Mastering the Art of Impactful Presentations: A Skills-Focused Webinar

This practical, skills-focused webinar is designed to help you create and deliver impactful presentations, whether you’re sharing research findings, presenting them to library stakeholders, or preparing professional talks for colleagues and conference audiences. Participants will learn both the art of creating compelling slides and the techniques for delivering engaging presentations, with a focus on strategies for both in-person and virtual settings.

During this session, you will gain practical skills to design clear, visually engaging slides, use data to tell a compelling story, and organize your presentation for maximum impact. You’ll also learn delivery techniques to build confidence, connect with diverse audiences, and handle unexpected challenges. These skills are essential for building professional credibility, advancing your career, and effectively communicating your expertise.

This session is ideal for new health sciences librarians, career changers, and information professionals looking to confidently share their work with professional audiences.

Audience

• New Health Sciences Librarians (HSLs) with 3 or fewer years of experience
• Individuals transitioning into HSL roles, recent graduates, and those seeking career advancement
• Information professionals looking to enhance their presentation skills and confidently communicate their ideas to professional audiences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply design principles to create clear, impactful slides that enhance understanding and engage audiences.
• Organize content for logical flow, including strong openings, clear main points, and memorable conclusions.
• Build confidence and presence when presenting, both in-person and virtually.

Presenter

Karen Gutzman, MSLS, MA, is the Head of Research Assessment and Communications at the Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center at Northwestern University. She has extensive experience designing and delivering educational sessions on scholarly communication, research impact, and data visualization, including workshops on creating compelling slides and delivering engaging talks. 

With a background in research assessment and data analysis, Karen has a deep understanding of the principles of visual communication, having worked with faculty, students, and administrators to enhance the impact and visibility of their research. 

Karen’s expertise extends to coding for data visualization, including using tools like Tableau, VOSviewer, and Python, allowing her to translate complex data into clear, impactful presentations. She is an advocate for using visual storytelling to convey complex ideas, making her a valuable resource for those looking to improve their professional presentation skills.