As Transformation Director at Santander UK, and the inaugural Chair of its Women in Business network, Angela Wakelin is frequently called upon to give presentations. It’s a skill she has honed over her 25 year career in the financial services sector, which started with a post-A Level job in a branch of NatWest Bank. Many different roles with the RBS Group followed, mainly in corporate banking. In 2008 Angela moved to Santander to help set up its corporate banking business as Chief Operations Officer, then became Director of Product Oversight and Control.
In 2012 Angela moved into the retail distribution division as Transformation Director, responsible for managing key change programmes to ensure smooth transition to the new, customer-focused, multi-channel bank. Challenging the perceptions of the male-dominated world of banking, Angela encapsulates the diverse cultural spirit at Santander.
Here she talks about the variety of presentations she gives, how she prepares, what makes a successful presentation – and what to avoid.
WHAT TOOLS DO YOU USE TO PREPARE FOR A PRESENTATION?
I personally write what I am going to say on cue cards and rehearse it, though often I don’t end up using the cards – the process just helps me to prepare. I keep in touch with current news so I can weave that in to my presentation to keep it in the moment. I don’t go too heavy on slides but it’s good to use some visuals and videos, and jokes don’t come naturally to me, so I just try to get across who I am. If I say something funny that’s a bonus.
WHAT TYPE OF PRESENTATIONS DO YOU NEED TO GIVE IN YOUR ROLE?
All sorts, including updates to senior executives, presentations designed to increase staff communication, engagement and motivation, and presentations to external parties about what we are doing.
DO YOU STILL GET NERVOUS?
Yes, but not as much as I used to. I think it is good to have a few nerves, though.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE SOMEONE ON COPING WITH THEIR NERVES?
Realise that it is not unusual to be nervous, then stick to presentations about subjects that you are good at, and which you are guaranteed to know more about than anyone else in the room.
CAN YOU TELL US OF A TIME WHEN A PRESENTATION WENT BADLY FOR YOU?
Some presentations could have been better but there have never been any real disasters.
WHY DID IT GO BADLY?
Usually when a presentation has gone badly, it is because I have not paid enough attention to stakeholder engagement and have failed to get support from the alliances in the room. Sometimes it has been because I have not had enough preparation time. As you do more presentations you find that it takes less time to prepare, but I never become complacent and always do some preparation.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE WORST PRESENTATION ‘SIN’?
I think it’s showing too many slides and too many numbers. I’ve also cringed when someone has tried to be funny and failed.
