Read Time: 3 Minutes

Have you ever wondered how some leaders can captivate an audience with seemingly effortless charm and clarity?

Today, we're breaking down a masterclass in impromptu speaking from Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, while she was interviewed by the CEO of Walmart, Doug McMillon. Her ability to weave compelling narratives is exactly the skill I wished I had in my twenties, instead of rambling and losing people's attention when answering questions on the spot.

You can watch the full video breakdown on my website or read below to get the key takeaways.

 

1. Set the Stage with An Intriguing Question

McMillon asked Nooyi, "A month or two ago you tried to get me to go to the Milan Design Show. Why did you decide to invite me to that event?" She could have answered the question directly -- a 1-2 sentence response with the exact rationale.

But instead, given that she was catering to a large crowd, she knew to answer the question indirectly via a story in order to make her point resonate more with her audience.

Nooyi begins her story by piquing our curiosity:

This rhetorical question, "Wha do you I mean by design capability?", immediately engages the audience. We're left wondering, "What does she mean by that?" It's a simple yet effective way to hook your listeners from the start.

Pro Tip: Before diving into your main point, try posing a thought-provoking question. Then, let your audience know that you're about to tell a story that will tie everything together. By letting them know that your story is relevant to them, upfront, you're more likely to keep them hooked throughout the entire duration of your story.

2. Paint a Vivid Picture

Nooyi doesn't just tell us about her experience; she transports us there:

She recounts a particular thought that she had back in 2006. Reliving the exact thoughts you had during a specific moment is a great way to paint a vivid picture.

3. Use a Monologue or Dialogue to Bring Stories to Life

Instead of simply describing what happened, Nooyi reenacts the scene:

By incorporating a quote of herself, she makes the story more dynamic and relatable. We can almost hear her giving instructions to her team.

4. Create Suspense with Previews

Nooyi knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats:

This simple phrase builds anticipation. We're instantly curious about what she discovered, without her giving away what the surprising finding was. Use similar intriguing previews in your own stories to maintain interest throughout your narrative. A few others to consider:

• There was one core takeaway we had.
• I was excited about this for one simple reason.
• No one could figure out why this was happening.

5. Emphasize Key Points with Repetition

When revealing the unexpected outcome of her experiment, Nooyi uses repetition for impact:

Notice how she uses repetition ("Half the people...") to create a visual sequence in our minds. Repeating the same phrase at the beginning of each sentence is called anaphora. When used sparingly, this rhetorical device keeps the audience attentive because it breaks the speech pattern of what people would expect.

6. Conclude with a Clear Takeaway

Nooyi wraps up her story with a concise definition of design thinking:

By providing a clear takeaway, she ensures her audience walks away with a concrete understanding of the concept she's introduced.

7. Use Body Language to Enhance Your Message

Throughout her talk, Nooyi's hand gestures complement her words. She keeps them at her center to show that she's composed. And then when she wants to emphasize a key point, like 'we needed a dash of creativity,' she uses her hands and synchronizes it exactly to those words."

Remember, effective communication isn't just about what you say—it's also about how you say it. 

Mastering these techniques can transform your ability to communicate effectively in any situation, from high-stakes presentations to everyday conversations. They're the kind of skills that can accelerate your career and boost your confidence in public speaking.

If you want a practical framework to answer questions with compelling stories, like Indra does here, ​I recommend reading this blog post covering the ATAT framework​.

And if you found this helpful, the Impromptu Speakers Academy is my 3-week bootcamp to help you become a clear and confident speaker at work. Reserve your spot today while they're still available.

Until next time,

Preston