25 Years of Speaking: What No Course Will Ever Teach You
In this solo talk, veteran finance speaker Tom Krieglstein argues that becoming a proficient speaker cannot be shortcut through books, courses, or mentors; only extensive real‑world experience—"time in the market"—builds the ability to handle the endless onstage variables that arise. He shares vivid anecdotes of unexpected client CEOs arriving unannounced, AV failures, participants quitting mid‑session, and dramatically low attendance, illustrating that even after 25 + years he still encounters surprises, though they’re now rare. Krieglstein stresses a dual approach: meticulous agenda planning combined with total flexibility on the day of the event, because no script can anticipate every contingency. He frames these crises as “Tuesday” moments and urges early‑career speakers to seek repeated, real‑world reps rather than chasing hacks or shortcuts.
