“Dilbert Makes His Point: How Techies Speak with Positive Impact to Non-techies”
Yvonne T. Ryan, Founder, President and Coach, Leaders Edge CA
Ever felt like you were speaking a foreign language when conversing with, or presenting your ideas to, non-technical people? Their eyes glaze over, they fidget, yawn, or even make an excuse to leave the room. In point of fact, the language of science, engineering and mathematics is often foreign to the uninitiated.
In addition, the details of your work that you appreciate as precise, beautifully complex (or simple), and full of wonder may lack any significant appeal to a board member, a venture capitalist, a marketing or sales person, or your family. You want them to understand; you may even need them to understand (especially when you are seeking funding or support for an important project). What do you do when your efforts to communicate fall short of your (and often their) expectations, ending in frustration and disappointment?
Let Yvonne T. Ryan, the Techie Leadership Coach, help you learn the secrets to communicating effectively with those outside your discipline. After attending this presentation, you will have a better understanding of how to relate to non-technical people, influence their thinking, and speak to them in terms and concepts with which they can identify. Don’t isolate yourself in an “ivory tower.” Learn to move beyond the confines of your cubicle or lab and communicate the wonders of your work to the rest of the world. You’ll be glad you did!
Yvonne T. Ryan spent over 25 years developing her understanding of what constitutes good leadership (and how best to apply it in a technical environment) while working in a variety of positions from engineering team leader to Director of Engineering and acting Vice-President of Engineering, with stints along the way as Program Manager, Project Manager, and consultant. In short, she knows and understands the in-and-outs of middle management (and has the battle scars to prove it).
Yvonne's technical and leadership experience spans a wide range of industries, including EDA, manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, computer language and translator design, and business systems. In addition, she is a trained mediator, a certified Instructor-of-Trainers, and an instructional designer who specializes in experiential and online learning. Yvonne’s experiences as a manager, mentor, and educator, and her ability to aid the recovery of companies and projects in crisis eventually led her to transition into a full-time career in coaching, facilitation, and education.
