At the last event I emceed, I warned Cassie Campbell-Pascall, when she arrived, that I was going to act like a “super fan” and not to worry… 😉
For anyone who doesn’t know her, and you should, Cassie Campbell-Pascall is one of the greatest hockey players Canada has ever produced.
- Two Olympic gold medals.
- Multiple World Championship titles.
- The first woman ever to captain the Canadian national team. Twice.
After she hung up her skates she became one of the most recognized broadcasters in Canadian hockey.
She didn’t just cross over into a male-dominated industry. She became a fixture in it!
Did I mention how funny she is??
Before she took the stage I hid behind the decor of plants to “get closer to her.” I was “escorted” back to my seat.
She commented about who the weirdo was (me) and then, spontaneously, proceeded to ask me to come back on stage to click her slides for the entire presentation, but told me to keep my distance…In front of everyone …and asked me to sit on the opposite side of the stage and click from there.
It. Was. Hysterical.
Occasionally, she’d look over and ask “If I was ok over there…!?”
The room loved it!
Here is what struck me beyond the laughs. She was impeccably prepared. Her content was tight, her stories were sharp, and yet she remained completely spontaneous.
She read the room, referenced the GMs and their pain points and wove her message directly into their world.
Championship preparation. Championship presence.
And genuinely, effortlessly funny.
Watching someone operate at that level, on a stage rather than on ice, reminded me exactly why I do what I do.
It’s so important to be prepared, know your audience and then go with the flow.
If you have an event coming up and you need someone to make the links between speakers and messaging, someone who is literally trained to make good go to great, reach out. Heads up….. there will be laughs!