A speaker introduction is the shortest piece of writing at most events, and one of the easiest to spoil. A good one takes a couple of minutes, gets the audience interested in the topic and hands the stage to the speaker with energy. A bad one recites a career history, mangles a name or runs so long that the speaker starts on a cold room.
This guide covers how to prepare and write an introduction for a conference session, a company event, a webinar or a community talk. If you are the speaker, the same principles tell you what to put in the bio you give the host; our guide to writing a founder bio for a press kit covers the written version.
A biography and an introduction are different things
Eventbrite's guide to introducing an event speaker makes a distinction worth keeping in mind. A biography is written in the third person and is meant to be read silently, on a website or in print. An introduction is spoken, and it should focus on the event and the topic. Reading a speaker's biography aloud, line by line, turns a spoken moment into a recitation, so pick a few details and leave the rest on the page.
Step 1: Talk to the speaker first
Both Eventbrite and Alec Jacobson, in a February 2026 post on how to introduce a speaker, recommend contacting the speaker before the event. Eventbrite suggests speaking with them in person, by phone or by email to understand the talk and its relevance to the audience, checking that their details and the subject are still current, and asking what they would like you to say. Jacobson recommends emailing ahead to confirm how to pronounce the speaker's name and which pronouns they use, noting that some speakers will send an audio recording of their name.
This one conversation prevents most of the common errors. Eventbrite lists them: outdated facts, incorrect names or job titles, irrelevant details, an introduction that runs too long and failing to consult the speaker beforehand. Do not rely on a bio you found online without checking that it is current.
Step 2: Get the name right
Eventbrite stresses knowing exactly how to pronounce the name and rehearsing it before the event, and Jacobson points out that a mispronounced name leaves the speaker embarrassed, which a good introduction should avoid. If the speaker's organization has an unusual name, check that too. Write the pronunciation in your notes phonetically, in a way you can read at a glance.
Step 3: Decide how long it should be
Length depends on the event. Jacobson notes that a session chair at a conference may only announce the title, the authors' names, their affiliations and the presenter, while a seminar or keynote introduction may run a couple of minutes. Eventbrite recommends keeping it brief, at two to three minutes, and moving on to the speaker. For most business events, aim for the short end of that range. Stop when you have given the audience a reason to listen, not when you have run out of facts.
Step 4: Choose what goes in
Pick the details that matter to this audience. Eventbrite suggests an outline that covers the speaker's name, the title they prefer, why they were chosen, how the topic connects to the event and why it matters to this audience. Jacobson lists useful points: the speaker's current position, their best-known work, what they are working on now, and any awards, service or unusual background. He also notes that the introducer can mention a personal connection to the speaker.
A practical order that works for most events:
- Why this talk matters here. Eventbrite recommends starting by telling the audience what they will gain from the talk.
- Why this speaker. Two or three credentials directly relevant to the topic. Skip the full chronology.
- The close. Eventbrite suggests ending with light humor, a brief shared anecdote or a quotation from the speaker's interviews, books or articles. Use humor only when you are confident it will land with both the speaker and the audience, and avoid sensitive or personal details unless the speaker has approved them.
- The name. End with the speaker's name so the audience knows when to applaud.
Step 5: Build to the name
Jacobson suggests referring to the speaker as "our speaker today," or by their pronouns, throughout and then ending with a line such as "Please welcome" followed by the name, leading into applause. Holding the name until the end gives the introduction a natural point of arrival. He adds a blunt test: if the audience does not clap after your introduction, it did not work.
Phrases to avoid
Jacobson recommends avoiding the line "needs no introduction." He says it can make parts of the audience feel patronized, and it can undercut the speaker's confidence. If the speaker really is well known, mention what makes them so, in a sentence.
Delivery tips
- Do not rush. Eventbrite advises pausing where needed and not trying to cover everything at speed.
- Keep the focus on the speaker. The introduction is not a chance to talk about yourself, beyond a brief personal connection if it helps.
- Write for the ear. Use short sentences and avoid long lists of titles. Read the draft aloud and mark every place you run out of breath.
- Rehearse. Say the whole thing out loud at least once, with the name.
A fill-in outline
This is a template, not a script about a real person. Fill each bracket with a verified fact and adjust the order to the event.
[Opening line: what the audience will get from the next [minutes] and why it matters to this group.] Our speaker today is [full name], [current title] at [organization]. [Two sentences on the most relevant credentials, work or recognition.] [One sentence on what the speaker is working on now or the specific topic of the talk.] [Optional: a brief personal connection or quotation, approved by the speaker.] Please welcome [full name].
For speakers: send the host what they need
If you are the person being introduced, make the host's job easy. Send a short introduction of your own, in the third person, that you are happy to have read as written. Include the pronunciation of your name (an audio clip works) and your current title. Keep it under the length the event expects. Our guides on speaking bureau strategy for executives and thought leadership programs explain how speaking fits into a wider communications plan, and a good media kit can carry the same material.
A checklist before the event
- Speaker contacted, details and current title confirmed.
- Pronunciation confirmed and rehearsed, including the organization name.
- Pronouns confirmed.
- Length matched to the event, with the two-to-three-minute ceiling in mind.
- Content chosen for this audience, not a full career history.
- Any humor or personal detail approved by the speaker.
- The speaker's name saved for the final line.
- Read aloud at least once.
The takeaway
A speaker introduction works when it is prepared with the speaker, short enough to respect the audience and built to land on the speaker's name. Confirm the facts, get the pronunciation right and give the audience a reason to listen. Then step aside.
Sources
- Eventbrite, "How to introduce an event speaker": https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/blog/introduce-event-speaker-ds00/ (length of two to three minutes, content outline, pronunciation, preparing with the speaker, delivery, common mistakes, biography versus introduction)
- Alec Jacobson, "How to Introduce a Speaker" (February 10, 2026): https://alecjacobson.com/weblog/how-to-introduce-a-speaker.html (length depends on event, contact speaker in advance, pronunciation and pronouns, what to say, avoiding "needs no introduction", building to the name)