Pio Marolla’s UATE Session on Persuasive Public Speaking

Even when products are strong, strategies are sound, and teams are highly skilled, business success is never guaranteed. One critical variable often stands in the way: how well ideas are communicated.

On May 19, at the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), Pio Marolla, Co-Founder of AVE Digital and Founder of ThinkLinkers, delivered a masterclass on persuasive public speaking that made this reality impossible to ignore.

From the first moments of the session, it was clear that this would not be another presentation filled with dense slides and safe talking points. Instead, Pio demonstrated what effective communication looks like by practicing it. Every word, pause, and transition served a purpose, keeping the room engaged from start to finish. 

The session focused on a simple but powerful truth: great ideas don’t move people unless they are clearly, confidently, and convincingly expressed. Participants explored how to structure memorable presentations, how to speak with presence and intention, and how to adapt a message for different audiences, whether addressing investors, internal teams, or broader communities.

As a three-time founder now based in Armenia, Pio emphasized persuasive communication as a core leadership skill and a key lever for strengthening Armenia’s tech ecosystem on a global stage. Public speaking, as the session made clear, is not a “nice to have.” It is a life skill, essential for founders, operators, students, and executives alike.

If you can’t communicate, you can’t lead. You can’t sell. You can’t build momentum.

Pio’s session embodied that idea. Reminded everyone in the room that becoming a person who can move an audience starts with learning how to speak in a way that truly connects.