Mastering In-Person Connections & Deals in an AI Driven World
Master Four Essential Assets: your elevator pitch, customer-segment brochure, five-minute investor deck and partnership deck
Welcome back to Changemakers, the newsletter for founders, storytellers and leaders shaping the future of climate, nature and impact-led innovation.
In this edition we explore how the rise of AI is sending us back to the 1990s, when real-life, in-person connections ruled and “your word” was your currency.
Today’s world is flooded with automated emails, instant messaging and AI-generated content. Yet the same forces that powered ’90s communities, face-to-face conversations, reputation built by showing up and genuine storytelling are more valuable than ever.
Todays Topics…
→ The Age of AI Meets the 1990s: Why In-Person Connections Matter More Than Ever
→ From Email to Voice: How Vocal Coaching and Live Presentations Become Competitive Advantages
→ Your Conference Toolkit: Four Assets to Always Have on Hand
Drop us a note anytime at mission@brighterfuture.studio or reach out to me directly at aaron@brighterfuture.studio, alternatively, you can view our capabilities and detailed flagship cases here.
Note from Aaron C. Leaman:
We’re now opening a few slots for pitch development in September under our success-fee-only model. If you’re preparing to raise, now’s the time to get your story, deck, and delivery ready.
If you're building in climate, food, or nature-based systems and want sharper narrative, stronger materials, and more confidence going into investor conversations, reach out. I’d love to hear what you’re working on and see if there’s a fit.
I’d also like to welcome three brilliant teams now on the pitch development journey with me: Swiss Soil (Craig Arnold), Koralo Foods (Sina Albanese).Aspyre Foods (Thomas Bartleman) each tackling bold challenges and refining their story to meet this next stage of growth.
The Age of AI Meets the 1990s: Why In-Person Connections Matter More Than Ever
Imagine stepping into a bustling hotel ballroom in 1998. The air is warm with the hum of conversation and the faint aroma of coffee and freshly baked muffins. Rows of folding chairs face a small stage where hand-painted banners sway gently in a light breeze from an overhead fan. Founders in pressed button-downs and power suits mill around, trading business cards as cassette tapes hum from a boombox tucked in the corner.
Every handshake carries the weight of trust, every shared glance holds the promise of collaboration.
Fast forward to today. Rather than hand-typing newsletters in early HTML or handing out mimeographed flyers at coffee shops, we live in a world where AI drafts our emails, composes our social media captions.. Screens have replaced handshakes, and algorithms have taken the place of casual, face-to-face banter.
But now, more than ever, the human spark, the palpable energy of eye contact, the subtle inflection in a voice, the warmth of shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie, can get lost behind lines of code.
Imagine two scenarios side by side:
A Small ’90s Tech Meetup
You step into a dimly lit café at 7 PM. Fluorescent bulbs flicker overhead. Someone pours you a lukewarm cup of drip coffee. The hum of a fax machine rattles in the background. A group of five founders gathers around a battered conference table, scribbling notes on legal pads, sharing stories of late-night coding marathons and quarter-mile runs to catch the last train home. When you speak, they lean in. They remember your name. They see your passion reflected in your eyes.A Modern AI-Driven Webinar
You log onto Zoom at 7 PM. A countdown timer ticks. Slides auto-advance. A synthetic voice reads bullet points about “leveraging AI to automate workflows.” The chat window scrolls with generic “great insights” reactions and a few emojis. You click “raise hand,” but you’re unsure whether anyone truly notices. Later, you’ll receive an AI-generated transcript, and maybe a follow-up email: offering you a discounted SaaS subscription.
Today’s executives must bridge this gap. Those that succeed will be those capable of melding AI’s efficiency with the authenticity of real-life presence. Yes, AI can sift through terabytes of data in seconds, predict market trends, draft first-pass proposals and personalise email campaigns at scale. But only you, the human, can step into a crowded room, make eye contact and ignite belief in your vision.
The temptation is strong to lean entirely on AI-generated content. Too often I see founders on LinkedIn posting generic updates full of emojis and buzzwords that dilute their credibility. Instead, anchor yourself in the real pain points that keep people awake at night, concerns no algorithm can capture.
When you frame AI-driven insights around those visceral human stories, you move beyond generic solutions. You turn data points into living, breathing narratives that compel action. Show up. Speak up. Listen. In a world rushing headlong into automation, the art of being present is your greatest advantage.
As you head into your next in-person event, remember: AI supplies the speed, but only your human lens, your why, your flow, your frameworks and your ethics, will forge lasting belief and relationships.
How Vocal Coaching and Live Presentations Become Competitive Advantages
“Emails are fine, but they can’t replace the power of looking someone in the eye,”
I often tell my CEO clients. In a world of chatbots and automated replies, your voice, literally, becomes a tool of differentiation:
Record short video updates instead of sending long newsletters. Hearing your voice builds intimacy and trust.
Host regular virtual roundtables with a small panel, then invite participants to in-person follow-ups. This hybrid approach echoes the ’90s meetup model.
Practice improv exercises or join a local toastmasters group. The agility you gain will show up in boardroom presentations and investor pitches.
When you send an email, consider attaching a 60-second voice memo that addresses the main point. It’s more personal, and people remember voices far better than text.
The more you lean into spoken communication, the more you reclaim the “in-person” mindset of the ’90s, an era when relationships formed in real time and trust was conveyed through presence, not just prose.
Your Conference Toolkit: What to Bring for In-Person Wins
Showing up is only half the battle. To turn every handshake into a meaningful conversation:and every conversation into action:you need four core assets:
Elevator Pitch
• A single clear sentence covering who you are, which problem you solve and why it matters.
• Practice under 10 seconds, with a 30-second follow-up version ready for deeper chats.5-Page Customer-Segment Brochure
• A concise, visually engaging PDF tailored to each customer segment:research labs, policy makers, NGO partners, corporate buyers.
• Include a one-paragraph scenario hook, three proof points, a simple graphic of your solution in action and a clear next step.5-Minute Investor Pitch Deck
• A stripped-down deck (7–10 slides) you can run through at a coffee table or in a hall.
• In addition to problem, solution, traction and ask, share your personal background, why you started this venture and why your team is uniquely qualified to deliver these metrics at scale.5-Slide Partnership Deck
• A short deck for strategic partners outlining shared vision, pilot opportunities, mutual benefits and next steps.
• Lead with a human story and close with a tangible call to action.Explore Our Services
Whether you’re just starting or striving for new heights, these services are built to deliver results.
Communications Consulting, Content Development & Execution: High-trust, high-impact strategic communications to sharpen your voice and align your message across channels, from newsletters to social, speeches and more.
Investor & Partnership Storytelling: Success fee driven pitch support that helps you earn belief from day one, whether for pitch competition, partnerships or investment rounds, we’ve got you covered.
Brand and Identity Design: Strategic and visual foundations to help you show up with confidence and coherence across every touchpoint; from logos to brand systems, we build the assets and structure to scale.
Website Design: Tailored Webflow builds that communicate your credibility and value.
High-Level Design Support: Need reports, investor updates, or partner materials? We offer tailored design execution across your business-critical communications.
Know Someone Who Needs Support?
Refer a founder to Brighter Future Studio and earn a 10% commission on their first project. Let’s help more purpose-led teams win with brand and story. If this story resonated, or if you’re preparing for a high-stakes moment of your own; we’d love to help.
Thanks for reading.
If you’ve made it this far, feel free to share this with a founder, partner, or investor navigating these challenges. Or reach out directly to talk.
Best,
Aaron C. Leaman
LinkedIn | Capabilities Deck
Founder, Brighter Future
Personal: www.aaroncleaman.com
Company: www.BrighterFuture.Studio
