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APRIL 2025

Tips for Effective Presentations

Solid presentation skills are important in today's workplace. Not only do they demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, but they also enhance confidence and engagement with the audience. Mastering the art of presenting can lead to improved professional relationships, increased influence, and even career advancement. Whether you’re new to your field or a seasoned professional, it’s always smart to sharpen your presentation skills. Here are a few key elements of a successful presentation to keep in mind:

 

Connect with the Audience

Your listeners will feel as though you’re addressing them personally by making eye contact. The best way to do this is to locate someone who seems engaged, actively listening, and interested in your talk. Achieve eye contact with them early in the presentation, and as you settle in and feel calmer, gradually look across the audience and connect with others. Return your gaze to the original person throughout the presentation to regain your sense of calm. And don’t forget to smile. Appearing friendly and approachable exudes confidence and helps your listeners relate to you and your topic.

 

Be Emphatic

Good posture and body language are important elements of an effective presentation. Stand tall and try to appear relaxed. Use your hands, arms, and facial expressions to emphasize key points. Avoid crossing your arms, holding your hands behind your back, or putting hands in your pockets during a presentation as those hand positions close you off and make you seem less approachable. Don’t be afraid to flash a friendly smile throughout your presentation to signal that you enjoy the topic, are confident in your knowledge, and are happy to be spending time sharing information with your audience.

 

 

 

AISES FACES

 

The AISES team is made up of passionate people striving to provide Turtle Island with Indigenous STEM knowledge, resources, programming, and events. Every individual contributes their skills and expertise to support the advancement of Indigenous students and professionals in STEM studies.

 

 

Dr. Terry Chavis (Lumbee), Senior Program Officer for Curriculum and Instruction, AISES

What is your role at AISES and how does it impact our members?

My work as the Senior Program Officer in Curriculum Instruction works alongside professionals in providing frameworks on incorporating Indigenous knowledges into their curriculum or practice.

 

As an experienced presenter, what are the top three tips you would share with professionals who may fear giving presentations or want to strengthen their presentation skills?

As the senior program officer in Curriculum and Instruction I work alongside professionals to provide frameworks on incorporating Indigenous knowledges into their curriculum or practice.

As an experienced presenter, what are the top three tips you would share with professionals who may fear giving presentations or want to strengthen their presentation skills?

1. Be authentic! They are there to see you! Participants can easily assess if the presenter is reading from a script or is too rigid.

2. Speak with passion, and the rest will come with ease. Your audience wants to be as excited about the topic as you are! You agreed to provide your expertise. Is your area of expertise not also your passion?

3. Move around if you can. This will help with nervousness and prevent stiffness during your presentation.

 

Tell us more about the Adobe CLOUDS leadership program? How can readers get involved?

We hope the participants will immerse themselves in the program to learn more about Indigenous Leadership skills and how to incorporate them into their practice. This opportunity will allow college students to complete the Adobe Learn Certifications, attend monthly reflection-activity webinars, and attend the CLOUDS gathering in July 2025. Students will form groups at the gathering and produce a product for a competition. The top five teams will receive an all-expense paid trip to the AISES National Conference to compete. We are accepting applicants on a rolling basis. Those interested can find out more and apply here: .

 

Anything else you’d like to share?

Many Indigenous cultures are rooted in storytelling. Understanding that presenting is a form of storytelling can help you with preparing for the task at hand. As the late Dr. Maya Angelou said, "... you carry your people with you in that room." Carry your people (family, friends, and ancestors) with you into the presentation and you will see how proud you make them.

 

 

 

 

 

RESOURCES

Resources for AISES Members

AISES events, like the National and Regional conferences and Professional Chapter meetings are great opportunities to network. See the list of upcoming events in the Save the Date section below.

 

Have you had a chance to connect with us on ? Check out our posts to get professional development information and more from AISES, our partners, and other members.

 

Online Resources

Get the AISES Nation App Today

The AISES Nation app is a space for AISES members to come together, share their cultural knowledge, celebrate each other's successes, and build community. This virtual hangout is your one-stop-shop to make meaningful connections and easily access all the amazing AISES programs in one place! To download the app, go to the App Store/Google Play store on your phone and type AISES Nation. You can also join the platform online .

 

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

 

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of International Affairs (IA), in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), is seeking a highly motivated candidate for an Energy Markets Data Fellowship. This opportunity is ideal for individuals interested in contributing to U.S. international energy policy through rigorous data analysis and market research. The selected fellow will collaborate with IA staff to support the Department’s international energy engagement by collecting, organizing, and synthesizing data on global energy markets. The fellow’s participation on this project will inform high-level policy discussions, strategic briefings, and collaboration with international partners.

 

Northwest Native American Center of Excellence – Portland, Ore.

Wy’east Medicine is a tuition-free post-baccalaureate health education Pathway for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) learners who are passionate about becoming physicians. We recruit nationwide and our scholars receive a monthly stipend throughout the 10-month Pathway. Apply by May 9.

 

JOB OPENINGS

BAE Systems Inc.

– Boulder, Colo.

– Reston, Va.

 

BluePearl – Frederick, Md.

 

ETH Zürich – Zürich, Switzerland

 

The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology – Jupiter, Fla.

 

Leidos – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

 

Nexstar Media Group

– Rochester, N.Y.

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, Tenn.

 

Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, Va.

 

Wells Fargo – San Antonio, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Paths to Opportunities and Winds of Change are published exclusively by AISES.

AISES works to substantially increase the representation of Indigenous peoples in STEM studies and careers.

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