A framework to connect, influence, and be remembered
Introducing yourself to strangers can feel awkward. You have to be open to discomfort and the possibility of being forgotten.
It’s happened to me. I’m sure it’s happened to you too.
Some years ago, when we were just starting Astrolab, my co-founder Andrés and I attended a conference in Monterrey and met the CEO of a large, well-known company. Let’s call him Jonathan.
For us, just meeting Jonathan felt like a win. Having him hear about our new venture? Even better.
A few days later, someone asked him about us. His response:
“Yeah, I met Andrés… and his colleague.”
He didn’t remember my name.
Back then, I took it personally. I thought maybe I hadn’t made a good impression. But with time, I realized it wasn’t that. Andrés had done something I hadn’t, and it was something I needed to learn.
When you introduce yourself in a professional setting, there are a lot of variables at play: sensing the energy in the room, knowing when to speak and when to pause, presenting yourself clearly and with purpose, listening deeply, asking the right questions, and making a genuine human connection.
Later on, when I taught at a university, I used to tell my students:
“Introduce yourself with a story.”
More than 300 students passed through that course. Many still remember that first-day lesson. So do I, especially the intros that included something real, something personal, something with weight.
In this post, I’ll share a practical way to introduce yourself in five common scenarios: a meeting with a CEO, a networking event, a team presentation, a client conversation, and a cold email.
You’ll find relatable examples (based on real experiences from our workshops), guiding principles, and a quick-reference table.
This piece is based on questions submitted by over 50 people on Instagram. My goal is to answer the most relevant ones without overwhelming you.
When organizations invest in this kind of communication training, they’re helping build teams that listen better, lead with empathy, and collaborate more effectively.
1. Prepare Before You Speak
“I never know what to say when I’m asked to introduce myself. I just say my job title… and that’s it.”
That’s what Sarah, a high performer in her company, told me. She’s one of those people who gets things done—but she used to freeze every time she was asked to introduce herself in executive meetings.
One day, before a leadership meeting, her manager said:
“Sarah, today I want you to introduce yourself.”
“What should I say? My title? Just my name?”
Even a seemingly harmless moment like that can trigger your brain’s fight-or-flight mode. Your heart races. Your muscles tense. Your rational mind shuts down. You either go blank… or ramble.
One simple way to calm the nerves and think clearly: write it down beforehand.
Try answering these questions adapted from the Value Proposition Design Canvas:
- Who will I be talking to?
- What do they want or need? What might they be afraid of?
- How can I be useful to them? (Am I an expert, an ally, a problem-solver?)
- What sets me apart?
- Who have I helped before? (Social proof)
2. Win the First Few Seconds
Emma is a strategist at a marketing agency. She’s great with clients: smart, proactive, full of ideas. But she used to stumble at the beginning of meetings.
I remember one time when she kicked off a call with a corporate client.
“Hi, good morning. Thanks for being here. Just a quick reminder that… uh… well…”
—and five minutes in, she had already lost her train of thought.
Even though she recovered later, the first impression had already landed.
So she started practicing her opening lines. Want to know what they were?
- A pause.
- A deep breath.
- A smile (even on Zoom).
That’s it.
Your first few seconds set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Use the pause, the breath, and the smile to shift your nervous system out of fight-or-flight mode. Your brain, and your audience, will thank you.
In team settings, we’ve seen that teaching people how to manage their presence in these first seconds helps build self-trust and strengthens communication across functions, especially for emerging leaders.
3. Don’t Sell. Connect.
Words have power. But here’s something less obvious: your inner dialogue shapes your presence too.
Before key moments, pay attention to what you tell yourself. Is it helping you? Or hurting you?
For example, when I go hiking, I often repeat the phrase:
“Thank you for being here.”
It reminds me that the mountain won’t change for me, but I can change how I show up. I can be grateful for the chance to climb.
Try using the same mindset before a meeting or event. Say to yourself:
“Thanks for showing up.”
Then bring a sense of curiosity into the room.
Because every context is different, you need to adjust your approach accordingly.
Below are five common scenarios, each with a guiding principle and a short example you can adapt to your own voice.
| Scenario | Key Principle | Example |
| 1. Meeting with a CEO | Get to the point. Less is more. | “Hi, I’m Alex. I help leaders communicate with clarity and emotion, so their ideas drive results.” (<15 seconds) |
| 2. Networking event | Focus on the other person. Lead with curiosity. | “Hi, I’m Alex. I really enjoyed your talk on sustainability. How are you applying that in consumer brands?” Then: “Did I hear you’re into hiking too?” |
| 3. Team meeting | Share a quick story that reveals something about you. | “I’m Laura. On my last project, I made the mistake of not asking for help early. I learned that collaboration isn’t weakness—now I’m usually the first to say, ‘I don’t know—anyone else experienced this?’” |
| 4. Client conversation | Lead with evidence. | “I’m James, a digital marketing strategist. I helped a startup grow its organic leads by 40% in six months.” |
| 5. Email introduction | Personalize the first line. | “Hi Alex, I listened to your episode on ‘X’ and loved your take. I’m working on something similar—would you have 15 minutes this week to chat?” |
We regularly work with companies to help professionals shift from “performance mode” to “connection mode.”
When employees learn to connect with intention instead of just pitching themselves, it creates long-term influence.
The Most Interesting Person in the Room
Introducing yourself it’s a chance to spark a relationship that could open doors.
The key is to adjust your message to the moment and lead with genuine intent: to connect.
In a world full of ai pitches, real stories, honest questions, and thoughtful words still stand out.
What’s Next?
If you made it this far, chances are you care about leaving a good impression.
Maybe you’re stepping into a new role, leading a high-stakes project, or just want to feel more confident when talking about yourself.
Introducing yourself is a skill you can build.
At Astrolab, we’ve spent the last 12+ years helping leaders and teams craft messages that connect, inspire, and drive action.
If you’re interested in bringing this kind of training to your company, whether as a one-off session or part of a larger program, book a call with us. We can help you design a learning experience focused on practical communication skills for your team.
Book a call with us here and let’s explore together how we can help your team show up with clarity and confidence.
