Presentation Opening Lines: 50 Examples from TED Talks to Boardrooms
You’re standing in front of the room. Everyone’s looking at you. And you have exactly 10 seconds before they decide whether to pay attention or check their phones.
What do you say?
After training over 10,000 executives, I’ve collected the opening lines that actually work — from TED stages to investment banking boardrooms. Here are 50 you can steal today.
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Opening Lines That Create Curiosity
These openers make your audience need to know what comes next:
1. “What if everything you’ve been taught about [topic] is wrong?”
2. “There’s a reason 90% of [audience] fail at [challenge]. And it’s not what you think.”
3. “I’m about to show you something that changed how I think about [topic] forever.”
4. “The biggest lie in [industry] is that [common belief]. Here’s the truth.”
5. “Three years ago, I discovered something that [specific result]. Today, I’m sharing it with you.”
“Win the room. Every time.” — weekly tactics on executive presentations, Copilot for PowerPoint, and the psychology of persuasion. Free, from Mary Beth Hazeldine.
Opening Lines with Shocking Statistics
Numbers that surprise create instant engagement:
6. “75% of [audience] will [negative outcome] this year. You don’t have to be one of them.”
7. “In the time it takes me to finish this sentence, [striking statistic].”
8. “£4.2 million. That’s what [problem] cost companies like yours last year.”
9. “The average [professional] spends 23 hours a week on [activity]. I’m going to show you how to cut that in half.”
10. “Only 3% of [audience] ever achieve [goal]. Here’s what they do differently.”
Opening Lines with Stories
Stories activate emotion and memory:
11. “Last Tuesday, I watched a CEO lose a £10 million deal in eleven words.”
12. “When I walked into my first board meeting at JPMorgan, I made a mistake I’ll never forget.”
13. “Picture this: It’s 2am, you’re staring at 47 slides, and your presentation is in 6 hours.”
14. “The worst presentation of my career taught me the most valuable lesson.”
15. “A client called me last week in a panic. What happened next surprised us both.”
The Opening Line Is Just the Beginning
Your opening sets the tone. The Executive Slide System gives you the structure to deliver on that promise — a decision-first framework that keeps executives engaged from your first word to your final recommendation.
If you want slides that match the impact of a strong opening line, The Executive Slide System gives you 22 ready-made templates to start from.
Want the complete toolkit?
A strong opening is one piece of an executive presentation. The Complete Presenter Bundle pulls all seven products together — slides, Q&A, anxiety, storytelling, delivery, openers, cheat sheets — for £99 (save £91.97 vs buying separately). Lifetime access.
Opening Lines with Questions
Questions force active engagement:
16. “When was the last time you sat through a presentation and thought, ‘I wish this was longer’?”
17. “What would it mean for your career if you could [specific outcome]?”
18. “How many of you have ever [common frustrating experience]?” (Wait for hands)
19. “What’s the one thing standing between you and [goal]?”
20. “If I could guarantee [result], would that be worth 15 minutes of your time?”
Opening Lines with Bold Statements
Confidence commands attention:
21. “Everything you’re about to hear contradicts conventional wisdom. And it works.”
22. “I’m not here to give you information. I’m here to change how you think.”
23. “This presentation will either transform your approach or confirm you’re already doing it right.”
24. “By the end of this session, you’ll never [common mistake] again.”
25. “I’ve spent 25 years in boardrooms. Here’s what actually matters.”
Opening Lines for Specific Situations
For Board Presentations:
26. “I’ll give you the recommendation first, then the reasoning. We need £2.3 million to [goal].”
27. “Three numbers tell the story of this quarter: [X], [Y], and [Z].”
28. “Before I show you the data, let me tell you what it means for next year.”
For Investor Pitches:
29. “[Market] is a £4 billion problem. We’ve built the solution.”
30. “In 18 months, we’ve gone from idea to £2 million ARR. Here’s how we’ll 10x that.”
31. “The companies that invested in [comparable] early made 40x returns. This is that opportunity.”
For Sales Presentations:
32. “Your competitors are already doing this. Let me show you what you’re missing.”
33. “I’ve spoken to 50 companies like yours. They all have the same problem.”
34. “What if I told you there’s a way to [benefit] without [sacrifice]?”
For Team Meetings:
35. “I’ve got good news and better news. Which do you want first?”
36. “We’ve achieved something this quarter that’s never been done before.”
37. “I need your help solving a problem that’s been keeping me up at night.”
Opening Lines That Earn a Second Look
The Executive Slide System includes battle-tested opening frameworks used by senior leaders to capture attention, establish authority and set the agenda — before anyone has had a chance to check their phone.
Opening Lines to Avoid
Never start with these — they kill momentum instantly:
❌ “Good morning, my name is… and today I’m going to talk about…”
❌ “Can everyone hear me okay?”
❌ “I know you’re all busy, so I’ll try to be quick…”
❌ “I’m just going to quickly run through…”
❌ “Sorry, let me just get my slides working…”
❌ “I’m not really an expert, but…”
For a deeper dive into why these openings fail and the psychology behind what works, read my complete guide: How to Start a Presentation: 15 Powerful Openers That Grab Attention.
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My Presentation Openers & Closers Swipe File gives you 50 structured opening lines AND 30 powerful closing techniques — ready to use in your next presentation.
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Mary Beth Hazeldine has trained over 10,000 executives in presentation skills. With 25 years in investment banking (JPMorgan, PwC, RBS, Commerzbank) and 16 years as a presentation coach, she knows what works in high-stakes situations. Learn more at Winning Presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good opening lines for a presentation?
Strong opening lines create curiosity or recognition. Examples include posing a specific problem your audience faces, sharing a brief scenario they relate to, citing a surprising piece of data, or making a bold claim you will then support. Avoid generic openers like “Good morning, my name is…” or “Today I will be covering…”
How do you write an opening statement for a presentation?
Start by identifying the one thing your audience cares about most, then craft a sentence that speaks directly to that concern. Use specific language — name the scenario, the stakes, or the outcome. Test it by asking: would this make a busy executive look up from their phone?
What is the 10-20-30 rule for presentations?
The 10-20-30 rule, popularised by Guy Kawasaki, suggests presentations should have no more than 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes, and use font no smaller than 30 points. While not universally applicable, the principle — simplicity, brevity, and readability — applies to all executive presentations.
How many words should a presentation opening be?
Your opening should be 30-50 words — roughly 15-20 seconds of speaking time. This is enough to deliver one compelling hook. Longer openings risk losing momentum. After the hook, transition to your key message within the first 60 seconds.
One More Thing — Before You Go
Great opening lines are just the start. The Executive Slide System gives you the complete structure to keep that attention all the way to a confident close.