“The way you authentically connect - the way you present yourself has everything to do with your ability to succeed, advance in your career, and motivate other people.”– Bill Smartt

Bill Smartt (Advisoray Profile) is the president of Smartt Talk Inc., and has led communication workshops and individual coaching sessions at American Express, Credit Suisse, Planned Parenthood, Method, Little Pim, General Assembly, Brooklyn Brainery, Sunshine Suites, Arc90, and Kindling Inc. He has experience in account management, software sales, project portfolio management, financial controlling, and as a software product specialist.

Bill brings twenty years of experience to his role as communication coach. He has worked as a performer, teacher, writer and producer in San Francisco, Seattle and New York. Bill has a BA and MFA in Acting, and was an adjunct professor at Queens College from 2004 – 2009.

Bill lent us his valuable time for a interview about his work:

1. Advisoray: What brought you to work in the start-up space?
I worked in IT for years at Credit Suisse, then worked with a smaller tech firm, Arc90 and got introduced to the startup space that way. I love working with start-ups as they are incredibly passionate about the work they are doing.

2. Advisoray: What are some common misconceptions about your profession?
A lot of people (particularly those in the start-up/tech space) avoid taking time to work on being better presenters because they’re afraid that they will seem canned or fake. I can understand where this comes from - as there’s nothing worse than watching someone speak who is not being authentic or connected to what they are saying. I encourage all of my clients to be themselves and avoid taking on a persona that isn’t true to who they are. It’s what makes you unique and stand out from the crowd. That being said, taking time to work on being a better communicator is essential if you want your start-up to take off. You want people to get excited about what you have to offer, and sometimes you’re so immersed in the details that it’s difficult to see the big picture and articulate what it is that is most compelling to people. The first thing that I talk about in my workshops and with clients is that any presentation is ultimately a conversation. If you’ve spoken to more than one person telling a joke or a story at a party - that’s public speaking. Make eye contact, really talk to the people in the room - check to see if they’re getting what you’re saying, just like you do in a conversation.

3. Advisoray: Who would you say is the biggest inspiration in your life and why?
I guess it sounds corny, but my father was a great inspiration to me. He was always able to see the best in people and had a very easy-going way about him. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, and I don’t remember him speaking badly of other people. He always gave people the benefit of the doubt.

4. Advisoray: Do you have any professional regrets?
I’ve learned that regrets are a waste of time. Believe me, I can go there, but I’ve found that you learn from everything that you do. I’ve had a varied background, but everything that has happened up until now informs the coaching that I do.

5. Advisoray: What advice would you give to those interested in your field?
Be patient and be kind to yourself and others. Make sure that you love working with people, enjoy being in the moment, and flying without a net.

6. Advisoray: What projects do you have planned?I’m working on expanding my class offerings to include a lot of the things that I work with clients on: Content Creation, Storytelling, Building your presentation visually, and Leadership skills.

To inquire about Bill Smartt’s communication services, please visit his Advisoray profile: here