Does this sound familiar? You take a deep breath and step onto the stage. The applause fades, you clear your throat and… realise you’re not wearing any clothes. You wake up drenched in sweat.
For many people, speaking in public is nerve-racking. Understandably: you’re standing alone in front of a group, with everyone looking at you expectantly. What if you freeze? What if they don’t find your story interesting?
The good news is that speaking to a group with confidence and ease is a skill anyone can learn.
In the more than twenty years I’ve spent coaching professionals, creatives and visionaries, I’ve seen the switchflip time and again: with the right insights and focused practice, anyone can master this. I learned thise while working for many years with students from the university of technology Eindhoven – true science and engineering minds who thought in facts and formulas, but ultimately delivered fluent presentations with confidence.
My method combines my background in theatre, science and technology. I am trained at TU Delft and at the theatre school in Arnhem. Perhaps not the most obvious combination of studies, but it was at the intersection of these worlds that Own The Stage was born.
My core philosophy: everyone is different, and a powerful story always start with who you are. You don’t have to become someone else to persuade people; you just have to learn to trust your own power.
“Xander has the unique ability of teaching a ‘soft’ subject matter to people whose backgrounds are ‘hard’ technology”
Brian Pagán – UX designer, empathy researcher
Expertise
I’m the dedicated presentation trainer for technology multinational Nedap, have prepared speakers and startups from around the world for the main stage of What Design Can Do, and directed a special edition of TEDxAmsterdam. My expertise spans healtcare, technology, education and arts.
Approach
Whether you choose an intensive group training, an in-company program with your team, or an exclusive one-to-one training session for a crucial speech, we’ll shape the process to work best for you. We can build a presentation together or refine an existing story until it’s just right.
Whichever option you choose, we’ll get plenty of practice in. Many top speakers probably used to stand in front of a group with shaky knees too. They make it look effortless on stage now because they’ve practised hard.
So, let’s rehearse. That doesn’t mean endlessly repeating a memorised routine. It means trying things out until your presentation perfectly reflects your personal strengths.
“What I appreciate about Xander is that he doesn’t teach you a trick to perform. He helps you show who you are.”
Jeanine Souren, psychologist, sexologist and relation therapist. Co-founder of the Experiential Training Institute
“Xander is highly effective at taking his trainees’ presentation skills to the next level in a short time, and knows how to bring out the best in everyone”
Dr. Ing. Piet van der Putten, assistant professor Electrical Engeneering TU Eindhoven
“The skills and refined pitch I developed with Xander have been invaluable, and I’ve used them successfully at numerous events since.”
Araditha Parasrampuria, CEO & founder of Cellsense
“Xander not only helped me make my public appearences more effective, but also – most importantly – gave me greater peace of mind, confidence, and enjoyment in public speaking”
Emile Schrijver, director of the Jewish Cultural Quarter and endowed professor at the University of Amsterdam
“Xander is one of the most passionate trainers I have met during my career. He pays a lot of attention to individual learning points and knows how to interact with groups.”
Coby Doreleijers, professional & personal development coach TU/e
“Through Xander, I discoverd that even a comma in a sentence can be heard: that a brief pause can carry meaning, create space, and allow a thought to land.”
Anthony Heidweiller, Associate Lector, Academy of Theatre and Dance Amsterdam and Member of the Acadamy of Arts
“During the presentation training, Xander taught me to stop trying to please people an not to fear the audience’s reaction. Incredibly effective.”
Marlon Huysmans, strategic adviser, executive, and coach in the construction and real estate sector.
“Xander has the powerful combination of passionate expertise and personal attention that inspires a profound understanding of connection beyond words alone.”
Hans van Wechem, psychiatrist and co-founder of the Experiential Training Institute
“Xander’s way of teaching is different from others and fun.”
