Big Dog Quotes

Career Impact

"A presentation can't make a career, but a presentation can undo a career."

Bryan Lamkin
EVP
Adobe

Organization and Content

"Nobody has ever told me I'd given a presentation that was too short."

Corinne Lyle
CFO
Tularik

"The amount of story telling and emotion diminishes the higher up in the
organization you are presenting to."

Steve Blank
Former CEO, Founder
E.Piphany

"These are type 'A' personalities with short attention spans. Pace is as critical as content."

Dan Warmenhoven
CEO
Network Appliance

"Get undressed quickly."

Mike Lyons
Venture Capitalist

"Stories are powerful...and dangerous."

Dan Warmenhoven
CEO
Network Appliance

"If you are a Big Dog and you are not persuaded by data, then in God we trust...but everyone else, bring data."

Jane Shaw
CEO
Aerogen

"It needs to be good for the customer, good for the shareholders, or bad for the competition, otherwise, why are you telling us this?"

Dan Warmenhoven
CEO
Network Appliance

Visual Aids

"PowerPoint is a crutch for people who are scared of public speaking."

Felicia Marcus
COO
Trust for Public Land

"Senior management is not a bunch of PowerPoint receptor machines."

Felicia Marcus
COO
Trust for Public Land

"PowerPoint slides can bolster your argument, but they can not be your argument."

Bryan Lamkin
EVP
Adobe

Process

"If their eyes are glazing over, get some sort of interaction: ask a question; ask for help; ask for advice."

Steve Kirsch
CEO
Propel

"Get any bad news out real quick. The last thing you want is for me to figure it out before you tell me."

John Kispert
CFO
KLA-Tencor

"Don't do a sell job, but know that passion with a deep knowledge of the subject and the right level of enthusiasm is the most powerful presentation you can put together."

Bryan Lamkin
EVP
Adobe

"Your demeanor is much more important than what you wear." 

Felicia Marcus
COO
Trust for Public Land

"There are certain things that work particularly well: be succinct."

Dan Warmenhoven
CEO
Network Appliance

"You can convey a huge amount of material in 30 seconds." 

Corinne Lyle
CFO
Tularik

"Most executives are not looking to kill their employees. They want them to be quite successful."

Dan Warmenhoven
CEO
Network Appliance

"It's not a presentation, it is a framed discussion." 

Dan Warmenhoven
CEO
Network Appliance

"Executives are all human, or they were at one point. You have to touch them as humans before you can achieve anything else, and you can't do that if you are afraid. Don't be intimidated by the titles. Step on stage with confidence, and they will respond."

Bryan Lamkin
EVP
Adobe