Maha Rajagopalan works as the Head of Program Management Office at Device Technologies. She is a strategic business advisory leader, with vast global experience across Retail, Technology and Healthcare industries and adept at setting up commercial PMO’s. She led delivery offices that have delivered significant top line and bottom-line impact at Best Buy (USA), Lowes Inc (USA), Woolworths (ANZ) and numerous other organisations. Maha is a transformational leader these days. Though her journey has included significant stints in operations and management consulting, Maha is known for being an authentic communicator, a trustworthy influencer and a decisive executor. This helps her build teams that provide the right governance and assurance to truly accelerate the business toward achieving the desired outcomes. Maha is a connector at heart and it’s very important to her that work is purposeful and meaningful, because that’s when she is at her best!
Here’s what Maha contributed to the inside cover of Michelle’s best-selling book, How to Present: the ultimate guide to presenting live and online (Wiley) 2nd edition:
“I will cherish Michelle’s persuasive presentation skills training for life! Michelle is a wonderful coach. She is very perceptive, an expert in her area and very engaging! I loved Michelle’s ability to build rapport with our group, keep us honest and really help us laser sharpen our focus on what we are communicating about and how we go about it. For someone like me, whose native language is not English, Michelle’s framework and tips are so beneficial and eye opening! Keep doing what you do best Michelle!”
What kind of presenting do you do at work?
In my role as Head of PMO, I often have to present to executive leaders across the business and to our external partners. I also enjoy participating in industry events where I am often called to present or be on stage.
What prompted you to study with Michelle?
This was an opportunity given to me by my organisation. The Operations Leadership Team was collectively signed up for Michelle’s masterclass. My peers and I had a wonderful learning experience.
How did Michelle’s teaching change your attitude to presenting in business?
Michelle taught me the importance of leaving an impact on my audience. Her ability to get me to think about how I am constructing my case and the impression I will leave on my audience has been a game changer for me. Personally, coming from a background where English is not my native language the frameworks she taught me have been invaluable. Having these tips and tricks makes it easier for me to express myself confidently and coherently.
In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?
I have been more confident when addressing larger groups of people. I am also very well prepared for every opportunity that comes my way. As I increase the number of presentations I am giving, I am certainly getting more attuned to using the structure and linguistic patterns that help me build rapport and motivate my audiences to listen to me, its almost becoming second nature.
In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since learning with Michelle?
I feel more reassured and I am certainly more effective in achieving the outcome I want from every presentation.
What were your top three take-aways from Michelle’s masterclass?
- Icebreaker
- 4Mat and the
- Persuasion Blueprint.
These 3 are non negotiable in all my presentations.