Pecha Kucha.
How my first Pecha Kucha was a reminder to embrace the unknown.
Pecha Kucha event at This January, Washington, DC
A few weeks ago, I delivered my very first Pecha Kucha talk. For those who are unfamiliar, Pecha Kucha is a unique format where you present 20 slides, each advancing automatically every 20 seconds. No pausing, no rewinding, no do-overs. Just you, your voice and something you want to share. While exciting, it was also the first time in a while I signed up for something I wasn't certain would go well. I created the slides, took some notes, and showed up—the hardest part.
My presentation was titled: "Don't make it awkward, make it weird: Improv is a superpower."
Before presenting, I met with some of the other presenters and discussed how they prepared by going through the slide deck a couple of times days prior. Realizing I never actually ran through the slides with my notes, I took a deep breath and said, "What's the worst that could happen?"
Needless to say, my presentation was a shit show. My notes were unread, and the timer seemed to have a vendetta against me explaining every detail of every slide. After what felt like 30 minutes, my 6 minutes finished, and I sat down to a crowd applauding my efforts. After it was over, many people told me how much they enjoyed my presentation and the takeaways they found in my expedited explanations. While it was overwhelming and unexpected, my first Pecha Kucha was a reminder that the skills I've learned in improv allowed me to do it in the first place.
Corpdev Strategies Founder, Nikki Frias discussing how improv is applicable everyday.
Yes, and... to life:
To respond instead of react.
To listen deeply and build bravely.
I did the scary thing boldly and ended up making an impact that pushed me to create and communicate authentically.
That night, with each slide clicking forward whether I was ready or not, I didn't have time to second-guess myself. I had to be present. I had to let go of the idea of perfection and trust that what I had to say mattered, even if I wasn't 100% sure how it would land.
That's the heart of improv. That's the heart of being human.
The Pecha Kucha stage reminded me that when we lean into uncertainty with openness and curiosity, we unlock something powerful. We stop performing and start being. We stop striving and start sharing.
And in a world that often demands certainty and polish, improv offers us the radical freedom of being real.
So here's to every moment we don't feel fully prepared, but show up anyway. Every time we speak, even when uncertain, we step into the unknown.
Improv is the muscle that helps us do that. It's not just a performance skill; it's a life skill. And it's one I'm committed to sharing, teaching, and living.
and that’s a wrap!
