Event_
The 17-second window: What every great leader needs to nail
May 15, 2025 8:30 am - 10:00 am
AEST
The Winery, 285A Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Get ready for an experience that goes beyond the buzz.
We're bringing together Sydney University alumni for an exclusive roundtable featuring the dynamic speakers behind one of SXSW 2024’s most talked-about sessions. This is a must-attend event for senior leaders who need to make every word count.
In this intimate, high-impact session, we’ll dive into the neuroscience and strategy behind the first 17 seconds — the crucial moments when people decide who you are, what you stand for, and whether they’ll follow your lead.
You’ll learn how the brain responds to language under pressure — and how to use that insight to command attention, build instant trust, and spark meaningful action.
By the end, you'll walk away with 10 razor-sharp introductions tailored to your biggest moments: boardroom pitches, investor meetings, media appearances, and leadership opportunities.
Your next powerful impression starts here.
Speakers
| Nick Enfield Nick Enfield is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney and is the author of How We Talk (2017) and Language vs. Reality: Why Language is Good for Lawyers and Bad for Scientists (2022). His work on language and the diversity of mind has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Science Magazine, and more. He won an Ig Nobel Prize in 2015 for his role in discovering that Huh? Is a universal human word. |
 | Jonathan Pease Chief Creative Officer, We Are Unity USYD alumnus Jonathan Pease (JP) is a communications expert, philanthropist, and published author. We Are Unity is a consulting agency specialising in sustainable business performance, helping organisations define their purpose, sharpen their vision, embed strategy, build standout brands, and unlock high-performance cultures. At the heart of our work is a simple ambition: to create meaning that matters for Australia’s future. |
