Pitch Workshop in Paris:
Learn to Convince in Minutes
Learn to convince in a few minutes
The International Club of Paris organized a workshop dedicated to the art of pitching, led by professional coach Veronika Salnikova. The atmosphere was studious, but very lively. About fifteen participants were gathered: students, young professionals, business owners, and Club volunteers.
From the beginning, one thing is clear: this is not just a theoretical course. The workshop is participatory. Everyone can participate, ask questions, and share their experience.
Participants with varied profiles
Among them, Anand, Indian, young entrepreneur, explains his motivation:
“I have been working in France for two years, and I see this workshop as a great opportunity to acquire new skills. When I discovered this workshop in Paris, organized for Club members and accessible in just two and a half hours, it immediately interested me.
Other members of the Club had already participated, which encouraged me. I think it’s important for anyone living in Paris who is already in the workforce to try this type of workshop. It’s not very expensive, it’s in Paris, and I came today to learn something new, make connections, and expand my professional “family” a bit.”
The coach’s journey
Veronika Salnikova begins by presenting her background. Originally from Latvia, she arrived in France as part of a master’s program in marketing through the Erasmus program. She worked in digital marketing for fourteen years before becoming a professional coach in 2020.
During her studies, she completed an internship at the International Club of Paris, then volunteered. Today, she works there as a coach and leads various personal development workshops.
She emphasizes the importance of the Club’s supportive environment:
“I chose to lead these workshops with the International Club of Paris because I find it important to give the Club members the keys to successfully deliver their pitch in a supportive environment.”
The participants come from different countries and have varied professions. This diversity allows us to use collective intelligence, think together, and come up with new ideas. I am delighted to contribute to this dynamic.
What is a pitch?
Veronika defines the pitch as a short presentation of oneself or one’s project, whose objective is to convince, to mark minds and to make people want to know more.
To illustrate the importance of oral communication, she evokes Martin Luther King, known for his mastery of oratory techniques: silences, rhythm variations, gestures, metaphors and repetitions. The message passes better when the form supports the substance.
According to her, knowing how to pitch has become essential:
“Mastering one’s pitch allows one to gain self-confidence and develop soft skills. It is also a major asset for professional development: obtaining a position, presenting a project or convincing investors.”
Why learn to pitch?
Veronika recalls the most frequent difficulties:
- the stress and the jitters,
- the lack of structure and synthesis,
- a monotonous or too weak voice,
- an inappropriate posture or gestures,
- the language tics and repetitions,
- the lack of interaction with the audience.
Pitching is both a professional and personal skill. This develops self-confidence, the ability to convince, managing emotions, synthesis and eloquence.
These issues speak directly to the participants. Amélie, a French Syrian, an IT developer and volunteer with the Club, explains:
“I work in IT and regularly need to explain topics or lead meetings. This workshop helps me organize my ideas and present a theme in a few minutes.”
The keys to a successful pitch
Veronika details the essential elements:
- define its objectives and key ideas,
- build a clear framework,
- be concise, with short and impactful sentences,
- work on his posture and gestures,
- looking the public in the eyes,
- create connections through storytelling and personal examples.
Smiling helps too.
For her, the difference lies in authenticity:
“What makes a pitch unique is the personal touch. It is necessary to show that one is truly committed to their project, share experiences and sincerely express their enthusiasm.”
A practical and interactive workshop
The workshop alternates theoretical contributions and exchanges. Veronika explains that our deep motivations are the driving force behind our actions.
- On the professional level: convince, advance a project, motivate, convey messages.
- On the personal level: surpassing oneself, overcoming one’s shyness, showing one’s qualities and having fun.
Anand finds this dimension in his experience of the Club:
“I have been a member of the Club International de Paris for about four months. I first participated in the French-English workshop, then I became a volunteer.
What I appreciate is the calm and respectful atmosphere. It’s not just a place to learn a language, it’s also a space to create real human connections.”
Structure one’s speech
Participants discover the preparation steps: note their ideas, organize their arguments, write their speech and practice. Veronika insists on the importance of adapting her message to her audience.
She quotes Winston Churchill:
“An improvised speech was rewritten three times.”
For Amélie, this phase is crucial:
“The most difficult thing for me is to start. In a few minutes, it’s not easy to summarize an idea. I need methods to know how to start a meeting.”
Posture, stress, and work on oneself
Veronika then addresses the ideal posture: standing, feet well anchored, a straight back, open shoulders, and smooth breathing. She recalls that physical proximity promotes proximity of ideas.
To manage stress, she advises to:
- breathe calmly,
- drink a glass of water,
- ask a question to the audience,
- walk slightly.
She also mentions NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) to anchor positive emotions and proposes a relaxation exercise. Participants close their eyes, breathe and refocus. The goal is to train regularly so that it becomes natural.
Become a good speaker
To conclude, Veronika defines the qualities of a good speaker:
- charisma, ability to arouse interest and enthusiasm,
- self-confidence,
- the ability to identify one’s limiting beliefs and transform them into resourceful beliefs,
- the application of the small steps method to progress sustainably.
After the theory, each participant prepares a one to three-minute pitch and presents it in front of the group, before receiving constructive feedback.
This back and forth between the coach’s contributions and the participants’ testimonies gives the workshop a dynamic rhythm. Everyone leaves with concrete tools, but above all with more confidence to dare to speak out.
