# Fareed Behardien

> Become A Better Tech Leader!


## Posts

- [Power-Up Newsletter 19](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-19/): When creating a slide, one of the best pieces of advice I received was to think of each slide as a billboard. With that framework in mind, suddenly you have a way to evaluate how good each slide is at “being the billboard” for your key message (aka your hard-earned work). Great billboards tick most (if not all) of these boxes: You can apply this framework to either your entire presentation design or to each slide. Is the design fresh, uncluttered and inspiring? Are your slides clear and easy to read? Do you have one key message per slide? Is […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 18](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-18/): Last week we spoke about stepping into your nervousness and owning it as a superpower. It can be a significant paradigm shift, but it doesn’t necessarily remove all the anxiety related to giving a presentation. I get it, anxiety can be (and is) crippling. I’ve been there myself many times. In the lead-up to a big presentation, there is usually a lot going on and you will be required to coordinate the many moving parts… all while you’re trying to keep yourself together! We’re all under pressure to deliver the best presentations, with immaculate storylines and designs. Let’s also not […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 17](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-17/): It’s 5 minutes before you go on and the auditorium is packed! Okay, don’t be nervous. Deep breaths. You can do this! You do a quick mental run through each slide double-checking the main talking point for each one. Don’t forget slide 3… that one is a bit tricky. Focus on the chart. That chart will make everything clearer. Then the chatter in your mind takes over… We have one shot to make a good impression. We need their buy-in. Don’t forget to smile. Don’t be nervous. Okay, I’m going to throw up. No! You got this. Don’t mess this […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 16](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-16/): When people talk about accessibility in presentations, the initial conversation usually starts and ends with colourblindness. To be honest, it’s a good place to start – just check ​last week’s newsletter​ 😁 However, accessibility is more than catering to those with permanent disabilities. The broader definition also includes temporary disabilities and even covers situations like poor connectivity. As a busy professional, focusing on accessibility provides an opportunity to reach a wider audience and share your work more effectively. Temporary disabilities are one area that is often overlooked but is more common than you realise. Real life is full of surprises. […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 15](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-15/): There are more than 350 million colourblind people in the world. That’s more than the entire population of the United States! That is a lot of people who don’t see your slides the way you think they do. It’s likely that someone you work with is dealing with this too. It’s hard to imagine what effect colourblindness has if you don’t suffer from colour vision deficiencies. Thankfully, there is an online tool to help you visualise and understand what it’s like: ​Coblis the Color Blindness Simulator​ The first time I saw this demo 👆 it really hit home. As you […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 14](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-14/): Isn’t it strange that meetings have a standard time period? It’s either an hour, 30 minutes or a 15-minute catchup. I once worked at a company where the standard meeting length was an hour. If you needed to get anything done, you’d have to get into the calendars and book your meeting weeks in advance. This environment had a big meeting culture. The next company I worked for had a standard meeting length of 30 minutes. Obviously, this meant I spoke a whole lot faster 😂. But, more importantly, it forced me to be better prepared. I no longer had […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 13](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-13/): Building on the BLUF technique ​we learned last week​, I want to share a foolproof presentation format that will finally answer that common question we face in the workplace: “What should the agenda be for this week’s presentation?” Every week you sit there scratching your head trying to find some new way to capture the audience’s attention. You try and shuffle speakers, you think up new topics, but eventually… it all just feels a little stale. The weekly status update that you so painstakingly put together now feels like you’re all just going through the motions and, by the end […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 12](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-12/): It’s the morning of the big presentation. You wake up early, skin still glowing from the face mask you wore to bed. Your lucky socks and “special occasion undies” slide on with ease after a great shower. The presentation script is flowing so well while you apply body lotion. Those practice runs before bed really paid off. Note to self: Don’t forget to pause after the joke on slide 4. They’ll love the comparison to Other Co and their second quarter of lost market share. No heavy breakfast for today. Have to stay light and ready to tackle any questions […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 11](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-11/): Our brains need icons. Let me explain… 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual. ​MIT neuroscientists​ found that the brain can process entire images in as little as 13 milliseconds!!! Even more impressive, your brain has the power to process images 60,000 times faster than text. That’s 3 times faster than blinking! So let’s give your presentations what the brain loves most – images in the form of icons. It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ I know, I know, the last few weeks have been a bit shady. First, we tricked […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 10](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-10/): You have the power to control minds. And most people won’t even be aware that you’re pulling their strings. Last week we learned how to trick everyone into thinking we were ​expert slide designers​. This week we continue the trickery by employing persuasive design techniques. I like to think of it as a little nudge, or a behind-the-scenes magic trick… that only you and I know is happening 😈 It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ To unleash your powers of mind control, we need to establish a Visual Hierarchy. This same technique is used […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 09](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-09/): Do you want to know a secret? I suck at creating slides from scratch. That blank slide with the cursor blinking ominously on the screen makes me break out into a nervous sweat 😭 I’m no artist. I studied finance and economics for crying out loud! These hands were made for Excel, not pretty pictures 🤬 Yet here I am hoping to save you from Death by PowerPoint. You know what I’m really really rreeaaaaaaally good at… tricking everyone into thinking I’m a PowerPoint whizz. And I’m going to show you exactly how to do it too 😈 It’s Tuesday […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 08](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-08/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ The Woodstock for Capitalists (aka the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting) closes our mini-series on Annual Shareholder meetings. Run by the greatest investors alive Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, the Berkshire Hathaway 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting attracted close to 40,000 attendees! The weekend includes a 5km run, exhibition halls with Berkshire Hathaway companies selling their goods, the Annual Shareholder Meeting (of course) and a monster 5-hour-long Q&A with Buffett and Munger. The Q&A is the main crowd-puller where we all get to hear the direct and unfiltered opinions […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 07](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-07/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ When thinking about the structure of Shareholder Meetings, what comes to mind is a stiff presentation with protocols and procedures to run a very formal event. The Amazon meeting ​we covered last week​ is a perfect example of this. ​Tesla​ took it a step into the fun zone with cheers and cosplay. This week we have Walmart in the spotlight and they clearly like to do things their own way. They have two main Shareholder Meetings: The 2023 Annual Associate Celebration was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 06](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-06/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ We look into the unconventional way Amazon tackles presentations by reviewing their 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting. Get ready for your world of corporate communications to be rocked 🤯 In this edition: 💻 Presentation Breakdown: Amazon 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting This week we analyse the Annual Shareholder Meeting and presentation from e-commerce and tech giant Amazon. Held as a virtual meeting on May 24, 2023, the Annual Shareholder Meeting consisted of the following sections (plus timestamps): Not sure if you caught that ☝️… the presentation was all of 7min […]
- [Set up your PowerPoint workspace like a pro](https://fareedbehardien.com/set-up-your-powerpoint-workspace-like-a-pro/): One of the quickest ways to generate an immediate increase in your PowerPoint efficiency is to set up your workspace. I have 2 changes that I apply whenever working on a new machine that I can’t live without. Let me show you how you can apply these to your set-up as well: Step 1: Show the Ruler Not only does this help with alignment, but also if I apply gridlines or guides to the slide, the ruler is essential for me to see where exactly the slide is split and allows me to build symmetry and balance into the design […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 05](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-05/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ Investor presentations need a shake-up. They don’t exactly scream sexy and innovative. This month we’ll do a mini-series on how the biggest companies share results. In the spotlight today, we look at how Elon Musk shared the latest Tesla results at their Annual Shareholder Meeting. Let’s get right into it! In this edition: 🎓 Learn: Next-level bullet point reveal used by big tech companies Both Google and Apple used this simple and natural bullet point reveal at their developer conferences this year. It’s elegant and really elevates your […]
- [Next-level bullet point reveal used by big tech companies](https://fareedbehardien.com/next-level-bullet-point-reveal-used-by-big-tech-companies/): You know something is good when it looks simple and natural when executed. Also, if both Google and Apple use it in their presentations, it’s another vote in the right direction 👍 I’m talking about this bullet point reveal: Let me show you how to build this for your PowerPoint presentations. How to: As simple as this looks, there are a few important tools that bring it all together. The most critical of which is the Morph Transition effect. If you’ve never heard of the ​Morph Transition​, then hold onto your hats. It’s probably the single most used animation effect […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 04](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-04/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ Today we wrap up our mini-series on presentations from tech developer conferences. In the spotlight, today we analyse everyone’s favourite slide software maker… Microsoft 😉 Let’s go! In this edition: 🎓 Learn: 3 different ways to transform your image into a shape I know!?! You don’t have to be stuck with the default rectangular version that you copied into your slide. Here are 3 different ways to transform your picture into a shape. Find an image that you want to use and insert it into your slide. Now […]
- [3 different ways to transform your image into a shape](https://fareedbehardien.com/3-different-ways-to-transform-your-image-into-a-shape/): I know!?! You don’t have to be stuck with the default rectangular version that you copied into your slide. Here are 3 different ways to transform your picture into a shape. Find an image that you want to use and insert it into your slide. Now for the magic 🦄 Option 1: Picture Fill Option 2: Crop to Shape Option 3: Shape Merge In most cases, I default to Option 1 (Picture Fill) with my next option being the Crop to shape option. However, every now and then the spicier option of Shape Merge makes sense to get that custom […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 03](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-03/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ We continue our series on presentation secrets from big tech companies with this week’s focus on Google. Is there a formula for capturing that special ​‘Googleyness’​ in a presentation? Let’s find out! In this edition: 🎓 Learn: How to use Bento Layouts for cool summary slides This grid style has a name! The tile-based layout ​made popular by Apple​ for their summary slides is known as Bento Layouts. These grids are great for summarising product features or key takeaways in a visual and easy-to-consume way. Even Google was […]
- [Bento Layouts for cool summary slides](https://fareedbehardien.com/bento-layouts-for-cool-summary-slides/): This grid style has a name! The tile-based layout ​made popular by Apple​ for their summary slides is known as Bento Layouts. These grids are great for summarising product features or key takeaways in a visual and easy-to-consume way. Even Google was spotted using them in the presentation that we’re unpacking later in this newsletter 👇👇👇 So how can you build something similar in PowerPoint? How to: When creating a Bento Layout, I like to keep things simple and follow these 3 steps: Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: That’s it! You now have a pretty slick slide to show […]
- [Power-Up Newsletter 02](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-02/): It’s Tuesday and time to discover how to make your presentations pop✨ The crowd went wild this week because Apple brought the heat in their WWDC keynote. There is so much to unpack so let’s get into it! In this edition: 🎓 Learn: How to apply text effects just like Apple Among all the complex transitions and animations in the Apple WWDC keynote, it was the text effect that really caught my eye. It’s something that takes only a few clicks and adds a nice modern feel to your slides. Let me show you how to add this to your […]
- [Apply Gradient Text fills](https://fareedbehardien.com/apply-gradient-text-fills/): Among all the complex transitions and animations in the 2023 Apple WWDC keynote, it was the text effect that really caught my eye. It’s something that takes only a few clicks and adds a nice modern feel to your slides. Let me show you how to add this to your next presentation 👇 How to: Have fun! Would you like more tips like this? Join 200+ ambitious professionals reading my newsletter. Subscribe and get practical tips every Tuesday to level up how you share ideas at work💡
- [Power-Up Newsletter 01](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-newsletter-01/): Welcome to the first edition of the Presentation Power-Up newsletter 🎉 You’re receiving this email because you either signed up for my newsletter at fareedbehardien.com or previously downloaded one of my tools. I am proud to announce that I have started teaching busy professionals how to go from Boring to Brilliant with modern and practical presentation skills. It’s been a great 2023 and I’m using this newsletter to share more knowledge and build a more intimate conversation to help take your presentation creation skills to the next level. Every Tuesday (in less than 5min) I will share tips and tricks […]
- [Make your line charts look good with one click](https://fareedbehardien.com/make-your-line-charts-look-good-with-one-click/): Line charts are my favourite. So simple and uncomplicated. However, the standard line chart formatting in PowerPoint needs help. Charts often look too jagged and give your slide a dated look. A quick fix is hidden in the formatting section to make your line chart look smooth and modern 👇 How to: It’s as simple as that. Now you can add that modern look and feel to all your line charts. This same technique can be followed in Excel too. Would you like more tips like this? Join 200+ ambitious professionals reading my newsletter. Subscribe and get practical tips every […]
- [Finding Meaning in Work](https://fareedbehardien.com/finding-meaning-in-work/): Just last week I finished Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning and 3 key points stood out to me. Frankl explains that there are three main roads to arriving at meaning in life: What stuck with me is that we can find ourselves in all 3 of these in our work.  Whether it’s the big piece of analysis you’re planning to do, your family benefiting from the resulting promotion or sometimes the headaches that come from getting your work out there (toxic workplaces can do a number on you).  If this is where we individually find meaning, how can […]
- [Make money right now during covid-19](https://fareedbehardien.com/make-money-right-now-during-covid-19/): I sent out an email last week to my subscribers asking them to share how they’ve been staying sane during the lockdown. The responses were truly amazing:   “My daily routine before was crazy. It’s taken me until lockdown to realize that I was caught up in a rat race”   “I’ve also spent a lot more time with my mother which itself has been very rewarding. We haven’t always been close and this gave me an opportunity to change that”   “Getting to long-overdue photobooks: we did this for our wedding memories and I have just put together almost […]
- [The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson](https://fareedbehardien.com/the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-fck-by-mark-manson/): If ever there was a title that made me want to read a book it was this one. It is provocative and oozes Rock ‘n Roll. However, it took me two attempts (plus a format change) to actually get through it. The title should not be interpreted literally. The core of Mark Manson’s message is not to simply toss everything out the window and live in service of your whims… basically not giving a fuck about it all. Rather it’s about coming up with a set of rules or a framework to choose those things that make sense for you […]
- [Uncomfortable conversations with myself](https://fareedbehardien.com/uncomfortable-conversations-with-myself/): The most traumatic thing that happened to me in 2019 set me on a path of deep reflection and honest evaluation of where life was taking me. In those moments, it seemed like it had all come to a grinding halt and was about to unravel to complete failure. I feared the panic attacks, wished away the depression and felt like a passenger on a conveyor belt to Who Knows Where. My personal life was in shambles because I’d refused to seek help after my divorce and tried to ignore the pain away. In hindsight, it was the pause that […]
- [I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi](https://fareedbehardien.com/i-will-teach-you-to-be-rich-by-ramit-sethi/): I am guilty of being a passenger on the ride known as personal finance for far too long – even with my Honours degree in Finance. It’s embarrassing.   But we all have to start somewhere. What Ramit has managed to do for me (since reading this book in January) has revolutionized my world and reduced the amount of time that I now put into managing my finances each month. I really wish I had this book when I started my first job 12 years ago.   As most Januaries start out, I made the New Year’s Resolution that 2020 […]
- [Lockdown Update: Staying Alive](https://fareedbehardien.com/lockdown-update-staying-alive/): It’s Day 372 of the lockdown. The sky seemed bluer today. No I didn’t see it if that’s what you’re wondering. I now live vicariously through all my friends’ sunset photos on Instagram.   I found myself looking at old photos on my feed and reminiscing about running. Come to think of it…. I don’t remember what it’s like to even wear shoes anymore. All I’ve been rocking are my Crocs plus these three pairs of Falke hiking socks that I found at the back of my sock drawer. I still remember the day I rediscovered those socks. It brings […]
- [Tribes by Seth Godin](https://fareedbehardien.com/tribes-by-seth-godin/): In Tribes, Seth Godin links the idea that modern day leadership (and the process of effecting change) is highly dependent on how successful you are at finding your ideal Tribe of followers – traditionally thought of as customers. Except this concept is deeper than just finding a set of customers. It is about enabling your followers to communicate, lead themselves and ultimately innovate, share and provide value between them.   “Tribes, though, aren’t about stuff. They’re about connection” ~ Seth Godin, Tribes   Seth shares his approach to creating a platform which will allow a community to develop between those […]
- [Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse](https://fareedbehardien.com/surviving-the-zombie-apocalypse/): I turned 35 today. Another trip around the sun.   It was a good day. A really productive one. Besides cracking out some intense work, I still managed to finish the last few errands on my list, had supper with the family, birthday cake (plus sing song) for dessert and now I’m settling in about 15 minutes before lockdown becomes our new reality for next 21 days… at least.   It was a special day, yet still pretty strange as far as the 34 other birthdays have gone.   A couple of nights ago, I watched World War Z for […]
- [Improve Your PowerPoint Speed By 20%](https://fareedbehardien.com/improve-your-powerpoint-speed-by-20/): In this post I will share: My PowerPoint 4MAT Tool How it works How to install it on your machine My goal is to help you improve your productivity and smash out PowerPoint presentations at least 20% faster. My PowerPoint 4MAT Tool In my world, PowerPoint and slide decks are the best way to communicate. From project status updates to translating a theoretical business idea into a simple picture that everyone around a table can understand, there is sometimes no better tool than the good ol’ slideshow. It’s visual, forces you to simplify an idea and results in alignment much […]
- [Your CVs Biggest Problem Is...](https://fareedbehardien.com/your-cvs-biggest-problem-is/): In this post I will share: What makes a CV suck 5 Tips to a sexier CV My badass 1-page CV template   My goal is to help you improve your chances of getting the job that you want and avoiding those common mistakes that hold us back. What makes a CV suck I’ve had so many people ask me to review their CVs and it’s that one request that just feels too similar to filing a tax return, getting a prostate exam from a doctor with chubby digits, or those moments just before you take your t-shirt off at […]
- [Bavaria Designated Driver Giveaway](https://fareedbehardien.com/bavaria-designated-driver-giveaway/): *This competition is now closed*   I have teamed up with Bavaria to give away a hamper worth R1000 as they celebrate Designated Drivers in South Africa and promote their 0.0% non-alcoholic malt beverages – which are delicious btw 🙂     It’s that time of the year when we go out, get together and celebrate. But it’s also that time of the year where road accident deaths are at their highest – and this is mostly due to speeding and the abuse of alcohol.   Bavaria’s “Cheers to” campaign pays tribute to the everyday heroes of South Africa, and […]
- [2019: Everything in Balance](https://fareedbehardien.com/2019-everything-in-balance/): From starting side hustles to dealing with depression. It was both amazing and at times a MAJOR fuck up.   2019 started out with a driving obsession to change my situation – mostly referring to where my career had taken me. Midway through 2018 I hit burn out. For the 2 years prior, I’d been pushing so hard at work, but a lack of clear work-life boundaries left me drained, burnt out, numb, not creative and as blunt as this may sound… I felt like I was shit at my job. I was in a bad place.   I changed […]
- [The Craftsman](https://fareedbehardien.com/the-craftsman/): What fascinates me most is how my Dad can just look at a project, visualize it and simply start. No sketching, no triple checking calculations and using spreadsheets. Just crafting the image he cooked up in his mind and moulding it into reality.   He comes from a different generation where having a trade and being a skilled artisan was the natural progression. I’ve seen him build cupboards in our home with minimal planning, sometimes making adjustments along the way with his trusty planes, almost always looking at the problem and muttering under his breath that it’s “out by 5mil”. […]
- [New Beginnings](https://fareedbehardien.com/new-beginnings/): Here we go…   I’ve hit publish on that all important first blog post here on fareedbehardien.com! I’m excited and a bit nervous to be honest.   This site has been an idea of mine for a while now. I tend to think of it as an experiment that will shape the next phase of my life. A place where I can share all the pieces of the puzzle – or layers if you will – that make up me. If you’re familiar with my first site leavethecouch.com then you’ll know I’ve been blogging for a few years now and […]

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- [Grab Your Audience's Attention with Powerful Presentations](https://fareedbehardien.com/power-up-plus/): Welcome to Presentation Power-Up Plus 💪, the advanced course designed to take your presentation skills to the next level. Most of us already know how to create a basic presentation. But what about when you need to deliver a presentation that really stands out and gets results? That’s where the Power-Up Plus 💪 course comes in. In this course, we’ll explore advanced techniques and frameworks to help you create professional-looking presentations that get noticed. Benefits. Course Outline. The Presentation Power-Up Plus 💪 course is delivered in-person or as a live virtual training held over 3 days. The course walks participants […]
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- [What I use to do my work.](https://fareedbehardien.com/uses/): I often get asked what tech and tools I use. My setup typically doesn’t change very often because there’s usually a lot of research done before pulling the trigger (great equipment tends to be expensive!) Shoot me a tweet @fareedbehardien if there is something missing and I’ll add it. Workstation. Here is my 2024 setup: (Drastically reduced due to my move to Melbourne!) 2022 setup: Productivity.
- [What's on my bookshelf.](https://fareedbehardien.com/reading-list/): I love reading. It’s the cheat code to get hundreds of hours of high-quality research neatly condensed into a package that takes about a week to consume. “There is no better teacher than history in determining the future. There are answers worth billions of dollars in a $30 history book.” – Charlie Munger Here is what I’ve completed reading lately: Year Title Author Must Read 2025 Strong Money Australia: How to Gain Financial Independence and Create a Life of Freedom Dave Gow The Barefoot Investor Scott Pape The Innovator’s Dilemma Clayton M. Christensen ⚡️ Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a […]
- [Hi, I'm Fareed.](https://fareedbehardien.com/about/): I’m an ex-Management Consultant with almost two decades of experience guiding companies through large transformation projects in both operations and tech. In today’s fast-paced and competitive landscape, self-reliance is key. That’s why I’ve dedicated this site to sharing practical skills and knowledge to help you stay relevant and thrive in your career. From coding and AI to presentation design and online business, I’m always looking for new skills and insights to help me and others succeed. (For those interested, here’s what I’m reading and what I’m using for work) My goal is to provide you with actionable tips and advice […]
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