michelle gave me a model to work from and confidence in my own skill set. The biggest take home for me was that I did not have to change my personality to get my message across. i had thought that I had ne persona for work and another for my wrk with seriously ill children. In Michelle’s masterclass I realised I could just be myself.
The formulas, models and techniques that Michelle taught us were complimentary to my persona.
In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?
I have found that my presentations are more concise and to the point. In my written communication, I concentrate on the main issues rather than fluff around too much in background detail.
In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since learning with Michelle?
My eye contact and engagement with the audience has improved significantly. I am presenting with articulation and flow, with less “umms” and “ahhs”, because I have an inner confidence now that I’m doing all the right things to get my message across.
What were your top three take-aways from Michelle's masterclass?
– I do not have to sacrifice my personality to get an effective message out.
– The ability to create a presentation in a short period of time has saved me precious time.
– Presenting on “dry” issues doesn’t have to be dry for the audience. It my job as the presenter to convey my message in the most interesting, captivating way.