Dr Andrew Barendse, Group Executive: Regulatory Affair, Telkom

Fourteen years ago when he was still a Sales Account Manager at Telkom, Andrew recognised that public speaking was going to be an important tool in his career development. “I think I was a naturally effective communicator and a lot of my skills were honed as a lecturer. Toastmasters was a formal programme for me to recognise what I was naturally good at and to master the principles of being an effective speaker and presenter.”

Andrew le arnt those principles so well that in October 1996, he won the Southern African Toastmasters Humorous Public Speaking Competition.

Since then, his way with words has taken a much more serious turn. “Giving Members of Parliament a true sense of the impact of regulatory decisions on Telkom is an important part of my job,” he says. “My role is to engage, empower and educate the members of the Portfolio Committees and the Council of ICASA, and to make sure that the outcomes of the policy process are favourable to Telkom.”

Andrew, who has an MBA and a doctorate in telecommunications regulation, says there are three critical success factors for an effective speech or presentation: an understanding of the audience, a strong message and good delivery.

“An effective speaker must understand and empathise with the audience, and know where the audience is at. You must have something of substance to say, and you must say it with a combination of passion and conviction. The extent to which you connect with your audience depends on your conviction and sincerity.”