Archive for November, 2008

Things Students Forget About Credit Cards

November 22nd, 2008. Published under UrbanSpeaker. No Comments.

Often when Johnny goes away to college or university, mum and dad will get him a credit card. Although credit cards can be useful, without responsible and mature usage that card can be very dangerous.

Even if you didn’t come to campus with one, chances are there will be some company there on move in day trying to get new customers. And by customers, I mean mostly unemployed students.

Here are a few things to remember/do if you are thinking of getting, or just got a credit card:

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People Profile: Sonja Bata, the philanthopy spreader

November 20th, 2008. Published under UrbanSpeaker. No Comments.

Bata Ltd. is the largest and most successful family-run business on the planet. Husband and wife team, Mr. and Mrs. Bata, controlled the company for years, until Thomas Bata’s death at the age of 93 in early September 2008. He left everything to his wife, a formidable Canadian business woman, who was just turning 82.

Current Positions
Founding Chair, Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto
Board member, Bata Shoe Organization
Chair, Bata Shoe Foundation

Born
Switzerland, in 1926

Awards
Officer of the Order of Canada
Honorary Chairman, World Wildlife Fund, Canada
Woman of the Year, New York Chamber of Commerce (1992)
Chairman, National Design Council

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How To Deliver Superstar Speeches

November 19th, 2008. Published under UrbanSpeaker. 1 Comment.

Although they’re all wrapped up, both in Canada and in the US, the recent elections revealed some really terrific performance nuances from many of the politicians. We saw many small cues that could be easily copied in the boardroom or from the presentation podium to help give you a lasting impression on your audience.

To Do List
One of my personal favourites was used by Mr. Obama during the presidential debate. When speaking, he would look his opponent in the eye for a few seconds, and then he would direct his attention to the audience. This simple cue allowed him to appear focused on the opponent, but at the same time engage audience and appear that he was answering the question to them. He focused on two different points, but never disrupted the focus on him.

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