Speaking in public: what Hichem learned in just 5 minutes

Hichem, finalist in an intercompany public speaking contest at the Olympia in Paris, shares how he turned a simple pitch into a true performance of oratory art. His inspiring story reveals how public speaking - from preparation to performance - can transform the way we communicate professionally.
A sense of mutual respect and mindfulness permeates our culture-in fact, it’s the key to our success.

5 Ways Hicham Leveled Up

"What I took away from this experience is that good public speaking can be  learned… and it changes everything. Thanks to this contest, organised by Orange, I have: 
  • Gained confidence to speak up. 
  • Become more comfortable in meetings, presentations, and interviews.
  • Learned to surprise, move, and persuade. 
  • Understood the importance of working on the message, not just the words.
  • Discovered that public speaking is a key skill for career growth.

My advice: don’t chase perfection. Aim for impact. Dare to take the stage, dare to  make your voice heard."

Why I tried the public speaking contest and what I got out of it

"My name is Hichem, I am an Operational Marketing Manager at Orange, and I took part in the intercompany public speaking contest co-organised by Orange, Vivendi, EDF, and Sanofi. I didn’t actively look for this contest. I stumbled upon it by chance while browsing Orange’s intranet. But I’ve always enjoyed pitching, so I thought: why not me?” 

“The result: here I am at the Olympia, finalist among eleven other candidates. A real challenge, but above all, a golden opportunity to develop my public speaking skills in a demanding yet supportive environment."
A sense of mutual respect and mindfulness permeates our culture-in fact, it’s the key to our success.
Hichem – Contest finalist:

"Sharing my ideas, persuading, creating engagement, gaining self-confidence, better embodying my messages… I signed up thinking ‘I have nothing to lose,’ and in the end, I gained everything! Thanks to this contest, I developed my communication, strengthened my confidence, and acquired a key skill to grow, collaborate, and progress within the company."
A sense of mutual respect and mindfulness permeates our culture-in fact, it’s the key to our success.

Step 1: Listen before speaking


"The theme was imposed: ‘Are rappers the new poets?’ Not exactly my usual topic… but the principle of the contest is precisely to defend a viewpoint you didn’t  choose.” 

“My first step in preparing for the contest? Listening to others. I asked people around me  for their opinions, especially those opposed to the position I had to defend. This helped  me build an argument that addresses their emotional blocks. In marketing, we would call  these pain points.” 

“My advice? Engaging with opposing arguments strengthens your own position."

Step 2: Research and argue


"Next comes exploration. I read, watched videos, listened to rap—things I normally wouldn’t do. This research phase is essential: it allows you to build a solid argument, even on a topic unfamiliar to you.” 

“This work taught me one thing: our opinions are often driven by emotions, not logic.
By crafting arguments, you learn to question your assumptions, improve your delivery, and sharpen your critical thinking."

Step 3: Structure your speech with ethos, pathos, and logos


"This is where real public speaking training begins. I was supported by an actress from Cours Florent (a prestigious Paris theatre school) and a professional oral communication expert. With their help, I learned to structure my ideas around the three pillars: 

• Logos - facts, data, logic. 
• Pathos - emotions conveyed. 
• Ethos - the image you project to the audience. 

“You don’t just deliver arguments: you build a story, you embody a message. My goal?  Surprise, move, and persuade."

Step 4: Five minutes, not a second more 


"In a public speaking contest, five minutes is very short. Yet everything must be in it: message, emotion, rhythm. You learn to master verbal, non-verbal, and para-verbal communication (intonation, pauses, silence…).”
 
“I learned to give the illusion of spontaneity, while everything was meticulously prepared.  The real challenge? Being natural… while perfectly controlled."

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