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mac-at-kearsarge · Jan 11, 2007, 12:50 AM

I brought this up while Demonhood, Montanan, and I were walking to lunch.

For years, I've cringed everytime Steve has introduced Roz Ho on stage to speak.

But she never made me feel as embarrassed for her the way I did of Stan Sigman (Cingular.AT&T CEO) when he spoke at the keynote yesterday.

If you weren't there for the keynote, watch the Apple stream (Demend should have slowed down this far after the keynote that it shold be watchable) to see what I'm talking about.

Ms. Ho may not be the best speaker in the world, but at least she tries, knows what she's talking about, and stays on topic.

Mr. Sigman on the other hand read his entire thing FROM CARDS (this is probably the #1 no no for public speaking) Having cards to help remind you of each point you need to make is fine, provide you just glance at them. He went off topic talking about the merger between Cingular and AT&T. He also needs to learn to leave the marketing material to the marketing department.

driven · Jan 11, 2007, 01:23 AM

I do public speaking for a living. Quite honestly I was REALLY suprised to see the CEO of a company pull out index cards and sound like he was reading from them verbatim.

I've heard speakers that lacked a grasp of the english language at least get the basics of public speaking down.

... and trust me ... I'm one of the last ones to criticize anyone for public speaking.

brapper · Jan 11, 2007, 02:22 AM

I've got a big time crush on Roz

Stogieman · Jan 11, 2007, 02:26 AM

You forgot to include the CEO of Sony in your poll. If anyone needed cards, it was him.

driven · Jan 11, 2007, 02:37 AM

It really must be hard to follow Steve Jobs on stage in any venue. He goes beyond being a speaker and falls into the showman category.

himself · Jan 11, 2007, 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by brapper

I've got a big time crush on Roz

Folks should leave Roz alone. I think she's kinda cute.

moonmonkey · Jan 11, 2007, 04:19 AM

He reminded me of JR.

Eug · Jan 11, 2007, 07:31 AM

Roz is fine. Mediocre speaker, but at least she doesn't look like an idiot.

I'm just glad it's not Steve Ballmer up on stage.

turtle777 · Jan 11, 2007, 08:42 AM

OMG. I can't get over that monkey boi running the biggest software company in the world.

-t

mdc · Jan 11, 2007, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by mac-at-kearsarge

Ms. Ho may not be the best speaker in the world, but at least she tries, knows what she's talking about, and stays on topic.

Mr. Sigman on the other hand read his entire thing FROM CARDS (this is probably the #1 no no for public speaking) Having cards to help remind you of each point you need to make is fine, provide you just glance at them. He went off topic talking about the merger between Cingular and AT&T. He also needs to learn to leave the marketing material to the marketing department.

That's my opinion exactly. Roz tries, not the best speaker, but she tries and she seems to know what she's talking about.

Stan went on for far too long and he gave me the impression his secretary told him on Monday as he walked out the office that he'd have to be at MacWorld, Tuesday morning. So he sat on the plane writing his speech.
It was awful.

To give both of them, actually anyone who tries, credit. To speak after Steve and still look professional is impossible.

osiris · Jan 11, 2007, 09:43 AM

To follow Steve is nearly impossible. He is a master showman and can sell the devil kerosene heaters in summer.

I don't know who is worse, Ho or Sigman, but I sympathize with them.
I recently learned about public speaking and was 'asked' to do two weeks of seminars for scientists and technology peers.
First day was rough, but as soon as I overcame self-imposed fears, it's became pretty easy and actually quite fun.
Unfortunately, many people never get past the getting over fears part, ala Ralph K: "I brive a dus. A dus a brive."

SSharon · Jan 11, 2007, 10:03 AM

You forgot another option. Bose. I have been reading around here that Bose is the worst speaker around.

scaught · Jan 11, 2007, 11:49 AM

Phil Schiller isn't the best up there, either.

mac-at-kearsarge · Jan 12, 2007, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by scaught

Phil Schiller isn't the best up there, either.

He's not as good as Jobs, but better then Ho. Where he loses major points is he doesn't tuck in his shirt and hard not to notice how it drapes over his gut (As shirt draper myself, I usually tuck in my shirt regardless of whether I'm in business of casual mode)

Kenneth · Jan 12, 2007, 12:05 PM

I also noticed something, both Google CEO and Yahoo co-founder went on stage and felt 'energetic', but the Cingular CEO walked slowly towards the stage.

cSurfr · Jan 13, 2007, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Kenneth

I also noticed something, both Google CEO and Yahoo co-founder went on stage and felt 'energetic', but the Cingular CEO walked slowly towards the stage.

And now you know why. . . he's the Cingular CEO. . . no one said anything about him being the AT&T CEO after Monday.

He probably won't have a job. How energetic would you be?

OwlBoy · Jan 13, 2007, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Kenneth

I also noticed something, both Google CEO and Yahoo co-founder went on stage and felt 'energetic', but the Cingular CEO walked slowly towards the stage.

I thought it was funny how the Yahoo! guy was not ashamed to beg for a free iPhone on stage.

gorgonzola · Jan 13, 2007, 10:16 AM

There have been speakers in the past who did a good job with their Macworld bits and managed to follow Steve OK. Paul Otellini from Intel at WWDC, Kevin Browne from Microsoft (Roz Ho's predecessor), etc.

Stan Sigman and Roz Ho are mindnumbingly boring, though Sigman even more so.

vmarks · Jan 13, 2007, 12:31 PM

roz is an incredibly nice person.
She's also a damn good bowler. if perhaps she could benefit from some toastmaster's sessions, well she works at one very demanding company.

turtle777 · Jan 13, 2007, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by vmarks

roz is an incredibly nice person.
She's also a damn good bowler.

Well, then Steve should invite her to the alley, not on stage.

-t

Salty · Jan 13, 2007, 05:04 PM

See I can sympathize for Roz, I mean public speaking just isn't her thing. I haven't seen the Cingular guy but... I don't mind Roz that much. And she really does want to do good by us Mac geeks so I think good on her for it.

Public speaking though is a lot of fun. You just need to have fun with your audience and talk to them like they're people. It's just like talking to a table full of people, only for the most part they won't talk back.

Kenneth · Jan 13, 2007, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by cSurfr

And now you know why. . . he's the Cingular CEO. . . no one said anything about him being the AT&T CEO after Monday.

He probably won't have a job. How energetic would you be?

I didn't read about his status.