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Joel Schwartzberg
Presentation Coach, Executive Communications Leader, Speaker, Author
Joel Schwartzberg is a highly experienced Senior Presentation and Media Coach at Throughline Group LLC, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area. He specializes in enhancing public speaking and communication skills for professionals across various industries.
Professional Background
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Current Role: At Throughline Group, Schwartzberg focuses on helping clients improve their presentation skills and media communication strategies. His work involves conducting workshops that teach effective techniques for articulating powerful points in various contexts, including speeches, meetings, and digital communications.12
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Previous Experience: Schwartzberg has held significant roles in strategic and executive communications. Notably, he served as the Senior Director of Strategic and Executive Communications at the ASPCA since 2013, where he managed editorial communications and provided public speaking coaching for the organization.13 His diverse background includes positions such as Director of Digital Strategy & Communications at Moyers & Company and Editorial Director roles at Audible.com and PBS Interactive.1
Education and Achievements
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Schwartzberg is recognized for his contributions to public speaking and communication. He was NYU's first-ever Public Speaking Competition National Finalist and Emerson College's first Public Speaking National Champion.1
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He is also an author, having written "Get to the Point!: Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter," which focuses on effective communication strategies.34 The book has received accolades for its practical advice on enhancing clarity and impact in communication.
Skills and Areas of Expertise
- Public Speaking: Schwartzberg offers coaching tailored to both novice and experienced speakers, emphasizing the importance of identifying and conveying strong points effectively.12
- Strategic Communications: His expertise extends to developing comprehensive communication strategies that enhance organizational messaging and stakeholder engagement.5
In summary, Joel Schwartzberg combines extensive experience in media training with a strong educational background to empower professionals to communicate more effectively. His role at Throughline Group reflects his commitment to fostering long-term growth in public speaking skills among his clients.
Highlights
Practicing your speech effectively may not be as obvious as you think—I’ve seen practice tactics that range from productive to pointless. These dos and dont's can help you make the most of your presentation prep.
✅ DO: Practice out loud and in real time Practicing the speech only in your head or by mumbling it quickly won’t improve your ability to convey your points out loud. The more you practice using both your mind and mouth, the easier it will be to activate those mechanics when it’s your turn to speak.
❌ DON’T: Practice in front of mirrors Since childhood, we’ve trained ourselves to use mirrors only to assess appearance, which has little impact on our goal as presenters. Are you speaking with clarity and confidence? Your reflection has no clue.
✅ DO: Tell friends and colleagues what to look for when you rehearse Don’t ask “How did I do?” Ask “What do you think my biggest point was?” If they answer correctly, you’re succeeding. If they don’t, emphasize that point more.
❌ DON’T: Skimp on food and sleep Strong presentations require energy, and energy vitally requires body and brain fuel in the form of meals and snooze.
✅ DO: Scrutinize your speech for errors When you give a speech, the speech’s credibility is your credibility. If a fact is wrong, your reputation pays the price. Be sure to fact-check your speech not only when you finish it but every time you revise or add to it.
❌ DON’T: Wing the Q&A Q&A is still part of your presentation. Practice turning potential audience questions into opportunities to reinforce your key points.
✅ DO: Know your first and last sentences You make your strongest impression at the very beginning and very end of a speech, so plan what you’re going to say in those seconds, down to the words.
More tactics to make your practice more productive: https://lnkd.in/gxp5n2f
Ask your own #PublicSpeaking question below!
#MakeYourWordsMatter
When Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the DNC on Thursday night, she had to be more than simply moving and motivating. She had to DEMONSTRATE the leadership, strength, and resolve of a Commander-in-Chief.
The #publicspeaking takeaway: Always understand WHY you're speaking, not just WHAT you're saying. All presentations have a purpose. Know yours.
#MakeYourWordsMatter
