This year’s inaugural Vimeo REFRAME user conference was a true milestone, showcasing Vimeo’s bold new trajectory in enterprise video while celebrating its 20th anniverary. This event, Vimeo’s first of its kind, went beyond its usual virtual gatherings for creative users, unveiling groundbreaking innovations, establishing Vimeo as a comprehensive, go-to partner for enterprise clients and setting the stage for the future of video.
“At Vimeo, we have always been about the creator and helping them rise above the noise and be genuine. We have this deep history of innovating for the video storyteller,” said Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer, capturing Vimeo’s commitment to supporting creators of all kinds.
Crafting Presentations That Resonate
My work began months before the conference by supporting the Vimeo REFRAME team in refining their content strategy. As registrations poured in and the audience profile became more defined I emphasized the need for a well-defined, overarching message that runs throughout the conference. I participated in internal conversations where we discussed: Why is Vimeo holding this conference? What is the goal of doing this work? We collaborated to determine a core message or theme that would resonate broadly and powerfully with all in attendance and achieve Vimeo’s business objectives. A message, like a chorus in the song, that would get stuck in the minds of the audience long after the event was over.
Once the conference’s core message was defined, we dove a layer deeper into the individual sessions to see how they aligned with the core message.
To achieve this, each presentation was anchored by using an audience-centric presentation abstract targeting these questions:
- What do we want them to do, remember, and feel by that end?
- Why are we doing this presentation?
- Why does it matter to the audience?
This focused approach ensured every presentation was not only engaging but filled with clarity, purposeful emotion and stories, next-level insights, and actionable takeaways.
Coaching Across Three Distinct Speaker Groups
The Vimeo REFRAME conference brought together speakers from varied backgrounds, each with unique presentation needs. Coaching each group required a tailored approach which I’ve broken down below.
Vimeo C-Suite Executives
For Vimeo’s executive leaders, the task was to present Vimeo’s vision and commitment to enterprise clients in an inspiring yet grounded way.
I worked with them during their virtual and onstage rehearsals to elevate their stage presence, pacing, tonality, and non-verbal presentation skills to confidently communicate Vimeo’s forward-thinking mission.
Product Managers
Working with Vimeo’s product leaders — including Zohar Dayan, SVP of Product; Megan Dunleavy, Sr. Product Director; Matt Fisher, VP of Product Engineering; Ari Ross, Principal Product Manager; and Bennett Marano, Product Marketing Lead — ahead of their REFRAME 2024 conference session was all about transforming their technical expertise into an engaging, impactful story. These leaders brought a unique perspective to Vimeo’s latest innovations, from security and compliance to workforce engagement and spatial video.
My role was to help them turn their knowledge into a brilliant presentation by developing their storytelling delivery skills—voice modulation, gesturing, stage presence, and transition moments.
Through virtual dry runs and onstage rehearsals, we refined their storytelling delivery techniques. They could genuinely connect with both the in-person and virtual audiences because we strategically included purposeful pauses, voice variance, content-congruent movement, and gestures, and synchronized the timing of their words seamlessly with the big-screen visuals and confidence monitors. The result was a session that not only showcased Vimeo’s advancements but also embodied the storytelling power that drives video innovation today. You can view the entire session on-demand here.
Guest Speakers
This group included industry figures such as Bilawal Sidhu, Creative Technologist, The TED AI Show, and Vanessa Correa, VP of Marketing Strategy at JPMorgan Chase. Personalizing coaching to each guest speaker allowed me to amplify their individual style, build their confidence, fine-tune their audience engagement techniques, and confirm their message will simultaneously resonate with the audience and drive towards Vimeo’s corporate objectives.
The Transformative Power of Embedded Speaker Coaching
One of the most fulfilling aspects of this role was the chance to integrate deeply with Vimeo’s content team and the event’s production company, Cramer, providing pre-event and on-site coaching and support. From early content development to refining storylines, assessing energy levels, and making last-minute adjustments, my goal was to ensure every speaker was fully prepared before they arrived in New York. Then once there, I was responsible for making sure they were in the the green room at the designated time, confident to command the stage, and ready to be brilliant!
This seamless, holistic coaching approach empowered speakers to deliver with authenticity and clarity, allowed them to genuinely connect with the audience, and achieved Vimeo’s conference objectives.
“The Vimeo REFRAME conference underscored the vital role skilled speaker coaching plays in shaping the success of a conference. Every speaker, no matter their background or level of speaking expertise, was able to elevate the event, creating a dynamic experience for all attendees.” – Patti Schutte, Founder and Chief Presentation Strategist at Be Brilliant Presentation Group
Elevate Your Conference with Pre-Event and On-Site Coaching for Conference Speakers
Are you planning an event or conference and want to ensure your speakers are brilliant; and able to deeply resonate and connect with your audience in a way that motivates and achieves your business goals? Our comprehensive pre-event and on-site coaching services support every level of speaker in creating story-focused, inspiring presentations guaranteed to elevate your event from good to brilliant. Turn your conference into a can’t-miss experience with our coaching expertise—click here to learn more or book a time to chat with us.
Be Brilliant Presentation Group specializes in empowering individuals, business teams, and conference speakers to become influential, results-oriented presenters. Led by CEO/Founder Patti Schutte, the company is renowned for helping subject-matter experts master high-stakes presentations that drive tangible results. Patti’s mission is to unlock public speaking potential and transform presentation skills to achieve brilliant outcomes.
