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ScaleX Insider PodcastAuthor: Brendan McGurgan
My name is Brendan McGurgan and I am immersed in the world of scaleup businesses. In 2020, myself and business partner Claire Colvin co-founded Simple Scaling with the sole purpose of inspiring and enabling millions of ambitious leaders to scale with purpose. Over the past two years we have researched and examined our success and the success of those who have 'been there and done it' to create the 10 Principles of Scaling which is enshrined in our ScaleX Framework. As an extension of this we have created the ScaleX Insider Podcast. Every week I will be having fascinating conversations with authors, change makers and business leaders on one or more of the ScaleX Principles to support you on your journey to success. I believe passionately in business scaleup and most importantly the wellbeing of you - the aspirational scaleup leader. New episodes on Wednesdays. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts, and please rate, review and share the podcast if you enjoy it. For more information go to: www.simplescaling.com. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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[ScaleX Bite-Size] – Nancy Duarte: The Do's & Don'ts of Presentations That Actually Land
Episode 12
Friday, 9 January, 2026
Nancy Duarte breaks down the biggest mistakes leaders make when preparing presentations—and the simple mindset shift that changes everything. In this clip, she explains why empathy matters more than slides, how message always beats visuals, and why most leaders are using the wrong format for the wrong moment. KEY INSIGHTS: Empathy is the starting point of every great presentation—know how your audience consumes information Slides should never come before strategy; message and delivery matter more than visuals Not every meeting needs a PowerPoint—sometimes a whiteboard or diagram is more powerful Presentations and "slide docs" serve different purposes and should never be confused The messy middle—half presentation, half document—is where clarity goes to die THE CRITICAL LESSON: Great communication isn't about prettier slides—it's about respecting how your audience thinks, listens, and decides. When you design for empathy first, your message lands with far greater impact. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS: Ask first: Who am I speaking to and how will they consume this? Clarify whether you're delivering a presentation or a document—never both Build the message before touching slides Use simple visuals to anchor ideas, not overwhelm them Create separate templates for stage presentations and slide docs ABOUT NANCY DUARTE: Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte, Inc. and one of the world's leading communication experts. She has advised global brands and leaders for over 35 years, authored six bestselling books, and decoded the structure behind the most influential speeches of our time. CONNECT WITH NANCY DUARTE: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nancyduarte 🔗Website: https://www.duarte.com/ WATCH FULL EPISODE: 🔗 [Link to full Nancy Duarte episode]
