When Emily Blythe, the young CEO of Pyper Vision, first started pitching to investors, she had the technical expertise, the vision, and the drive. What she didn’t have—yet—was the ability to connect with a room full of serious investors in a way that was both confident and human.
At just 23 years old, Emily brought intensity and formality to her delivery, hoping to establish credibility. But in doing so, she unknowingly distanced herself from her audience. Her natural friendliness and energy were buried beneath a rigid, rehearsed exterior.
"She was trying to sound older, more authoritative—but it was costing her the very traits that make people lean in: authenticity, energy, and connection."
The Shift: From Overcompensating to Owning Her Voice
During our coaching, we didn’t give Emily a new pitch—we helped her access a new delivery.
We aligned her words with her tone and body language. We worked on letting her true enthusiasm come through. And most importantly, we helped her feel safe enough to be herself on purpose—not by accident.
This wasn’t about dumbing anything down. It was about bringing her audience into the pitch, rather than holding them at a distance.
We also gave her space to experiment. One opportunity we used was a pitch at a community event with a diverse audience. Emily took the feedback from that talk and built it back into her investor pitch, sharpening both her clarity and confidence.
The Outcome: A Room Full of Investors, and a Sea of Hands
Not long after, Emily pitched at Ice Angels in front of 900+ investors.
She didn’t just deliver a great pitch—she delivered her pitch.
And the result
- She won Best Pitch of the Night
- Over 600 investors expressed interest
- The round was heavily oversubscribed
What stood out wasn’t just the content—it was her presence.
She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She was inviting them to join her vision.
And that made all the difference.
"She didn’t try to sound like someone else. She learned to sound like the best version of herself."
Why It Worked: Confidence Built on Congruence
When we teach storytelling and pitching, we don’t start with slides or slogans.
We start with alignment:
- Do your words match your face?
- Does your tone match your message?
- Do people feel the you behind the pitch?
Emily’s success is proof that when your message and your delivery are congruent, audiences don’t just understand you—they believe you.
And that’s what moves money, minds, and mission.
🎥 Watch the Video: How Emily Won the Room
Want to Pitch Like Emily?
If you're a founder, executive, or emerging leader ready to tell your story with clarity and confidence, this is your invitation.
🟡 Join the next StorySelling Workshop or enquire about 1:1 coaching.
👉 Learn more at: www.storyselling.co.nz
