The Art of Speaking Less: Deliver More Value in Less Time with Rachel Morrissey

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Session Overview

Did you know that most people start to tune out after just 10 minutes of a presentation?

That's why Rachel Morrissey, Head of Content at Money 20/20, views stage time as a precious resource, limiting speakers to a maximum of 15 minutes to ensure the delivery of high-impact content. It's not about the amount of time on stage; it's about delivering a powerful message that resonates.

Watch this live Sessions interview with Rachel as she kicks off our Speaker Training Series, sharing her insights on training speakers to maximize content value in limited time.In this session, you will:

• Discover how to prioritize content quality over quantity
• Explore the science behind audience attention and engagement
• Learn practical strategies for crafting concise, impactful presentations
• Find out how to make every second count and leave a lasting impression without overwhelming your audience.

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Session Transcript

Bryan Funk [00:02:05]

This will be fun. Folks are excited. I’d love to set the stage before we dive into speaker training. Can you give us some background on yourself, what led you to Money20/20, and what you love about the events industry?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:02:30]

Sure! My background is a little unconventional. I didn’t come up through the events industry. I was a theater major. Shoutout to all the theater majors who can do a little bit of everything. I worked in theater for a while, then went to Washington, D.C., and worked for a couple of members of Congress. Later, I became a lobbyist.

Eventually, I went back to grad school in 2011 because of the rise of social media. I was studying media—not just news, but how we communicate and what mediums mean. Marshall McLuhan's "The medium is the message" became a guiding principle for me. While studying, I started a podcast on the fintech industry, which trained me for what I do now at Money20/20.

Money20/20 was looking for someone with industry expertise, speaker booking experience, and content development skills. I’ve been with them for five years. It's a journey that began with theater and ended in events.

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Bryan Funk [00:05:00]

That’s so funny. I didn’t know there was such a common thread between theater backgrounds and event speaker trainers. I’ve done community theater myself, so I’m a fan. To give everyone context, Rachel is one of Sessionboard’s 2024 Event Content Pros to follow. She was nominated by a peer for her incredible work at Money20/20.

Rachel, you made a fantastic LinkedIn post about TED Talks and the psychology of limiting stage time for speakers. You’ve implemented something similar at Money20/20. Can you talk about the process that led to your time restrictions of 5, 8, and 15 minutes for speaker sessions?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:06:00]

Absolutely. My background in podcasting and theater taught me the importance of pacing and keeping an audience engaged. Social media, for example, works because it’s emotionally impactful and concise. Longer content tends to lose attention. At Money20/20, we wanted to make our sessions more engaging and impactful for audiences.

We found that some speakers would linger on stage, thinking more time equaled more respect or impact. But longer isn’t better. We realized that what we owe speakers is not time, but the opportunity to make the most impact. So, we looked at attention spans and storytelling techniques to find the sweet spot.

For example, a powerful sermon doesn’t need to be long; it needs to connect. By limiting session lengths, we gave speakers the chance to refine their message and engage effectively. We faced pushback initially, especially with the 5-minute sessions. But once speakers experienced the impact they could make in a shorter time, they saw the value.

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Bryan Funk [00:10:00]

That’s fascinating. How did you handle objections from speakers who were skeptical about shorter time slots?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:10:10]

The biggest pushback came with the 5-minute slots. We explained that these were for very niche, specific topics. One of our most impactful examples was a speaker discussing the untapped potential of hiring ex-felons in tech. She had 10 slides, 5 minutes, and delivered a passionate, clear message that earned her a standing ovation.

Once speakers saw the results—audiences engaging with them after their talks—they understood that brevity can amplify their impact. It’s about making the most of the time you have and creating moments that resonate.

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Bryan Funk [00:15:00]

That’s amazing. You’re creating high value for attendees while enabling speakers to be memorable. What’s your process for selecting speakers and ensuring they align with your goals?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:15:30]

We have a call for sessions, not speakers. This forces people to articulate what they want to say, not just the topic they can speak about. We ask for a tweet-length synopsis to ensure clarity and focus. It also helps us curate diverse, high-quality content that aligns with our audience's needs.

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Bryan Funk [00:20:00]

Once speakers are selected, how do you prepare them for success?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:20:10]

We start with clear expectations early in the process. With hundreds of speakers, we rely on briefings and rehearsals. For 5-minute presentations, we have speakers run through their talk and provide feedback to refine their delivery. We emphasize storytelling and clarity, reminding speakers that audiences connect through narrative and emotion.

For panels, we coach participants to bring specific examples and stories, avoiding generic responses. This ensures that discussions remain engaging and memorable.

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Bryan Funk [00:25:00]

It sounds like a lot of work, but the results speak for themselves. Do you have any advice for event teams managing large-scale speaker lineups?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:25:10]

Communication and alignment are key. Our content and operations teams work closely to ensure a seamless speaker experience. From onboarding to stage preparation, we prioritize making speakers feel supported. Happy speakers perform better, and that enhances the audience experience.

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Bryan Funk [00:30:00]

Rachel, this has been incredible. Thank you for sharing your insights. Any final thoughts or advice?

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Rachel Morrissey [00:30:10]

Remember that events are about people. Whether it’s your speakers, attendees, or team, focus on creating an experience that connects and inspires. That’s what makes events memorable.

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Bryan Funk [00:30:30]

Thank you, Rachel, and thanks to everyone who joined us today. We’ll see you at the next session!

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