Presentations and talks
Write a speaker introduction with relevant details
An introduction tells the audience why this speaker is here to talk about this topic, then steps aside. Choose two or three details that bear on the talk, confirm each with the speaker or a record you can cite, and finish with a sentence that hands over the floor.
A text to start with
I am introducing [speaker name, with pronunciation if known] before a talk titled [title] for [audience]. The speaker's own bio says [paste bio]. Draft an introduction of about [seconds or word count] that explains why the topic fits this speaker, uses only details in the bio I pasted, and ends with a handoff sentence. List any detail I should confirm with the speaker first.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Speaker introduction brief
Speaker name as written: [ ] Pronunciation and who confirmed it: [ ] Talk title: [ ] Audience: [ ] Time allowed for the introduction: [ ] Why this speaker fits this topic: [ ] Detail 1: [ ] Source that verifies it: [ ] Detail 2: [ ] Source that verifies it: [ ] Detail 3: [ ] Source that verifies it: [ ] Details left out and why: [ ] Handoff sentence: [ ] Speaker approved the final text on: [ ]
Verify and trim the details
Compare each fact with the speaker's own bio or with a record you can point to. Awards, titles and employers change, so ask the speaker what they want said now. Remove anything that does not connect to today's topic, however impressive it sounds. Check that the pronunciation guide matches how the speaker says their own name, since a guess is easy to get wrong. Read the draft aloud and time it, because introductions tend to run longer than planned.
Ask another agent to check the result
Check this introduction against the bio I supplied. Remove any award, credential or claim the bio does not state, and flag history that does not relate to today's topic. List each removal with the reason, then show the shortened version.
Confirm with the speaker
Send the final introduction to the speaker and ask them to approve or correct it, including how to say their name. Print the text in a large size or keep it on a device you can read in dim light. Practice the handoff sentence so you can say it looking at the audience. If the speaker wants a shorter version, cut from the middle.