Van Jones’ “one brilliant slide”
September, 2018
A presentation can be built around one central slide. Van Jones gives us a perfect example — not only of how such a slide looks like, but of how to present it with impact as well. The central question of the presentation is: “Is there some way we could connect the work that most needs doing with the people that most need work?”
The slide is simple and elegant, but not self-explanatory. Without Van’s input it would be meaningless to us. Yet, combined with his well structured and enthusiastic presenting it takes us one glance to get his point. The presentation is 23 minutes long, divided in two parts of about 11 minutes each. In the first part he introduces the central question and leads us to the slide, in the second part he delivers the answer. At the very end he summarizes and delivers his call to action, “Let’s do it!”
Van Jones is an environmental advocate, civil rights activist and attorney. The presentation took place at the Pop!Tech conference, 2007. (Note: The president at the time was George W. Bush.)