David Koh: Cybersecurity chief gives locked-down on-camera presentation

Even if you decide never to take part in a media interview, it is very likely that, as a local business leader, you will be caught on camera on the side lines of an event or conference – like our shortlisted candidate for the Hong Bao Media Savvy Awards 2018 this week, under the category of Best Interview on YouTube.

Cyber Security Agency (CSA) chief David Koh caught our attention with two substantive pieces-to-camera in the two YouTube clips that accompany this Straits Times article.

He delivers key considerations in cybersecurity in an easy-to-follow, authentic and credible style.

Here are the techniques I observed, and why I have shortlisted him for the Hong Bao Media Savvy Awards 2018 (story continues below):

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We launched the Hong Bao Media Savvy Awards to recognise local business leaders for their communications skills, and to showcase authentic and credible home-grown communicators. Here are our previous nominees:

Desmond Kuek: Will you resign?

Are you a demanding boss, Lee Lik Hsin?

Star Alliance CEO: Local business leader is a star media performer

Budget 2018: Iswaran balances selling it, and explaining it

Kurt Wee: you don't need to be big to be media savvy

Candice Ong: the whys and hows of strong new media interviews

Elim Chew displays a high Sensitivity Quotient in her TEDxNTU presentation

How to win at interviews, even if English isn't your first language

Ho Kwon Ping: no-nonsense media presence builds credibility

These are shining examples for other local business leaders to follow, and to build a culture of excellence in communication, to maximise the potential of Asian companies in the Asian Century.

Each week until April 30, 2018, we are shortlisting a local corporate figure who has demonstrated excellence in a media appearance for the Hong Bao Media Savvy Awards 2018.

Click on this link to enter yourself or another Senior Business Leader.

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Eye contact – Speaking directly to a camera isn't everyone's cup of tea, but Koh managed to hold eye contact so well it was as though he was reading off a teleprompter (although by his conversational tone and eye movement I am certain he wasn't). Which leads me to my next point:

Fluency – Both clips are about 1.5 minutes long, which is a fairly long duration for a piece-to-camera. But despite this and the distractions of the foyer area where he stood, he spoke without hesitation or interruption or "um" or "ah". As a viewer you get the sense he is in complete control of his subject matter.

Layman's terms – Despite the complexity of his topic, Koh proves you don't have to speak in a foreign accent or use jargon to get your messages across. On the contrary, Koh's choice of words made his topic accessible for a general audience. He was clearly very comfortable with the message he wanted to impart.

Koh is a worthy role model for other local business leaders who are invited to speak on camera at conferences. I hope you follow his excellent example.