Alex Threlfall is the Insurance Product Manager at Macquarie Life and has well over a decade of experience in service, training and product development in the life insurance and financial services industry. Alex joined Macquarie in 2006 and was instrumental in expanding the company’s insurance capabilities with the successful entry of Macquarie Life into the retail insurance market. During this time she has driven the development of true product innovation, delivering unique insurance solutions to the Australian market.
What kind of presenting do you do at work?
There is a wide variety of presenting in my role ranging from casual in-house training for small groups, interactive technical sessions for financial advisers and more formal presentations about Macquarie Life’s product innovations for groups of 200 plus people.
What prompted you to attend Michelle’s Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass?
Presenting is becoming a more important part of my role so I wanted to do formal training to help me structure my message and improve my confidence on stage. My ultimate goal was to enjoy presenting and start seeking opportunities to do it more.
Also, given that life insurance can sometimes be perceived as a dry subject, I felt it was important to develop a style that helps me convey my passion for it and to learn ways to help the audience relate to the message.
How did Michelle’s Masterclass change your attitude to presenting in business?
Mainly it was about learning to have fun presenting and identifying ways to connect with the audience and lead them through my message. This has given me greater confidence and a sense of calm and control when presenting.
In general, what has been the outcome of your improved presentation skills?
Soon after Michelle’s Masterclass, I presented to a group of 300 financial advisers from one company. Following the presentation my colleagues and I were invited to their head office to discuss further business opportunities, particularly around a unique and innovative life insurance product we recently launched. The presentation must have resonated well.
In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle’s training?
I now feel more comfortable with the end to end process of presenting, from how I approach content planning, to identifying the key messages to weave through the presentation, and especially in delivery.
What were your top three take aways from Michelle’s program?
- Building rapport with the audience was a real revelation to me.
- The 4MAT structure for ordering the flow of the content.
- Perfecting my on-stage delivery techniques.