Speaker preparation guide for Innovation Talks
ILO Innovation Day · 3 March 2026 · Gobelins, ILO Headquarters
Innovation Talks are short, high-impact presentations designed to show how innovation is improving the world of work with a clear link to the ILO's mandate and to real people's lives.
Strict 8-minute time limit
Each Innovation Talk is scheduled to last exactly eight minutes. It is imperative that speakers prepare and rehearse their presentations to fit within this time frame. The moderator will cut off any presenter who exceeds the allotted time.
What makes a strong Innovation Talk?
Innovation Talks are not project reports. They are short stories with a clear message.
A strong talk is:
Human
Start from a real experience, a concrete scenario, or a clear problem people face.
Clear
One project, one story, one core message. Avoid listing everything.
Actionable
The audience should understand what changed and why it matters.
Impact-driven
Innovation only counts if it produces results, even early results.
ILO-fit
The talk should clearly connect to the ILO's mission: decent work, social justice, social dialogue, tripartism, rights at work, and evidence-based policy.
Script structure
To ensure consistency across all talks, we invite all speakers to follow the narrative arc below. You can adapt it to your style but the overall structure should remain.
1. Hook
Open with something that catches attention immediately:
- a short story
- a vivid example
- a surprising fact
- a question
- a strong one-line statement
Tip: The hook should create curiosity and emotion, not technical detail.
2. Challenge
Describe the real-world problem:
- Who is affected?
- Why is it urgent?
- Why is the status quo insufficient?
Tip: Avoid abstract wording. Make the challenge concrete.
3. The Innovation
Explain what you built, tested, or redesigned:
- What is new or different?
- How does it work (at a high level)?
- What is the approach, tool, or model?
Tip: Technology is welcome but should never be the "hero". The hero is the problem solved and the people impacted.
4. The Impact
Show what changed:
- What will be the results?
- What early evidence exists?
- What becomes possible now that wasn't possible before?
Impact can be:
- improved access
- faster action
- better inclusion
- better decisions
- cost savings / efficiency
- increased safety or protection
- stronger participation in social dialogue
Tip: If still a pilot, that's fine, but say clearly what will be achieved and what will be tested next.
5. Why this matters for the ILO
Make the institutional connection explicit:
- How does this advance decent work?
- How does it support social dialogue?
- How does it improve policy, compliance, inclusion, rights, or protection?
- Why is this connected to ILO's role?
Tip: This part is essential. Innovation Day is not a tech demo: it is innovation for the ILO mission.
6. Closing takeaway
End with one clear idea:
- the future direction
- the key lesson
- the invitation to scale
- the final "why"
Tip: The best closings are short, confident, and memorable.
Slides (Maximum 5)
Presenters can download a PowerPoint template from the ILO Brand Hub.
Key rules
- Maximum 5 slides
- One key message per slide
- Minimal text
- Use visuals where possible
- Slides should support the talk, not duplicate it
Suggested slide flow
- The challenge (human + concrete)
- The solution (what it is)
- How it works (simple)
- Impact (who benefits + results)
- Why it matters / next step
Get inspired!
See what an engaging Innovation Day talk looks like! Watch the ILO Innovation Scouts—colleagues from across the organization—present their bold new ideas at the 2025 International Labour Conference.