World Champion Toastmaster Speech: What Worked & What Didn’t
Some of you may have seen this impressive 7:50-minute presentation by Mohammed Qahtani (MQ), the 2015 Toastmasters International World Champion.
My Analysis of the Presentation
Overall, Qahtani’s delivery was world-class. His opening hook was one of the best I’ve ever seen. He kept the audience engaged through:
If you’re pressed for time, at least watch the first three minutes of the speech.
What Qahtani Did Exceptionally Well
? A Brilliant Opening Hook
The moment MQ took out a cigarette and lighter, the audience thought: “Is he really going to light up on stage?” This incongruity was a masterstroke—it grabbed attention instantly.
? Owning the Stage
He occupied physical space with deliberate movements and used gestures with discipline. For instance, at 2:30–2:36, he transitioned topics while physically shifting across the stage.
? Illustrative Gestures & Vocal Play
From 2:23–2:28, he paired vocalisations with gestures, making his points more vivid.
? Dynamic Vocal and Facial Shifts
He used sharp changes in vocal intensity and expression to keep the audience engaged.
? Powerful Pauses & Volume Control
He extended pauses for emphasis and punctuated key words with sharp increases in volume, reinforcing his points.
? Immersive Storytelling & Play-Acting
He acted out scenarios that made concepts feel real. For example:
?3:30–3:40 – Kneeling to interact with his son.
? Depicting an operating room scene, mimicking the beep of a heart monitor and doctors’ dialogue.
? Seamless Shifts Between Humour & Emotion
The unpredictable movement from laughter to pathos kept the audience riveted.
? Mimicry & Rhetorical Techniques
His impression of a climate change scientist (4:06–4:38) was highly engaging. He also used anaphora:
“Words have power. Words are power. Words could be your power.”
? Tying Back to the Opening
By revisiting the cigarette at the end, he reinforced his theme.
Areas for Improvement
?? Pronunciation Clarity
At times, he ran words together or mispronounced them, making certain phrases harder to understand. Examples:
?? Lack of a Clear Takeaway Message
While MQ hinted at his message by holding up the cigarette at the end of his presentation, he never explicitly stated it.
What Would Strengthen His Message?
If I were coaching MQ, I’d advise him to spotlight and repeat the following key message at both the beginning and end of the presentation:
“The words you speak can destroy people, uplift people, or change their behaviour in an instant – so choose them wisely.”
My analysis does not account for the specific competition rules of Toastmasters International, but rather focuses on what worked and what could be refined.
For more on how to craft a compelling key message, read my post on ‘How to Craft a Key Message’.
Here is the LINK to the CLIP
Own the Conversation
Implementation idea: