Creative Agency Account Manager Podcast Win the room: How to prep for presentations, with Martin Barnes
Mar 17, 2026
51:40
Welcome to Episode 159. If you’ve ever walked into a client meeting (or a pitch… or a QBR… or onto a stage) and thought, “I’ve got so much to cover - how do I say it without losing people?” - you’re going to love this one.
I'm joined by Martin Barnes, Founder of 8 Seconds 2 Connect and Leadership Communication expert.
Martin help leaders communicate at the moments that matter. When a big idea needs to land, shift a room, or spark momentum. His background spans 25 years in design, advertising, and film across the UK and China. He's pitched to Hollywood producers, coached C-suite teams at Mercedes, ByteDance, VW, and Cartier, and helped founders raise millions and step onto TEDx stages.
In this episode, Martin and I talk about why stories build trust faster than “look how much I know” - and how to share your expertise without sounding like you’re selling, name-dropping, or talking about yourself too much.
We also get into the “data dump” problem: what to do when you’ve got loads of information, but you want the room to actually listen. And Martin shares a really practical way to prepare for presentations, especially if you get nervous, using voice notes and repetition so it feels less scary and more familiar.
You can connect with Martin here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbarnespresentations/
If you’d like to be kept updated with shifts in the agency world as they relate to the account management role, or you’d like to speak to me about client retention and growth training options, head to https://www.accountmanagementskills.com
You can also sign up to my newsletter there, and you’ll find the AI readiness quiz too.
I'm joined by Martin Barnes, Founder of 8 Seconds 2 Connect and Leadership Communication expert.
Martin help leaders communicate at the moments that matter. When a big idea needs to land, shift a room, or spark momentum. His background spans 25 years in design, advertising, and film across the UK and China. He's pitched to Hollywood producers, coached C-suite teams at Mercedes, ByteDance, VW, and Cartier, and helped founders raise millions and step onto TEDx stages.
In this episode, Martin and I talk about why stories build trust faster than “look how much I know” - and how to share your expertise without sounding like you’re selling, name-dropping, or talking about yourself too much.
We also get into the “data dump” problem: what to do when you’ve got loads of information, but you want the room to actually listen. And Martin shares a really practical way to prepare for presentations, especially if you get nervous, using voice notes and repetition so it feels less scary and more familiar.
You can connect with Martin here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbarnespresentations/
If you’d like to be kept updated with shifts in the agency world as they relate to the account management role, or you’d like to speak to me about client retention and growth training options, head to https://www.accountmanagementskills.com
You can also sign up to my newsletter there, and you’ll find the AI readiness quiz too.