Page 57 - Finanancial Management_Feb_Apr23

Ways to establish

yourself as a

finance conference

speaker

Speaking in front of other finance professionals
at conferences and seminars will help you build
influence and credibility.

By Teri Saylor

hen Lindsay Stevenson, said. “They asked good questions, and I felt Take a unique approach
CPA, CGMA, launched that I left them with useful information Sometimes it can seem that conference
her career in accounting they could use in their businesses.” speakers are all the same, delivering
and finance, she wanted After a few similar presentations, she identical messages in a uniform way,
W to engage in public started building her credibility as an which can come across as boring.
speaking to enhance her career but didn’t effective presenter and was able to Choosing topics that you are highly
know where to start. expand to audiences in other business comfortable with will give you the
Seeking advice, she turned to sectors, including her fellow finance confidence to craft presentations in a
colleagues and clients in different professionals. unique and interesting way, Gavin said.
business sectors and discovered that real Stevenson is chief transformation “You could find yourself speaking in
estate professionals often need instruction officer at BPM, a US-based accounting and front of experts who may know as much as
in areas of finance. She contacted groups consulting firm with international offices you do about your topic, but it’s how you
of real estate agents to offer her services as in India and the Cayman Islands. She and approach the subject that will make you
an instructor and began educating them Megan Gavin, associate director–ENGAGE stand out as a speaker the audience will
on accounting and finance topics such as & Global Events for AICPA & CIMA, remember,” she said.
understanding property taxation and how together as the Association of In these post-pandemic times, people
to interpret income tax returns. International Certified Professional are seeking human interaction and fresh
“The audience could easily relate to that Accountants, provide some tips for finance ways to learn, Gavin said.
topic because they often get finance professionals interested in exploring “We often receive feedback from
queries from their buyers and sellers,” she conference speaking opportunities. conference participants that they want to

FM-MAGAZINE.COM April 2023 I FM MAGAZINE I 13