Presenting at the World Youth Forum in Egypt? | Yuma Soerianto
From coding in his room to speaking on a world stage, Yuma Soerianto shared his AI insights in front of 8,000 people, including the president of Egypt. How did a 19-year-old conquer a global forum? So, What Was It Like to Present at the World Youth Forum in Egypt?
T& (T&DON): “What It's Like to Present at the World Youth Forum in Egypt”
The other presenters were experts in their fields with heaps of experience, which made for some great presentations and discussions.
YS (Yuma Soerianto): I went there 3 times, and presented in 2017 and 2019.
Overall, it’s an amazing experience to attend and present there.
T&: “Was there a specific moment during your presentation that felt like the highlight for you?”
YS: “My highlight was in 2019, when I was in an Artificial Intelligence panel in front of 8,000 people, including the president of Egypt.
We were discussing about AI and its implications to humanity (this was before chatGPT era). The world panel consisted of AI experts, neuroscientists, and an AI robot named Sophia.
It was an incredible experience sitting among these experts and giving my opinion in front of a sea of people.”
T&: “Presenting at such a global event sounds huge! How did you prepare for it? Was there anything that helped you stay calm and confident?”
YS: “I was around 10 at the time and was invited to participate for my experience and unique point of view.
When preparing, I wanted to make sure I had a good understanding of relevant topics (such as AI), including recent news in the lead up to the presentation.
Beyond that, I just came equipped with my own experiences - being myself makes my presentation more natural, as though I’m having a chat with the other presenters!”
T&: “Did you face any challenges while presenting?”
YS: “For the most part, I didn’t face any significant challenges when presenting.
Looking back, it would’ve been nice for the moderators to have asked more questions that prompted more discussion.
In a way, my young age limited the perceived depth at which I could answer questions.”
T&: “Since the forum had attendees from all over the world, how did you ensure your message resonated with such a diverse audience? Any special treatment?”
YS: “The World Youth Forum is truly an international event. There were translators that translated the languages to and from Arabic, as well as other languages.
First, In terms of catering for foreign translations, keep your language simple and direct.
Avoid idioms or expressions that may confuse international listeners and interpreters.
Second, pace yourself to give a chance for non-native listeners to understand what you’re saying!
T&: If you could go back and do the presentation again, is there anything you'd change or add?
YS: “I’d ask the moderator to give me some more thought-provoking questions.
Artificial Intelligence is so much more relevant in our world today and I would have loved to take the opportunity to delve much deeper into the implications and future of AI.”
T&: What advice would you give to other young people who dream of presenting their ideas on big stages like WYF someday?
First,
“Find your passion. Focus on issues you deeply care about and develop your own perspective.”
“If you’re passionate about a topic, it’ll be easier for you to present on.”
Second,
“Start small with public speaking. Use every chance to practice”
From class presentations to local community meetings. These stepping stones build the confidence needed for bigger stages.
You’ll eventually get used to speaking in front of audiences and treat them as a one-on-one conversation with friends or family.
Yuma presented at World Youth Forum 2019 in Egypt. © Yuma Soerianto
From coding in his room to speaking on a world stage. Yuma proved that age doesn't define impact. By keeping his message clear with simple terms, he turned complex AI discussion into something everyone could connect with.
Artikel ini adalah bagian dari seri wawancara eksklusif T&DON dengan para profesional yang berhasil meng-overcome berbagai tantangan dalam presentasi besar mereka.
