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:

• Expertly paired facial expressions and words
• A well-controlled speaking cadence
• Strategic pauses
• Unexpected, deadpan humour counterpointed with serious points
• A clearer takeaway message would have made the presentation even stronger.

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:

• “Conference chair” sounded like “conferencechair.”
• “Crayons” was pronounced as “cayons.”

?? 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:

1. Choose one aspect of Qahtani’s delivery to adapt to your style of presenting. For example, inserting a strategic pause or play-acting a scenario or making a serious point after conveying a lighter comment.
2. Within the next seven days, in one of your presentations, use that aspect. After doing so, reflect on the impact of doing so. If the result was positive, make a plan to keep using the aspect.