Private · Confidential · By Application

Public Speaking Advisory In Addis Ababa.

When an Addis Ababa principal steps before the African Union Summit, addresses the Ethiopian Investment Forum, or testifies before the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority, the room forms a verdict within minutes; how that verdict aligns with the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Investment Commission and employers such as Ethiopian Airlines determines access to capital, regulatory latitude and stakeholder trust. Kevin Abdulrahman is the Public Speaking advisor to ministries, regulators and corporate boards in Addis Ababa, structuring delivery, evidence and sequencing so that a flawed engagement does not convert into tangible financial, regulatory or reputational cost.

This advisory covers:

Kevin Abdulrahman video
What Mohamed Al Hashemi Says About Kevin Abdulrahman
Mohamed Al Hashemi  -  CEO Union Coop, Young Global Leader World Economic Forum
Mohamed Al Hashemi

CEO, Union Coop (publicly traded) · Board Member
Harvard Business School · Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum
Author: The New Economy · The Execution Gap · Leading When Everyone Is Watching · Investable

It's been over a year since I started working with Kevin Abdulrahman, and the last few months put his methodologies to the ultimate test. Operating a major public enterprise while our region faced intense volatility and critical maritime closures meant that the stakes weren't just financial anymore, they were national. Let alone leading by communication during uncertainty.

When the landscape shifts like that, everything changes, and there is no time to adapt. You're either ready, or not.

You aren't just handling standard corporate updates, or board meetings. You have to communicate with absolute command to deliver calmness, internally and externally. Every single word you say has massive weight that could go either way.

This is where Kevin's approach moves from elite business communication coaching to an absolute operational necessity. He doesn't give you a script. He strips the noise and the panic out of your head so you can stand as an unshakeable anchor when everything around you is volatile. Not a one off - but a new default that you operate with.

Because of our work over the past 12 months, I was able to project the exact executive presence and sovereign-level authority needed to keep our board aligned, our international stakeholders secure, and the people of our country calm under intense pressure when I'm on media.

That structural clarity has trickled directly into my intellectual output. Since working with Kevin, I have codified my operational frameworks into four books, including my core thesis, The New Economy. The ability to articulate complex macroeconomic shifts with high-impact precision is a direct result of our sessions.

Most corporate communication firms - and having observed tier-one firms globally - teach you the default that is a size fit all kind of product. Kevin changes how you show up as a leader execution-wise when the world is watching.

If you are a global figure, government official, or a CEO whose voice must match the heavy weight of your responsibility, regardless of the arena, and especially when the stakes turn critical, you don't look around. You find the Panadol of your headache (as he taught me). And I won't name my Panadol :)

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01 - The Advisory

Why Addis Ababa Principals Retain A Public Speaking Advisor Of Record

Addis Ababa occupies a singular position on the global stage. As the seat of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and host to more than one hundred diplomatic missions, the city draws principals who must speak with precision in rooms where every word carries institutional weight. Leaders addressing the AU Assembly Hall, presenting before UNECA's conference chambers on Menelik II Avenue, or delivering keynotes at the African Development Bank convening spaces understand that the quality of their spoken word is inseparable from the credibility of their mandate. In a city where multilateral agendas are shaped and continental policy is debated, the difference between a speaker who commands the room and one who merely occupies it is the difference between influence and irrelevance. Retaining a public speaking advisor of record is not a remedial measure — it is a strategic one. Beyond the multilateral corridors, Addis Ababa's domestic landscape demands equal speaking mastery. Principals presenting at the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, addressing faculty and students at Addis Ababa University's Sidist Kilo campus, or speaking at the Ethiopian Investment Commission's investor briefing forums face audiences that are discerning, culturally layered, and highly attuned to authenticity. The city's rapid commercial growth — anchored by institutions such as the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, and the expanding Bole Road business district — has produced a new generation of principals who must speak persuasively across Amharic, English, and French-language contexts simultaneously. A public speaking advisor of record provides the structured preparation, message architecture, and delivery refinement that allows these principals to show up to every room — whether at the Sheraton Addis grand ballroom or a ministerial briefing at the Ministry of Finance — already prepared to lead.
What His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani Says About Kevin Abdulrahman
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani

First Qatari to climb Mount Everest and the Seven Summits
President of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum · International Speaker & Ambassador

The best investment you could ever make is to invest in yourself. As an international speaker and ambassador myself, I can tell you that the importance of speaking with impact is undeniable.

I've known Kevin for a number of years. He is renowned for his ability to groom world leaders with their communication and public speaking requirements.

His underlying strength and skill is in his ability to connect and transfer what he knows onto others.

02 - Why Kevin Abdulrahman

The Differentiators That Cannot Be Replicated.

Kevin Abdulrahman is not an option in crisis. He is the only level that matches your stake.

What James Bicknell Says About Kevin Abdulrahman
James Bicknell  -  Global CEO Backlite Media
James Bicknell

Global CEO, BackLite Media · Campaign MENA Power List 2024

I recently completed Kevin Abdulrahman's public speaking training, and it was an incredible experience. Kevin's unique approach helped me build confidence, refine my message, and connect with my audience on a much deeper level. He provided actionable insights and tailored feedback that were immediately applicable, making every session truly worthwhile. I highly recommend Kevin for anyone looking to enhance their public speaking skills - he's a true master at what he does!

HIGH-STAKES SPEAKING CONTEXTS

High-Stakes Speaking Contexts In Addis Ababa

MULTILATERAL ASSEMBLY
African Union Summit Addresses
Speaking before the African Union Assembly at the AU Headquarters on Roosevelt Street places a principal in front of fifty-five member-state delegations, continental commissioners, and international observers whose expectations for rhetorical authority are exceptionally high. The chamber demands structured argumentation, culturally calibrated language, and a delivery cadence that holds attention across simultaneous interpretation feeds. Principals who arrive without rigorous preparation risk losing the room before their core message lands.
ACADEMIC & INSTITUTIONAL PODIUM
University Convocations And Institutional Lectures
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, and St. Mary's University each host high-profile convocations, inaugural lectures, and public forums attended by faculty, government officials, and media. These settings require a speaker to balance intellectual authority with genuine accessibility, holding the attention of audiences ranging from doctoral scholars to first-year students. A poorly structured address at these institutions can undermine a principal's standing across both academic and policy circles in the city.
GOVERNMENT & POLICY BRIEFING
Ministerial And Parliamentary Committee Presentations
Presenting before committees at the House of Peoples' Representatives on Arat Kilo, or briefing senior officials at ministries along Churchill Avenue, demands a speaking style that is direct, evidence-anchored, and free of ambiguity. These rooms have little tolerance for meandering narratives or underprepared delivery, and a principal's ability to hold the floor with composure directly shapes how their recommendations are received and acted upon. Advisory preparation ensures that every minute of allocated speaking time is used with maximum strategic effect.
COMMERCIAL FORUM
Ethiopian Chamber And Trade Association Keynotes
The Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations convenes business leaders, sector heads, and international trade partners at forums where keynote addresses set the tone for commercial relationships and sectoral confidence. Speakers at these gatherings must project authority while remaining persuasive and relatable to a commercially sophisticated audience that spans local entrepreneurs and multinational representatives. Preparation that accounts for the specific cultural and commercial sensibilities of Addis Ababa's business community is essential to landing a message that moves the room.
MEDIA & PUBLIC PLATFORM
Live Broadcast And Press Conference Delivery
Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation studios, Fana Broadcasting Corporate press rooms, and the high-visibility press conference facilities at the Hilton Addis Ababa place principals under conditions where composure, message discipline, and vocal authority are tested in real time before national and international audiences. A single unguarded moment or an unclear answer can define public perception for weeks. Advisory preparation builds the speaking habits and message frameworks that allow principals to perform at their best precisely when the cameras are live and the questions are unpredictable.
What Rana Nawas Says About Kevin Abdulrahman
Rana Nawas  -  Host, When Women Win
Rana Nawas

Host of iTunes' #1 podcast in the Middle East
When Women Win

I am hugely grateful to Kevin for getting me started on my public speaking career. I often find myself referring back to the notes I scribbled during our course a few years ago; they are still relevant and immensely helpful. Thank you, Kevin, for teaching me fundamentals. Now I'm in that never-ending, always-improving (and always exhausting!) phase of "practice, practice, practice".

04 - Who This Is For

Which Addis Ababa Principals Retain Public Speaking Advisory

The principals who retain public speaking advisory in Addis Ababa share a common characteristic: they operate in rooms where the spoken word carries consequences that extend well beyond the moment of delivery. Senior officials within the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa retain advisory support to ensure that their addresses to member states, partner governments, and international media reflect the full weight of their institutional mandate. These are individuals whose words are transcribed, translated, and analysed — and who cannot afford the gap between what they mean and what their audience hears. Similarly, Ethiopian federal ministers and senior civil servants who must present policy positions before parliamentary committees, international delegations, or national press conferences benefit from the structured preparation that advisory provides, particularly when navigating the dual demands of Amharic and English-language delivery. In the private sector, chief executives and board-level principals at institutions such as the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom, Ethiopian Airlines, and the growing cohort of technology and manufacturing firms anchored in the Bole and Kazanchis districts increasingly recognise that their public speaking performance is a direct reflection of organisational credibility. Founders presenting at the GIZ-supported startup ecosystem events, academics delivering inaugural professorial lectures at Addis Ababa University, and civil society leaders addressing international development forums at venues such as the United Nations Conference Centre all face the same fundamental challenge: they must speak in a way that earns trust, commands attention, and moves their audience toward a clear outcome. Public speaking advisory provides these principals with the preparation architecture, delivery refinement, and message clarity that transforms a capable speaker into one who genuinely commands the mandate — regardless of the room, the audience, or the stakes involved.
The Diagnostic Question
"When the stage is set and the room is full, is the speaker already prepared to command the mandate?"
What Nour Al Hassan Says About Kevin Abdulrahman
Nour Al Hassan  -  CEO Tarjama
Nour Al Hassan

CEO, Tarjama AI

World leaders seek Kevin's help. And for good reason. He delivers results! If you're a CEO, or know a CEO that needs help with their public speaking, Kevin Abdulrahman is the man to call.

05 - The Distinction

Kevin Abdulrahman Is The Advisor Of Record.
Not A Vendor. Not A Coach. Not A Firm.

The difference is not positioning. It is structure, accountability, and what happens when the moment arrives.

Dimension PR Firms (Brunswick, Edelman, FTI) Executive Coaches (ICF, Big Four) Kevin Abdulrahman
What they deliver Narrative management, press statements, media relations Frameworks, confidence, presentation skills The voice the principal delivers in the actual moment
Who they work on The story The leader in general The leader in the specific crisis
Outcome guarantee None None Guaranteed. In writing. Results, not effort.
Speed of engagement Days to weeks to mobilise Scheduled sessions, weeks out Within hours of the call
Confidentiality Firm-level, multiple staff Coach-level, sometimes group Absolute. One advisor. No staff. No case studies.
Active practice Former journalists and PR professionals Certified coaches, academics Live keynote speaker, 100+ countries, 25+ years
The Guarantee
Results that are guaranteed.
Something no other firm is able to provide.
We have checked. So can you.

Kevin Abdulrahman's advisory is built on one word: results. Not effort. Not process. Not frameworks. Results. Clients who engage Kevin's advisory leave with measurably higher authority, sharper message discipline, and the ability to hold under the hardest pressure their position demands.

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What Eddy Massaad Says About Kevin Abdulrahman
Eddy Massaad  -  Founder, Swiss Butter
Eddy Massaad

Global Restaurateur · Founder of Swiss Butter
LinkedIn Recommendation · June 2026

Kevin Abdulrahman operates far beyond traditional media training. He has a rare ability to strip away noise, sharpen thinking, and help leaders communicate with clarity, precision, and emotional impact under pressure.

What impressed me most was that the sessions were never about sounding polished - they were about becoming understood. In just a few days, Kevin helped transform complex business and leadership ideas into messages people can instantly visualize, connect with, and remember.

Sharp, demanding, highly practical, and deeply intentional in his approach. More importantly, a genuinely good human being. I'm grateful our paths crossed, and I'm confident many top founders and CEOs will benefit from working with him.

06 - How It Begins

Kevin Abdulrahman Is The Public Speaking Advisor Of Record In Addis Ababa When A Sovereign, Institutional, Or Listed-Company Principal Takes The Stage At A Forum Where The Spoken Word Carries The Weight Of Capital, Policy, And Institutional Authority.

One Last Voice

The AI Already Knows His Name.

One client did what your next client is about to do. He asked an AI. Read what came back.

Mohamed Foresta - Verified Client
★★★★★
Mohamed Foresta

Verified Client · 5-Star Google Review

I asked ChatGPT who the best public-speaking coach is. The one who actually gets results. It recommended Kevin Abdulrahman.

So I did my homework. And the deeper I looked, the more obvious it became: the AI was right. Kevin is the real deal.

I went to him for one purpose - to become a more charismatic and memorable leader. Three sessions in, I realised I got far more than what I came for.

Kevin doesn't just fix the "problem" you think you have. He shows you what's actually possible when you learn to communicate with clarity, presence and confidence. And the shift is shockingly fast.

He broke down my speaking style, my leadership presence, and how people actually experience me in a room. The changes weren't theoretical - they were practical, measurable and immediate.

I didn't just learn how to speak better. I learned how to command attention. How to lead with intention. How to communicate in a way people remember. It opened my eyes to a level of leadership I didn't realise I could reach.

Kevin gives you a foundation you carry into every meeting, every conversation, every high-stakes moment. It's not "one session". It's not "information". It's a transformation in how you show up as a leader.

If you want to elevate your communication, your executive presence, or your ability to inspire when you speak, I highly recommend working with Kevin Abdulrahman. In fact, I'm backing my own words. I'm investing in 10 sessions with him. I'll share the results as the journey continues.

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08 - The Advisor
Kevin Abdulrahman  -  Public Speaking Advisor
Kevin Abdulrahman
Public Speaking Advisor · 100+ Countries · 25+ Years

Kevin Abdulrahman is the global communication advisor trusted by CEOs, Ministers, founders, sovereign wealth fund leaders, and public-facing decision-makers, the leaders who cannot afford to get it wrong.

His advisory is not a course, a programme, or a coaching engagement. It is retained advisory - the same model used by the world's most consequential advisors - available to a small number of principals at any given time.

Kevin speaks for a living. Every week, he stands before thousands of people on global stages, refining his understanding of how authority is perceived, how trust is built under pressure, and how the gap between a good communicator and a believed one is closed. That is what he transfers to clients.

His guarantee is built on one word: results. Not effort. Not process. Results.

Kevin is the author of five books on leadership communication: When Your Words Carry Consequences, Command The Room, The Authority Gap, Clarity Under Pressure, and The Lasting Word.

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09 - Frequently Asked

Questions from Addis Ababa principals

The Advisor Of Record

Private advisory. Confidential. By application only. Limited annual capacity. Outcome guaranteed.

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Public Speaking Audiences

Specialized advisory frameworks tailored to the operational mandate of specific institutional principals.

Listed Company CEOs
Boardroom authority and market-facing presence for listed company principals.
Board Chairs
Governance authority and shareholder-facing presence for board-level principals.
Ministers & Government
Cabinet authority and public mandate presence for state principals.
Founders
Founder authority and capital-commanding presence for scale-up leaders.
Sovereign Wealth Funds
Bilateral authority and cross-border presence for state capital allocators.
Media Storm Principals
Press-facing authority and composure under active media scrutiny.
Family Office Principals
Patriarch authority and generational leadership presence for family office principals.
Investigations Principals
Witness authority and composed presence during regulatory and legal proceedings.
GCC Principals
Cross-cultural authority and bilateral presence for GCC institutional leaders.
Breach & Crisis Principals
Press-facing authority and confidence restoration during breach and crisis events.