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Home > Blog > Speaking 101 > 10 Speaker Bio Examples That Will Inspire You To Update Yours

10 Speaker Bio Examples That Will Inspire You To Update Yours

In managing a speaking business, there are dozens of moving pieces that operate simultaneously. There are the more exciting pieces of the puzzle, like the signature on a new contract, as well as the more tedious components, like cleaning out your customer relationship management system ( CRM ). However, of these components, there are a handful that are recycled for each speaking gig, and over time, it becomes easier and easier to not only identify them but also refine them. Together, these details form your “speaker kit,” a comprehensive set of information that provides your clients with all the tools they need to prepare for their event with you as the highlight. Within this kit, although there are many things included, we’re going to just focus on a single one here: your speaker bio.

A few months ago, we published a guide to six quick and easy steps for writing a stellar speaker bio. From things you should include to mistakes you should avoid, these six steps were focused on providing speakers with actionable and straightforward advice, making the process of writing your bio a little easier. However, while we went through plenty of “to-do”s, we didn’t cover many examples for you to reference as you write your bio. In light of that, in this guide, we’re going to highlight the SpeakerFlow team ’s top ten speaker bios.  That way, the next time you give your bio a facelift, you’ll have a solid set of examples to get you started. 👍

1.  Meridith Elliott Powell

First on our list is the one and only Meridith Elliott Powell . As both an experienced saleswoman and a decorated speaker, Meridith’s speaking business can serve as an example in many regards. However, in the context of her speaker bio, there are a few things that make it especially noteworthy. First, it highlights her accomplishments in her field and as a speaker right from the beginning. This shows her confidence as well as her experience, making her a valuable hire for any event organizer reading her bio. Second, she names the industries for which her content is designed, specifically “banking, healthcare, and finance”. In this way, she clears up any confusion the reader may have as to whether or not she’s a good fit for their organization. She also saves herself from having to meet with event organizers that turn out to be a bad fit for her message. 

Lastly, as far as speaker bios go, there are three variations to have on hand: the full version, a 100 word version, and a “super short” version. The version of Meridith’s speaker bio below is a perfect example of what a 100-word version should look like. Direct, detailed, and succinct, it not only communicates everything you would need to know, as an event organizer. More importantly, it does so in a read-time of less than a minute. That means less time spent reading, for the event organizer considering her, and a shorter timeline between “first landed on her website” and “contacted her to learn more”. 

The Biography:

“Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to Watch by Currency Fair, sales and leadership expert Meridith Elliott Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker and business strategist. With a background in corporate sales and leadership, her career expands over several industries including banking, healthcare, and finance. Meridith worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suite table. Meridith is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers. She is passionate about helping her clients learn the sales and leadership strategies they need to succeed no matter what this marketplace does.”

2. Neen James

Second is Australian leadership and productivity speaker Neen James . In many ways, Neen’s speaker bio is admirable for the same reasons as that is Meridith Elliott Powell. To begin with, it mentions her certifications, both within the speaking industry and outside of it. Additionally, it goes on to give details from her past clients, regarding her value as a speaker, specifically. For example, in the third sentence she states, “Meeting planners love working with Neen, often describing her as the energizer bunny for their events.” This functions well as both a quick way to work in a testimonial and a fun way to suggest her energy. Plus, as someone who has also been described as the “Energizer Bunny,” it already makes me want to get to know her, and I’m not even planning an event! 

Lastly, the final thing to notice in Neen’s speaker bio is her strong and unique ending. In it, she says, “Oh, did we mention that Neen is Australian? Why does that matter? Well, it means that she’s a bit mischievous, is pretty witty and a little cheeky. She also considers herself an unofficial champagne taste tester … and a really slow runner.” In sharing a bit of personal information as well as a few jokes about herself, Neen ends the entire bio with a laid-back and “don’t take life too seriously” sort of attitude. This makes her memorable both as a potential event hire and as a potential connection. After all, who doesn’t like working with someone that works hard but is humble enough to laugh at themselves? I know I do. 🤷

“Neen is a leadership expert who delivers high-energy keynotes presentations that challenge audiences to leverage their focus and pay attention to what matters most at work and in life. Audiences love her practical strategies they can apply personally and professionally. Meeting planners love working with Neen, often describing her as the energizer bunny for their events.

Neen earned her MBA from Southern Cross University and the Certified Speaking Professional designation from National Speakers Association. She has received numerous awards as a professional speaker. Her strong background in learning, development and managing large corporate teams makes her the perfect fit. Organizations that hire Neen because of her implementable strategies that help employees avoid distractions, stop interruptions, prioritize daily objectives and say ‘no’ to requests that steal time from real goals and priorities.

Oh, did we mention that Neen is Australian? Why does that matter? Well, it means that she’s a bit mischievous, is pretty witty and a little cheeky. She also considers herself an unofficial champagne taste tester … and a really slow runner.”

3. Jason O. Harris

Next up, let’s take a look at the speaker bio for motivational speaker and decorated veteran Jason O. Harris . As one of the longest examples in this list, Jason’s speaker bio clocks in at 224 words. Overall, it’s a great example of what the long version of a bio should look like and the sort of details it should include. From his credentials to his experience, it shares the details about Jason that not only have made him a good person but also a good leader. Because these details are also what makes him a good consultant, speaker, and coach, in sharing them, he subtly shows his value without having to state it outright. In your own speaker bio, that’s exactly the level of class to aim for. In other words, your goal is to provide evidence that you are well worth hiring without ever saying “Hire me!”. 

On a secondary note, Jason’s speaker bio is also smart in that it’s organized with the assumption that the reader may not finish it. The first paragraph alone mentions the services he provides, the experiences that make them credible, and the reasons that hiring him is a good move. In this way, even though it doesn’t necessarily include everything a speaker bio should, it ensures that, as long as the reader makes it through that first paragraph, they’ll want to continue learning about Jason and the benefits of booking him for their event. 

“Jason Harris is a motivational speaker, consultant, and certified character coach who values dedication, service and excellence. As a decorated combat veteran, Jason brings unique perspectives gained from his battlefield experience to your organization, empowering you to unleash the untapped potential of your employees. Using real-world examples, Jason sheds light on how the invaluable talent each person brings to your organization can positively impact your mission.

Jason learned the value of dedication at an early age growing up in East Oakland, CA, as the second of six children in a single-parent home. Jason’s dedication, hard work, and determination to avoid a life of poverty and mediocrity inspired him to earn a congressional nomination to the United States Air Force Academy which lead to an accomplished military career as a decorated Air Force pilot. Jason’s career has been a model of service recognized with awards and decorations.

Earning several military awards for his superior military career has proved this attitude and consistent mission of excellence. Jason knows that excellence is a journey, not simply a destination. This perspective inspired him to teach, develop, inspire, and mentor hundreds of future Air Force leaders as an academic instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He brings this same dedication to his work with business leaders as they strive to empower their teams and achieve greater success.”

4. Mimi Brown

Number four on the speaker bio list is that of the hilarious Mimi Brown . As a speaker and coach, Mimi is all about authenticity, as anyone who’s met her can attest. Whether you’ve seen her speak or talked with her at an NSA event, a conversation with Mimi is relaxed and candid. In the same way, her speaker bio doesn’t just share the standard info about her credentials and speaking skills. It also gives the reader an idea of what Mimi is like, so they can know right off the bat if she’s the speaker they’re looking for. 

Additionally, like Jason O. Harris’s speaker bio, Mimi’s speaker bio begins with the most important information you should know about her, if you’re considering her for your event. As a whole, her first paragraph also serves as an example of what a promise statement should look like. If you haven’t heard of a promise statement, essentially, it’s a short and sweet description of a speaker, their clients, their services, and the results of their work. Considering this, besides looking to Mimi’s bio as an example of what a full speaker bio looks like, it’s definitely worth looking at the first paragraph for crafting your promise statement, too. 

“Motivational Keynote Speaker, Mimi Brown works with individuals and organizations to amplify their communication, connection and confidence so they can make an influential impact on the world. She mentors with passion, guiding her clients to effectively strengthen and elevate their leadership vision to new heights.

With over ten years of corporate training experience, a knack for making meaningful connections with audiences and an insatiable appetite for helping others maximize their potential, Mimi knows how to rock a platform, connect with a crowd and provide training so that others can effectively do the same.

Mimi’s down-to-earth humor compels audiences to laugh while they learn. She engages groups from the moment she steps in front of them and leaves them with empowering tools and focused mindsets that they will use long after the lights have gone out on the event. Mimi is passionate about people, leadership and successful businesses. She is especially inspired to help people take their careers – and themselves – to unprecedented levels.

Mimi’s honors include being recognized as one of Michigan Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 40, Ms. Michigan Plus America 2015 and a proud contestant on NBC’s The Biggest Loser.

When not speaking or training, Mimi can be found creating delicious meals with chef and hubby Mr. Brown and bribing her snobby cat Kitty Brown with treats in exchange for snuggles.”

5. Brittany Hodak

Moving on, the fifth speaker bio example comes courtesy of keynote speaker and customer happiness expert Brittany Hodak . Overall, Brittany’s speaker bio is a fine example for several reasons, starting with the length. Unlike those of Jason O. Harris or Mimi Brown, Brittany’s bio totals about 125 words, making it perfect for an event program or landing page. 

Additionally, despite being relatively short, Brittany’s speaker bio is jam-packed with credentials and proof of her skills. In the last paragraph alone, she mentions Walmart , Disney , Amazon , Luke Bryan , and Katy Perry as past clients. These not only catch the reader’s eye, even if they merely skim her bio. They also are a huge testament to her business and speaking abilities, due to their reputation. In the same way, in your own speaker bio, include a few of your biggest clients in the long-form version. That way, even if the reader hasn’t met you before, your clients’ names will give you some added desirability. 

“Brittany Hodak is an international keynote speaker and award-winning entrepreneur. She is widely regarded as the go-to source on customer engagement and retention.

Additionally, Brittany has been invited to speak to organizations across the world including American Express, WeWork, Inc. and the United Nations. She has published more than 350 thought-leadership articles for media including Forbes, Adweek, and Success, and has been featured on CNBC, Bloomberg, NBC, CBS and Shark Tank.

Brittany co-founded, scaled, and successfully exited The Superfan Company, a fan engagement company whose roster included Walmart, Disney, Amazon, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and more under her eight-year leadership. She has been named to Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 list, Inc.’s 35 Under 35 list, and Billboard’s 30 Under 30 list.”

6. Dave Raymond

Next, let’s take a look at another example, the speaker bio of the self proclaimed “Emperor of Fun,” Dave Raymond . Dave’s bio is a notable example for a few reasons. For one thing, like Brittany Hodak’s bio, it’s short, sweet, and includes the names of some eye-catching clients, in this case the Philadelphia Phillies . Again, including the names of your biggest clients in this way can boost your reputation and make hiring you an easy “yes.” In other words, don’t skip it, if you have some big clients under your belt. It might feel a little like boasting, but it’s almost guaranteed to get other event organizers’ attention. 

In addition, Dave’s bio also stands out from the other examples in this list because of how personal it is. In fact, Dave’s speaker bio focuses less on his speaking life and more on his life as a whole. From his experience on the baseball field to his experience behind a desk, it shares more personal details than the average bio, suggesting the same level of openness between him and his clients. Likewise, when writing your own bio, keep in mind that, while it’s important to include your professional info, it never hurts to include some fun facts about yourself, too. 

“Moving directly from college student to campy green fur-ball, Dave Raymond pioneered the field of sports mascots as the first enhabitor of the world-renowned Phillie Phanatic. Over his sixteen years in the suit, David’s performance as the Phanatic carried the Philadelphia Phillies to World Series victories and unimagined levels of popularity, helping to spawn a revolution in the mascot industry.

Leveraging the unique lessons he learned from the inside out – literally! – Dave made a seamless transition to the world of character branding and mascot training. Since starting Raymond Entertainment nearly twenty years ago, he has overseen the creation and rehabilitation of hundreds of mascots and the brands that support them.

With The Power of Fun, Dave shares his “phantastic” story. Learn how Dave’s time as the Phanatic led him to realize that fun’s transformative effects are the key to living a happier, healthier, and more productive life.”

7. Brandon Farbstein

The seventh speaker bio example we’ll look at comes from empowerment speaker and thought leader Brandon Farbstein . The youngest speaker in this list, Brandon’s bio is a perfect example of what a short bio looks like. To start, it opens with mention of his age and his dwarfism diagnosis, both of which are unique among speakers. From there, it mentions his TED appearance, alluding to his speaking skills and clientele, as well as his purpose, “to change the lens through which people see their world.” Finally, it concludes by asserting “In just three years of speaking, over five million people across the globe have been inspired by Brandon”. In this sentence alone, he shows his dedication and the impact he’s had on his audiences, despite only having been a speaker for a short time. 

All in all, Brandon’s speaker bio covers all of the things we mentioned already. If you forgot, these include your credentials and experience, some personal details, and mention of your target audience. However, it also does an exemplary job of telling a story, engaging the reader and leaving them with a desire to meet Brandon, either for their event or just for a conversation. In the same way, when writing your own speaker bio, try writing it as a story about you. Focus on answering the questions, “What is your experience?,” “Where have you spoken in the past?,” and “What are you doing these days?”. Not only will it help hold the reader’s attention. It will also show your story-telling skills, inadvertently crediting your speaking abilities, as well. 

“At just 20, Brandon Farbstein has already made a name for himself worldwide as a sought after speaker and prominent Gen Z activist. Diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism at the age of 2, Brandon stands at 3’9” – making his life’s journey full of adversity, strength, and impact. After feeling invisible and without a purpose for the first 15 years of his life, he discovered his calling on the TEDx stage, and suddenly realized his life’s meaning: to change the lens through which people see their world.  In just three years of speaking, over five million people across the globe have been inspired by Brandon; and his work continues to touch audiences from every walk of life.”

8. Cassandra Worthy

Eighth on our list of speaker bios is that of change management speaker Cassandra Worthy . Like Meridith Elliott Powell, Cassandra’s speaking brand is spot-on for a variety of areas, including her website and social presence. However, looking at her bio specifically, there are a few things that make it stand out. Arguably, the most noticeable thing that differentiates her speaker bio from the others in this list is that it’s told in first person. In other words, reading Cassandra’s bio, it’s almost as if you’re listening to her, rather than just reading about her. 

Additionally, like Brandon Farbstein, Cassandra’s bio shares her story as just that: a story. For example, between the first and second paragraphs, she states, “Fueled by frustration and stress, I found myself on the precipice of walking out of the office and never coming back. Had I done so, I would have become another statistic. Yet another Africa-American female departed from a STEM-driven industry…But I didn’t.” In doing this, she doesn’t juat pull the reader in. She also gives them a hint of the engaging way in which she speaks. In your own speaker bio, remember this as you tell your story, too. Your voice on paper (or on a screen, alternatively) is just as important as your voice on stage. 

“Early on in my career, when my company was in the aftermath of a $5B acquisition, I almost quit. Fueled by frustration and stress, I found myself on the precipice of walking out of the office and never coming back. Had I done so, I would have become another statistic. Yet another Africa-American female departed from a STEM-driven industry. Top talent voluntarily resigning during a time of significant organizational shift. Another change victim.

But I didn’t. Instead, I woke up one day and decided to view those feelings as a signal that I was sitting in a moment of opportunity. 

An opportunity to transform that chemistry, that feeling into something better. To choose every day to do something, say something, behave in some way that would move the needle of my work experience towards a better feeling. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was cultivating a teachable strategy to inspire anyone to become enthusiastic about change, to find their unique power of resilience during turbulent times.

Today, I help organizations disrupt ‘change as usual’. Through a practical and repeatable framework, I show them how they can transform their culture from surviving change to growing through change.”

9. Wayne Lee

Next is another example of a quick and inviting speaker bio, that of Canadian speaker and hypnotist Wayne Lee . Like the bios of Mimi Brown and Dave Raymond, Wayne’s speaker bio is a written representation of his stage presence. It is straightforward in that it explains his experience and general approach to positively impacting his audiences. However, it’s also engaging in its mention of “magic and visualization,” leading the reader to wonder how that plays a role in his presentations. 

Furthermore, Wayne’s speaker bio is also another great example of finding balance. It’s self-promotional but not to the point of arrogance. It’s engaging but not so much that it’s flashy. Above all, it’s long enough to be detailed but not so long that it’s boring. As you craft your own speaker bio, keep these balances in mind. That way, you can effortlessly gain event organizers’ attention and respect, again, without explicitly saying, “I’m well worth hiring!”.  

“One of North America’s premier Corporate Presenters, Entertainers, and Peak Performance Experts, Wayne Lee is a veteran of thousands of successful shows and presentations, a published author, and a mentor to professionals of all walks of life.

Wayne’s own journey to excellence has been fueled with an unrelenting passion for empowering people. From a childhood fascination with magic and visualization, Wayne’s gift and passion for seeing great potential and acting on it have allowed him to grow his career and perform to audiences worldwide.

Today, he works with leading brands to guide their teams through the high-stress, constant change, and fast-paced environment that is now commonplace. Wayne shows each audience how to reconnect with what matters most so they can achieve any result, all while enjoying the ride of their life.”

10. Gregory Offner

Last but not least on our list of speaker bios is that of creativity speaker and musician Gregory Offner . I saved Greg’s for last partly because it meets all the requirements already mentioned but also because it does a wonderful job of being unique and memorable. For example, one of the most important components of a speaker bio – of any written text, really, is the ending. In Greg’s bio, he ends the entire thing almost as if he wants to be respectful of your time and keep things short. But he has one last thing to mention before letting you go: “Oh, and he also brings an electric piano!” Not only is this a unique selling point. It also gives you a  glimpse of Greg’s down-to-earth attitude, even though his bio is written in third person. 

In the same way, as you write your speaker bio, make sure to start with your background and credentials and then segway into your services and what you’re currently doing. But, most importantly, remember to be authentic in telling your story and end on a high note. At the end of the day, after looking at a bunch of speakers, event organizers are going to consider those they remember the best. Even if it also functions as a source of basic information, the goal of your speaker bio is to put you in that group. 

“Using his background in Music and Entertainment, Greg weaves song and story together with insight from his 16 year career in business and sales to deliver a mesmerizing tale of fortune and frustration – the ups and downs of disruption. Having worked over 40 jobs before turning 30; attending 4 different schools before age 14; and then surviving 12 major surgeries to repair extensive damage to his voice from a career in music and sales, Greg doesn’t just speak on disruption, he’s lived it. 

His studies of Philosophy and Psychology enable him to simplify the science of why we create the patterns we do – where they come from, and how to change them to amplify results. From his 16 year career as a top-performing sales executive with Fortune 500 companies, to a 12 year run around the globe as a professional musician (dueling pianos); Greg brings a track record of integrity, creativity, and passion to every event – oh, and he also brings an electric piano!”

Hopefully, this list of examples provides you with some inspiration as you consider your own speaker bio, moving forward. For more information, check out our previous guide, “ Writing A Speaker Biography: The Beginner’s Guide ”. Conversely, feel free to shoot us an email at [email protected] , too, if you have any additional questions. 👋

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How to Write a Speaker Bio for a Conference (with Examples)

Published on 28 Jul 2022

Author bios, or speaker bios, can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be included as part of your application to present at a conference or posted to an event website to introduce yourself as a presenter at the event. Bios can also be helpful to have on your profile in the participant directory of the conference management tool used for the event, so that others to know what you’re working on. 

For many, an author bio is their first introduction to their peers – sort of like a digital, written handshake. In the world of academic conferences, conference programmes and websites will include a biography of every speaker.

An interesting, engaging bio can help encourage others to participate in the event, and impact the number of people who attend your presentation, so it’s important to take your time, do your research, and write a biography that will highlight the characteristics that set you apart from the rest. 

How do you write a good short bio?

Start by taking notes of your strengths and accomplishments. Look at your CV and pull out the very basics like where you went to school and your primary area of interest, then add in the impressive details like fellowships, published pieces, or exciting collaborations.

Here are the detailed steps to take to write a bio that will inspire your peers to attend your presentation or connect with you in a breakout session.

Step 1: Find out the required length

When you’re writing a speaker bio for a specific conference, make sure you know the length of bio the organizer is looking for. Each conference will have its own guidelines, and some will even ask for two versions – a longer one for the event website and a shorter one for the printed program. 

Step 2. Write in the third person

Write your bio as if you’re writing it about someone else. Not only is this the most common format for a speaker biography, but it gives you the opportunity to add many details of your success and experiences without coming across as pompous or arrogant. Writing in the third person gives some authors more confidence to speak about themselves and their accomplishments. 

Start out with your full name, then decide whether to refer to yourself throughout using your first name or last name. For less formal events, using your first name creates an air of familiarity, while referring to yourself by your last name is more professional and formal. 

Step 3: Make a list of the basics

There are basic pieces of information that should be included in every speaker's biography.

• Your full name
• Your credentials
• Where you completed your graduate studies
• Your current position and where you work
• Your areas of interest
• How your experience is relevant and beneficial to the focus of the event
• Your most notable accomplishments - avoid building a laundry-list of published pieces, focus on the most impressive
• If you’ve published in any top peer-reviewed journals like Science, Nature, or the equivalent for your field, be sure to include this 
• List any patents you hold or any breakthrough findings
• Note any impressive research collaborations with well-known subject matter experts

Step 4: Write to your audience

Get to know your audience before you start writing. I don’t mean get to know them personally – that will happen at the event. I mean get an understanding of the demographics and areas of interest of the potential conference attendees that will be reading your bio. 

If you’re presenting at an ornithology conference and your audience is passionate about hands-on research, focus the content of your bio more heavily towards your applied experience studying birds. You can do this by highlighting the hands-on research you’ve done rather than the degrees and certifications you’ve earned. In this example, when discussing your PhD thesis, you would focus on the part of your research that led you to travel to Antarctica to study the Wandering Albatross migration. 

If your audience is made up primarily of institutional academics, highlight who funded your research and which institutions you were collaborating with when the work was being conducted. For example, focus the mention of your PhD thesis around the fact that you studied at UCLA under one of their many renowned Professors of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 

Step 5: Add some personality

One way to set yourself apart from other speakers is to inject some fun into your bio. You want it to be interesting and engaging – that’s how you will encourage other conference attendees to read the biography from start to finish. Don’t be afraid to try out some wordplay or alliterations. While there are great bios that start out with the speaker’s primary research area, some of the most engaging bios start off with a sentence or statement that is bold, unexpected, and captures your reader’s attention. 

Examples of speakers' bio

Here are two good examples of the type of speaker’s biographies you’ll find on conference websites and programs. 

Brandon Farbstein

Brandon Farbstein’s bio is short, it’s interesting, and it opens with information that highlights the attributes that set him apart from other speakers. It gets personal and draws the reader in. Personally, if I saw this bio in a conference program I would definitely make time in my schedule to attend this presentation. 

“At just 20, Brandon Farbstein has already made a name for himself worldwide as a sought-after speaker and prominent Gen Z activist. Diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism at the age of 2, Brandon stands at 3’9” – making his life’s journey full of adversity, strength, and impact. After feeling invisible and without a purpose for the first 15 years of his life, he discovered his calling on the TEDx stage, and suddenly realized his life’s meaning: to change the lens through which people see their world.  In just three years of speaking, over five million people across the globe have been inspired by Brandon; and his work continues to touch audiences from every walk of life.”

One notable thing lacking here is clear information about Brandon’s work. We know a lot about him personally, we know that he’s a TEDx speaker, and we know that his work has impacted millions of people, but we really don’t know what he actually does. 

Nicole Redvers

Nicole Redvers' bio starts by identifying her personal connection to her field of study, peaking the interest of readers and making it clear that she is passionate about her work. She goes on to cover her specific area of research, the institutions she’s connected with, and the advocacy works she’s involved with to advance her research in a way that will improve the lives of others. 

“Dr. Nicole Redvers, ND, MPH, is a member of the Deninu K’ue First Nation in Denendeh (NWT) and has worked with Indigenous patients, scholars, and communities around the globe her entire career. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Indigenous Health at the University of North Dakota where she helped develop and launch the first Indigenous health PhD program. Dr. Redvers is co-founder and current board chair of the Canadian charity the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation based in Yellowknife, NWT, providing traditional Indigenous-rooted Land-based wellness supports to northerners. She has been actively involved at regional, national, and international levels promoting the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in both human and planetary health research and practice. She is author of the trade paperback book titled, ‘The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles’.”

One thing I like about this bio is that it takes the reader through a logical flow of information that ends with Redvers’ most notable accomplishments. 

A good speaker's bio is short, direct, and sparks interest. It provides the speaker with an opportunity to connect with conference attendees before the event begins, and it provides event attendees with an introduction to the speakers presenting at the event which will help them determine which presentations they want to attend.

With the instructions we provided and half an hour of your time, you’ll have a bio that stands out from the rest!

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Table of Contents

Understanding the purpose of a speaker bio, how to write a speaker bio for a conference, how to use artificial intelligence to write speaker bios, 3 examples of effective speaker bios, free speaker bio template, unlock the power of speaker bios, how to write a speaker bio for a conference (with examples).

A well-crafted speaker bio is a great way to create a strong first impression with event attendees and generate buzz. Not only can a solid bio establish credibility for your event and pique the audience’s curiosity, but it also can accelerate event promotion efforts.

Keep reading to learn more about why speaker bios matter, discover how to write a bio for a conference, and view speaker bio examples that should give you a better idea about what a strong bio looks like.

Speaker bios play a pivotal role in effective event marketing strategies . By populating your event website with speaker bios, you can showcase your event’s content caliber while creating interest and engagement. Once speaker bios are live, you can repurpose this content — for example, by creating graphics, sharing them on social media, and tagging the speakers.

The best speaker bios include the following elements:

• The speaker’s name and title
• Their current affiliation (e.g., CEO of Acme Corp.)
• Relevant experience and expertise
• Accomplishments and achievements (e.g., awards or publications)
• Education and qualifications
• Information about previous speaking engagements
• A personal touch that describes the speaker’s hobbies, interests, or passions outside of their professional life
• Contact information

Effective speaker bios begin with a compelling opening line that grabs the reader’s attention. At a high level, speaker bios should showcase the speaker’s expertise, credentials, and achievements. They should also highlight relevant industry experience and accomplishments. 

Now that we’ve got the basics down, consider these five tips for writing winning speaker bios.

1. Tailor the Bio to the Conference Theme and Audience

Since every event is different, ensuring that your speaker bios align with the conference theme and resonate with the target audience is essential. 

For example, if you’re hosting an event catering to executives, you must ensure each speaker’s bio highlights their executive experience. Incorporate language and keywords that resonate with the audience. In this example, you may want to include leadership qualities, board appointments, and examples of driving innovation, digital transformation, and return on investment.

2. Structure the Speaker Bio Effectively

Organize the speaker bio logically and concisely so readers can quickly determine what each speaker is about. Pay attention to the structure, too. Using bullet points and short paragraphs can make the bios more accessible, improving readability. Generally speaking, bios should be 300 words at maximum.

3. Include Social Proof and Credibility

Incorporate testimonials, endorsements, and other accolades from previous speaking engagements to demonstrate the accomplishments of your speakers. Mention notable publications, awards, and recognitions.

For example, if a particular speaker was named CEO of the Year, ensure their bio conveys that information. At the same time, share relevant statistics or achievements demonstrating expertise (e.g., grew ARR 250% in two years). 

4. Add a Personal Touch 

At the end of the day, we’re all people, and your speakers are more than the sum of their professional accomplishments. Compelling speaker bios include personal anecdotes about their lives or experiences related to the event’s theme. 

After reading a bio, audience members should know precisely why each individual was invited to participate in the event. To humanize speakers, include a sentence or two about their interests outside of work.

5. Review and Refine the Bio

Once you’re done writing a bio draft, proofread it to ensure there aren’t any typos and that the content is grammatically correct. Double-check your work to ensure that the bio is tight and free of unnecessary details. Run the bio by a trusted colleague for a second opinion if possible, and then get the stamp of approval from the professional who is featured. 

Lean events team? You can use generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT to jumpstart the process of writing speaker bios. Here’s an example of what you could ask ChatGPT to pump out a high-quality speaker bio. 

Here are some additional prompt ideas you can use to write your conference speaker bios:

• Full speaker bio: Can you write a comprehensive speaker bio for [Speaker’s Name], who will speak at our upcoming [Event Name]?
• Key accomplishments: Write a speaker bio highlighting the most important accomplishments of [Speaker’s Name].
• Professional background: Provide a brief overview of the professional background of [Speaker’s Name] for their speaker bio.
• Relevant experience: Write a bio emphasizing [Speaker’s Name]’s relevant experience and expertise in [Industry/Topic].
• Thought leadership: Create a bio that showcases [Speaker’s Name]’s thought leadership and unique insights in the field of [Industry/Topic].
• Notable contributions: Write a speaker bio outlining the notable contributions that [Speaker’s Name] has made to the [Industry/Field].
• Presentation Style: Provide a bio that captures [Speaker’s Name]’s engaging presentation style and ability to connect with diverse audiences.
• Innovative approach: Write a speaker bio highlighting [Speaker’s Name]’s innovative approach to [Industry/Topic] and their impact on the field.
• Audience takeaways: Create a bio communicating the practical takeaways attendees can expect from [Speaker’s Name]’s presentation.
• Upcoming speaking engagement: Write a brief speaker bio for [Speaker’s Name] for their upcoming presentation at [Event Name, Date, and Location].
• Education and credentials: Provide a speaker bio with the educational background and relevant credentials of [Speaker’s Name].

Feel free to mix and match these prompts or provide specific details about the speaker’s background and accomplishments and the event they will be speaking at to get a tailored and impactful speaker bio. Just know that you must fact-check the output because the information may not be up-to-date or accurate. 

What exactly does this look like in practice? Here are three speaker bio examples that should get you thinking in the right direction.

Bio Example for a Tech Conference Speaker

Derek Jeter’s bio for INBOUND 2023 keeps it short and sweet, likely because most people are familiar with this baseball powerhouse. 

Here is the text of that bio:

Derek Jeter

Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and National Baseball HOF Inductee

The Baseball Hall of Famer and business leader shares what his leadership experience on and off the field has taught him about business. 

Bio Example for a DE&I Conference Speaker 

Here is the bio for Charisse Kosova, who will be speaking at the 26th annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference . This event serves as a platform for accomplished DE&I practitioners worldwide to showcase their work and engage in dialogues about critical subjects such as race, social justice, neurodiversity, women’s health, disability, allyship, and other themes.

Charisse Kosova 

Director, DEI Learning & Development 

McDonald’s Corporation 

Charisse Kosova is director of DEI L&D at McDonald’s Corporation, working to drive the success of McDonald’s DEI learning journey at all levels of the organization. Before McDonald’s, she was the head of Global Training & Development at Shure Incorporated, where she built the first centralized learning function and advised the D&I council on global learning strategy. As director of Global Talent Development for IOR Global Services, she consulted with multinational corporations to build greater intercultural leadership and management skills across culturally diverse teams. Over time this work of bridging “otherness,” combined with her own commitment to social justice, led to a more focused expertise in DEI. Charisse has lived and worked in Ethiopia, Morocco, Japan, and the UK, and has seen first-hand how continuous learning in a diverse, inclusive environment leads not only to greater employee productivity and engagement, but also to increased professional and personal well-being.

Bio Example for a Fintech Conference Speaker

Stephanie Yu’s bio page for FinovateFall — the world’s premier fintech showcase — is outstanding, partly because it includes the sessions at which she’ll speak. Check it out:

Stephanie Yu

Director of Product Management

Stephanie Yu, director of Product Management at Uplift. Uplift is the enterprise Buy Now, Pay Later solution for the world’s leading travel, retail, and e-commerce brands.

Stephanie leads the core product development at Uplift. As a product leader, she has led the business to over 200% revenue growth in 2022.

Prior to Uplift, Stephanie held various leadership roles at Moody’s. She started out as a research data analyst at Moody’s and expanded into product management, leading market research and driving innovative product development like the Data Contribution Portal at Moody’s Commercial Real Estate line of business ⸺ resulting in improved workflows for 200 property researchers, and “Pulse” AI-powered commercial real estate market news feed.

Former Bizzaboer Rachel Heller , who is now GitHub’s senior content program manager of events, uses a helpful template for writing conference speaker bios:

• Something descriptive about what you do (not just your title and company)
• Why are you credible
• Your role and/or any previous relevant roles 
• Any extracurricular professional accolades or organizations you’re part of
• Something personal that humanizes you

Here is her 99-word bio using this formula:

Rachel Heller is an event content professional with over a decade of experience working on events ranging from 50 to 50,000 attendees. Currently, she is the senior content program manager for events at GitHub. Rachel is a member of the Event Content Council and previously held event content strategy roles at Sage Intacct and PTC. She is passionate about diverse, equitable, and inclusive presenter lineups, and when she’s not thinking up new session format ideas or searching for the best speakers, Rachel enjoys hiking, restoring furniture, and trying to beat her fastest time solving the NYT crossword puzzle.

What would your bio look like using this template?

Although many event marketers might underestimate their importance, speaker bios can profoundly impact event success. By creating concise, compelling bios that interest your target audience, you can gin up excitement, sell more tickets, and ensure your next event is the best yet.

As you begin creating speaker bios for your next event, keep this blog’s tips in mind. And remember to lean into generative AI tools to speed up the process!

But wait, did you know you can use generative AI to supercharge your event planning and promotion efforts? It’s true, and we’ve built a guide to help: 100+ chatbot prompts for event professionals .

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Event Guide

How to write a powerful speaker bio(with examples) for 2024.

See how Eventify can help you.

Creating a presenter bio is like practicing a solid, firm handshake. Not only does it make a great first impression but also makes the recipient curious about you and your personality. That’s the impact a strong, well-written speaker bio can make on your digital presence. Speaker bios, unlike the brief on your CV or social media profile, are curated to display a holistic viewpoint of your professional achievements and personal milestones.

It’s the first glimpse that audiences and event attendees have into your work and personality. It enables your audience, event organizers, and exhibitors to understand what value you bring to events and conferences. So leverage the power of speaker bios with this presenter bio guide with tons of presenter bio examples to get you started.

Your Guide To Speaker Bio That Converts Audiences to Attendees.

Speakers everywhere, irrespective of experience, face the initial hiccup of curating a speaker biography. So if you feel the jitters, know that you are not alone. It’s tough when you don’t know exactly what to include.

Should you talk about the marathon you won or the first time you conquered your fear of heights? Is a reference to your Ph.D. on ‘Psychology of War Veterans’ relevant? Should you write about the book on Finance Management you co-authored?

You do have a lot to offer and, understandably so, are unable to decide on what to include and what to discard. This is a common question that speakers have - how to write a bio for a conference?  This guide with speaker examples will help you strategically create a bio that is interesting, relevant, and grabs eyeballs.

1. List Down Relevant Information

Start by listing down your academic experience, professional wins, achievements, awards, and any other personal milestones. This list will give you a bird's eye view of what can be included in your sample speaker bio. Keep in mind that, based on the conference type, you include only relevant points in your presenter bio.

This relevant conference speaker bio with examples will help organizers and attendees alike understand how your expertise aligns with the larger theme of the event.

“Not many people can claim to have saved over 1000 lives, but then Joe Erwin is not most people. Having graduated from the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University with a degree in Medical Education, he has been working as an emergency responder for 15 years. Being present in dangerous situations, where a single decision can be the difference between life and death - Joe has proved his mettle by displaying grit, courage, and level-headedness. In addition to these services, Joe has co-started a volunteer organization ‘Road Safety For All’. The foundation aims to bring awareness about road safety to the masses and his aim is to spread awareness across the United States.

The larger aim that Joe and his colleagues are working towards is to minimize the loss of lives from driving negligence. When he is not out there saving lives, Joe loves to hike and has a self-proclaimed love for ‘the great outdoors’.

This presenter bio is an example of including relevant points in the description. It’s kept brief with a stronger focus on the speaker's professional services. While doing this, do make sure to include tidbits about your personal life and experiences. This helps your audience see how your work builds your character and personality.

For instance in this bio the statement ‘ grit, courage and level-headedness’ paint a picture of Joe as one who has developed soft skills that are key to the service he offers.

2. Length of Your Speaker Biography

Once you have the relevant information listed down, it’s important to check the bio length requested by the event organizer. While some expect short and succinct descriptions, others are open to longer descriptions.

A hack to follow here is to create a longer, generalized speaker bio template for your brand’s personal site. This can cover your diverse experiences and achievements. You can then edit and personalize this personal bio based on the nature of the conference. All it then takes is to eliminate irrelevant information and retain pointers that align with the event’s guidelines.

“ Tamara Syed is a renowned psychologist and a mental health and wellness consultant. Having published 26 papers on topics of Mental Health, Emotional Well Being, Mental Disorders, Lifestyle and the Impact of Mental Health, Tamara’s work has caused ripple effects in the field of Mental Health & Psychology. Her focus has always been on encouraging women and especially women of color to take on challenging projects in the field.

Not only does Tamara preach empowerment but she also practices it. Having worked with children of refugees, Tamara has set up over 45 tech hubs that act as educational spaces for these children to learn about and adopt new-age technology. Tamara has also taken on the role of dean at the Institute of Mental Health and Welfare Studies. Her work here is based on curating a more empathetic and modern training manual for new interns to adopt. She wants to humanize the field even more with creative approaches that equip doctors to work well with patients.

With such accolades under her belt, Tamara has been a force to reckon with not just in the professional field but even on the sports field. She is a ‘born runner’ and has participated in multiple marathons - successfully acing them. Her love for sports doesn’t end here though - she loves indulging in football and volunteers as a coach at the local club. Tamara has always believed that the sky is the limit when it comes to everything women can achieve. Despite a tough childhood and limited opportunities, Tamara has today carved a niche for herself in her work. She has inspired millions of people, especially women of color, with her enthralling speeches at TED Talks. With so much to do, Tamara still finds time to indulge in re-reruns of ‘Gossip Girl’ - a guilty pleasure she cannot do without. Oh and did we mention, she has a Twitter account where she tweets about the latest fashion trends? Go figure!

This master presenter bio example has multiple elements working cohesively to paint a vibrant personality of the speaker. It begins with the speaker's professional achievements and experience. But gradually moves to their altruistic nature. It also focuses on her love for sports - subtly displaying the spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork she brings to the table.

An authentic addition comes from mentioning her love of popular shows and fashion - aspects that most audiences would not expect of her based on her work profile. This tells the audience that not only is the speaker accomplished but is also relatable.

The feeling of ‘He/She is one of us’ holds a huge allure when it comes to attendees displaying interest in speakers. This lengthy master sample bio for presentation can be edited and customized to focus on one facet of the speaker's personality or can be included as a whole.

3. Tell Your Story

‘Once upon a time’ is an adage we have all grown up listening to. Our subconscious minds relate to stories and tales. According to a study, stories used in public speaking can increase retention by 26% .  So leveraging the power of storytelling can work wonders in retaining the attention of your audience.

Also, ensure that your story is authentic and true to your on-stage personality. Often there is an impulse to create a ‘larger-than-life' persona in your speaker bio. This can lead to cognitive dissonance because it leaves your audience confused and unsure of what to expect from you.

“In her own words, Amy Baker loves making an entrance. After all, it's not every day that you see a 19-year-old on stage speaking of the gift of life. When Amy was 4 she was diagnosed with a muscular disorder causing her to take on the assistance of a wheelchair. Growing up and unable to perform everyday tasks like her peers, riddled Amy with self-doubt. Amy admits that these phases of her formative years were the hardest to accept.

Yet Amy was born a fighter. She realized that her journey was unique but not rare. There were many others like her who felt isolated. So Amy began vlogging her everyday journey. She shared hacks, resources, and information on centers that help people like Amy lead a good quality life. In addition, Amy began volunteering at schools for the differently abled. Witnessing Amy leading a life of purpose has inspired many young children and adults to emulate the same. At the age of 14, Amy was invited to her first TED event and since then Amy has flown across the globe spreading her message of hope and grit. She is currently a high school student pursuing her distance education in the field of Social Services. Just like any other teenager though, Amy loves music and is often seen humming the latest Taylor Swift song.”

This bio is one example of bios for speakers where the reader is taken on a journey. It starts with the speaker's formative years, struggles, vulnerabilities, and their story of perseverance. Since stories have a very clear beginning, middle, and end - readers know what to expect. In addition, a story keeps people guessing about the element ‘of what next’, thus ensuring that your speaker biography is read till the end.

4. Write in The Third Person

You must have observed a pattern in all the above sample bios for presentation. They are all written in the third person. While this is not a rule set in stone, it’s often followed by speakers as a standardized barometer. The reason is simple - it’s easier to speak of your achievements if you write about them in the third person.

Speakers, irrespective of experience, struggle to speak about their achievements. We usually assume that we can come across as pompous for writing highly of ourselves. But it's important to publicize your presenter bio and even exaggerate certain aspects of your life. This does not mean you speak of fictitious events but rather market your brand to get the attention you deserve.

Here’s an example of a short bio written in the third person.

“Jimmie Kramer is a man who dons several hats. But never mistake him for a jack of all trades and a master of none. Jimmie has successfully mastered several skills in his journey as an IT Consultant. He has worked with several big-league organizations like Amazon, Apple, and Tesla and has been on the board of tech giants like Google. His affinity for all things Tech has transferred into a full-blown course on ‘The Future of The Internet’ for young tech enthusiasts.

Jimmie has won multiple prestigious awards but still believes that the best accolade he has won is that of being called a ‘Dad’. His four children are the light of his life and when he is not spearheading the tech industry with innovations, he is busy playing ‘head chef’ for his family.”

The beginning of this bio, if written in the first person could be mistaken for Jimmie being egoistic. However, the third-person tone completely shifts this idea and aids the natural flow of the bio.

5. Humor Sells

Funny does stick and as per research 77% of people are likely to buy from a funny sales rep . You too are a salesperson, marketing your brand to exhibitors, organizers, and audiences. So adding humor (not forced though) is key to making your audience feel connected.

This speaker bio template is an example of a humorous one, where we break the traditional approach and write it in the first person.

“I work as a stand-up comic in my time off - there, that was the joke. I am George Seinfeld, a man of few words and many jokes up my alley. Well, I don’t want to bore you with long introductions about my many talents, so here’s what I really do.

I and my team are spearheading research in the field of Bone Grafting. So yes, you could, in simpler terms, call me a ‘medical man’ who sometimes lands a joke (quite rarely). Our research is aimed at helping patients suffering from various muscular dystrophies find hope with this treatment. It’s a battle we undertake every day and while we don’t always win, we always show up.

So, while I may not always tickle your funny bone, I have a team who will help you fix it.”

The topics covered here deal with medical battles that George and his team undertake. Yet his presenter bio speaks of his ability to see perspective and a silver lining in dire situations. The humor helps the audience feel at ease when difficult topics are discussed. His speaker bio template is reflective of his humor - which audiences know will filter into his on-stage presence.

We hope that these points and examples of bios for speakers help you create a stellar introduction to your personal brand.

The Eventify Edge - Getting Speakers The Recognition They Deserve

Wait a minute…! That stellar bio needs a Speaker Profile to be showcased and marketed. As an event organizer, coordinating with speakers, it’s important to not just have a great speaker bio that attracts audiences but also market your speakers. Eventify , a 360* mobile event application helps you achieve just that. Our speaker management software offers a dedicated ‘Speaker’ dashboard that lets you key in relevant details, speaker bios, social media links, and accessible details about speakers.

So contact us today to empower your event and your speakers with the power of an intuitive platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write biography for a speaker.

Writing a biography for a speaker is a multi-step process. It's best to start with a draft that you can edit and modify. Remember, adding humor and a story are key to creating a speaker biography - one that is engaging, fun, and interesting.

What is the Biography of Speaker for a Seminar?

Speaker bios for seminars are snippets that elaborate on the speaker’s achievements, accolades, experience, and subject matter expertise. This bio is the first peek the audience and seminar attendees get into the speaker’s personality and fields of interest. A well-curated speaker bio can be the decisive factor for audiences on whether they wish to attend the particular session.

How Do You I Write Bio About Myself?

Writing a bio about yourself begins with

1. Listing down all your achievements, life experiences, professional milestones, and future plans.

2. Infusing the list with elements from your own personality - for instance, you could be great at dry humor and so can include comebacks and witty remarks into your speaker bio.

3. Writing about yourself in the third person. This is an easy hack to write about yourself without falling prey to self-doubt or self-consciousness. This method helps you be objective about your own experiences and shortcomings.

What is a good Speaker Bio?

A good speaker bio is one which is created keeping in mind the type of event or seminar and the interests of the target audience. These are two primary factors that when taken into account help create an engaging speaker bio. In addition, elements of humor, dialogue, a conversational style, and tone - all add to the speaker bios appeal.

What is Short Bio of The Speaker?

A short speaker bio is a brief overview of the speaker’s professional and personal journey. A short bio is often added as a snippet on event management apps, seminar introductions, and event lists. The purpose of a shorter bio is to allow audiences to gauge your work and its relevance to them before committing to attending your session. Considering the ever decreasing attention spans of audiences, a short bio is a great way to engage audiences and convert them into attendees.

Hussain Fakhruddin

About the author, love the smell of events every morning like us.

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How to Write A Powerful Speaker Bio for a Conference (With Examples)

Although it may seem easy, creating a speaker bio for a conference is far more crucial than you may realize. A strong bio may significantly impact how your audience views you and potentially affect the number of people who show up for your session. Your speaker bio establishes the tone for your lecture and is frequently the first impression that audiences will get of you. 

A strong speaker bio goes beyond simply highlighting your accomplishments and credentials. It provides a narrative about your identity, work, and reasons for being enthusiastic about your industry. It helps establish a rapport with them even before you take the stage and provides them with a cause to be passionate about your speech. 

We’ll walk you through the process of writing an attention-grabbing speaker bio in this article that will stick with you. Let’s start by discussing the value of a strong speaker bio and typical errors to steer clear of. After that, you will find the essential components of a good bio and how to modify it for various audiences. We’ll offer helpful hints and examples to help you understand how to write a speaker bio that meets and beyond expectations. You will have all the resources and information necessary to create a speaker bio that effectively communicates your expertise, draws in the audience, and positions you for success at your upcoming conference when you finish reading this article. 

Understanding the Importance of a Speaker Bio

A speaker bio is a brief written statement you provide to introduce yourself to the conference audience. It resembles a narrative about your background, activities, and significance. The goal of a speaker bio is to give people a reason to listen to you and believe what you have to say. 

Consider it this way: people are interested in learning a little about you before they hear you speak. They want to listen to what makes you unique and why you were selected to speak. Since your bio is frequently the first thing people see, it must be compelling. People are likelier to pay attention and take your message seriously if you have a captivating profile that makes you look fascinating and reliable. 

Conference planners might also benefit from your bio. They use it to draw people to the event and promote it. A strong bio will facilitate their work and raise your chances of receiving speaking invitations for upcoming events. 

In short, a speaker bio is essential because it:

• Introduces you to the audience
• Builds your credibility
• Engage people before they hear you speak.
• Helps conference organizers promote the event

Common Mistakes in Writing Speaker Bios

Writing a speaker bio can be tricky. Before we learn what to include in a bio, we will look at the errors that must be avoided. Some common mistakes people make can weaken their bios. Avoiding these mistakes can help you write a bio that stands out.

Overloading with Information

A standard error is when you try to add too much information. Although it’s normal to want to highlight all of the experiences and accomplishments, including too much information in the bio will confuse the reader and lessen the effect of your main points. We will look at all the techniques of how to write a brief bio later on, but for now, remember these three facts- 

  Less is More: Pay attention to your career’s high points and the most significant achievements. Consider what information the audience will find most compelling and exclude everything less important. 

Choose two or three noteworthy achievements demonstrating the speaker’s proficiency and significance to the occasion. This improves the readability and impact of your bio.

Keep It Concise: Aim for briefness. A good speaker bio is typically  150-250 words,  enough to convey your message without losing the reader’s attention.

Being Too Vague or Generic

A bio that is too vague or generic fails to make a strong impression. Phrases like “experienced professional” or “knowledgeable in many areas” don’t give the audience specific reasons to be interested in the speaker. Highlight specific achievements, roles, or projects demonstrating the speaker’s expertise. For example, instead of saying “experienced in technology,” mention a particular project you led or a specific technology you specialise in. Give tangible examples of the work. Instead of saying “skilled leader,” you might say, “led a team of 20 to develop a ground-breaking software application that increased productivity by 30%.”

Lack of Relevance to the Audience or Event

Your bio should be tailored to the specific event and audience. A generic bio that doesn’t speak directly to the audience’s interests or the event’s theme can fail to engage. Think about who will be attending the conference. Are they industry professionals, academics, students, or a mix? Tailor your bio to address their interests and expectations. Make sure your bio reflects the theme or focus of the conference. If the event concerns innovation, highlight your work in pioneering new ideas or technologies.  Emphasise aspects of your background that are directly relevant to the conference topic. If you’re speaking at an education conference, for example, focus on your experience and achievements in education.

Using Jargon

A section of your audience may get unpleasant if you use excessive amounts of business jargon. Technical jargon and acronyms may not be understood by everyone, which might make your bio less exciting and challenging to read. 

• Use clear, simple language that a broad audience can understand. Avoid technical terms unless they are widely known within the event context.
• If you must use specific language, give a brief overview. This will allow readers of many backgrounds to follow along.
• Aim for clarity and readability. A well-written bio should be clear enough to easily understand, even for someone not an expert in your field.

By avoiding these errors, you can write a bio that is clear, relevant, and interesting.

How to Write A Speaker Bio- A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: preparation and research.

Before you start writing, you need to do some preparation. This is the first step you need to learn if you want a perfect answer for how to write a bio for a conference. Moreover, this helps you create a bio that fits the event and connects with the audience. 

Knowing the Audience

First, know your audience. Think about who will be attending the conference. Are they professionals, students, academics, or a mix? Understanding your audience helps you decide what information to include in your bio. For example, when speaking to professionals, focus on your industry experience and achievements. If your audience is students, highlight your educational background and any relevant advice you can offer them.

Researching the Event Background 

Find out what the conference is about. What are the main topics or themes? Knowing the theme helps you highlight the parts of your background that are most relevant. For example, if the event is about innovation, focus on your work in developing new ideas or technologies. Also, look at the bios of speakers from previous years. This can give you an idea of what the organisers are looking for and help you similarly structure your bio.

Understanding the Expectations of the Organizers

Find out if there are any rules or a recommended format for speaker bios from the event organisers. It will be simpler for them to use your bio in advertising materials if you follow these rules. Ensure you know the appropriate length and substance for your bio.

Step 2: Knowing the Key Elements

A strong speaker bio needs a few essential components. These contribute to presenting a clear image of who you are and your value as a speaker for the occasion. 

1. Name and Position at Present 

Begin with your name and the role or job title you currently hold. This lets the audience know immediately who you are and what you do. “Jane Smith, CEO of Tech Innovations,” for instance.

2. Professional Background and Experience

Summarise your professional background. Include your previous roles, industries in which you’ve worked, and any relevant experience showcasing your expertise. 

3. Notable Accomplishments and Honours 

Emphasise your most significant accomplishments as well as any honours or recognitions you’ve won. This increases your reputation and demonstrates that people have recognised your competence. For instance, “Tech Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Most Influential Tech Leaders in 2022.”

4. Specialized Fields 

Share a few of your areas of expertise. Be explicit when describing your abilities and knowledge, especially those pertinent to the event. “Her expertise includes cybersecurity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence,” for example. 

5. Personal Narratives or Distinctive Features 

Your bio might be more interesting if you include a personal touch. Give a little story or highlight a distinguishing quality that makes you stand out. This makes it easier for the audience to relate to you personally. 

6. Contact Information

Provide links to the speaker’s personal website, social media accounts, and contact details. This enables curious guests to contact the conference speaker and discover more about what they do. You can add a section like this: “Visit Jane’s website or connect with her on LinkedIn; link.” 

Step 3: Structuring the Bio

The opening statement is all about grabbing interest . 

Start with an appealing introduction that catches the reader’s interest. This may be an inspiring professional truth, a remarkable accomplishment, or a declaration of your enthusiasm for your chosen field. 

The main body should be based on detailing professional background and achievements .

In the main body, include information about your accomplishments and professional history. This is your chance to elaborate on the crucial components, such as your experience, awards, and areas of expertise. 

Closing with a personal touch and call to action

Add a personal touch at the end, such as personal testimony or a distinguishing feature. Next, include a call to action, such as an invitation for the audience to visit the speaker’s website or follow you on his/her social media to learn more. 

Step 4: Focusing on Writing Style and Tone

Your writing style and tone greatly influence how your bio is received. Here are some tips to get it right:

Matching the Tone to the Event

Make sure your bio matches the tone of the event. For a formal conference, keep your language professional. For a more casual event, a relaxed tone may be appropriate. For example, use formal language for a business summit and a more conversational tone for a creative workshop.

Balancing Professionalism with Personality

While being professional is important, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. A bio that’s too dry can be boring, but one with a bit of personality can be much more engaging. For example, you can include a fun fact about yourself or a light-hearted anecdote related to your work.

Using Active Voice and Strong Verbs

Write in the active voice and use strong verbs. This makes your bio more dynamic and engaging. For example, instead of saying “was responsible for,” say “led” or “managed.” Active voice makes your accomplishments stand out more clearly.

Step 5: Refining and Polishing the Bio

Once you’ve written your speaker bio, refining and polishing it is important. This step ensures that your bio is transparent, professional, and free of errors. Here’s how to do it:

Editing and Proofreading

A well-edited bio is crucial because it reflects your professionalism and attention to detail. A bio with errors can make you seem careless and undermine your credibility. Your bio is often the first thing people read about you. A polished bio creates a positive first impression. Double-check for any misspelled words. Even a small typo can make your bio look unprofessional. Pay attention to punctuation, such as commas, periods, and quotation marks. Use consistent language and formatting throughout your bio. For example, if you use bullet points, use them consistently.

Feedback and Making Revisions

Share your bio with colleagues, mentors, or even event organisers. They can provide valuable feedback and point out areas for improvement. Getting input from different people can give you a well-rounded view of how your bio reads and what might need to change.

Bonus! Check out our mega list of 15 event reminder email templates you need in 2024

Short Professional Bio Examples for Conference

Example 1: keynote speaker.

Dr Emily Harris, Chief Innovation Officer at GreenTech Solutions

Dr. Emily Harris is the Chief Innovation Officer at GreenTech Solutions, where she leads a dynamic team in developing sustainable technologies. With over 15 years of experience in environmental engineering and renewable energy, Dr. Harris has pioneered several breakthrough projects, including the award-winning EcoGrid system. She has a PhD in Environmental Science from Stanford University and has been recognised by the Global Energy Forum as one of the top innovators in her field. Dr. Harris enjoys mentoring young scientists and advocating for green policies in her spare time.

Example 2: Panellist

Michael Lee, Senior Vice President of Marketing at BrightWave Communications

Michael Lee is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at BrightWave Communications, where he oversees global marketing strategies and digital transformation initiatives. With a career spanning over 20 years in the tech industry, Michael has successfully led numerous high-impact campaigns and product launches. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a frequent speaker at industry events , sharing insights on digital marketing and customer engagement. Outside of work, Michael is passionate about supporting local tech start-ups and volunteering at educational non-profits.

Example 3: Academic Presenter

Dr. Raj Patel, Professor of Computer Science at MIT

Dr. Raj Patel is a Professor of Computer Science at MIT, where he specialises in artificial intelligence and machine learning. With a research career spanning over 25 years, Dr. Patel has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and holds several patents in AI technology. He received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and has been honoured with numerous awards, including the prestigious Turing Award. Dr. Patel is passionate about advancing AI ethics and often collaborates with industry leaders to develop responsible AI practices. Outside academia, he enjoys chess and classical music.

Example 4: Start-up Founder

Jessica Nguyen, Founder and CEO of HealthTech Innovations

Jessica Nguyen is the Founder and CEO of HealthTech Innovations, a start-up dedicated to revolutionising healthcare through technology. Since launching the company five years ago, Jessica has led the development of several ground-breaking health monitoring devices that have improved patient care worldwide. She has a degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and was recently featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for her offerings in healthcare technology. Jessica is also an advocate for women in STEM and frequently speaks at conferences and workshops to motivate the next generation of female innovators.

Practical Tips to Use While Writing the Next Bio

As you have reached almost the end of this guide on how to write a speaker bio, we will quickly look at some additional tips that will make your creating journey a bit more efficient. 

• Your bio should reflect who you really are. Don’t try to hold a fake personality. Authenticity makes people relate easily and build trust. 
• Include a brief story or journey that led you to where you are today. This can make your bio more relatable and memorable.
• Tailor your bio to fit the specific event you’re speaking at. Highlight the aspects of your experience and expertise that are most relevant to the event’s theme and audience.
• Make sure your bio is up-to-date with your most recent achievements and roles. An outdated bio can make you seem out of touch.
• Keep your sentences short and to the point. This makes your bio easier to read and understand.
• Think about what makes you unique. It could be a particular skill, a notable achievement, or an unusual career path.
• End your bio with a call to action. This could be inviting the audience to know more about you on social media, visit your website, or attend your session at the conference.
• Always proofread your bio to catch any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-edited bio reflects your professionalism.
• Reading your bio aloud can help you catch mistakes that might miss your sight when reading silently.
• Ask a friend, colleague, or mentor to review your bio. When rechecked by them, it can generate valuable feedback and suggest improvements.
• A professional photo can make your bio more personal and engaging. Choose a headshot where you look approachable and confident.
• Sharing a few personal interests or hobbies can add a human touch to your bio and make it more interesting.
• Ensure your bio is consistent with how you present yourself on other platforms, such as LinkedIn, your website, and social media.
• Make sure your bio reflects your personal and professional values. This helps build a strong bond with the audience and shows what you stand for.

If you are looking for more awesome thank you messages, you can take a quick look at how to write a thank you message for attending an event

Creating an attractive speaker bio for a conference is a crucial responsibility that has the potential to influence your audience’s opinion of you greatly. In addition to showcasing your experience and accomplishments in the workplace, a strong bio adds a human aspect that makes you more relatable to readers. A strong bio can set the tone for your presentation if you prepare carefully, concentrate on the essential details, and refine your bio with attentive editing and feedback. 

Remember that your bio often acts as a prospective listener’s initial impression, so give it your best effort. Make sure it conveys the tone of the event and your own brand by being genuine, concise, and captivating. Whether you’re learning how to write a brief bio or creating a more detailed one, these strategies will help you craft a speaker bio that informs, inspires, and captivates your audience. 

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Home Blog Business Stand Out With a Professional Bio: Tips, Bio Template (Examples Included)

Stand Out With a Professional Bio: Tips, Bio Template (Examples Included)

Entrepreneurs and professionals need a solid description to attract potential employers, clients, and investors. A bio should demonstrate one’s strengths and motivations and portray them as experts in their field, all without making it too long where the prospect may find it boring to listen to or read further.

You might be familiar with short bios used in social media profiles to describe one’s interests, career, and other things. However, a Professional biography goes way beyond that and is used to attract potential leads resulting in better job opportunities, more clients, and profitable connections. 

Why Is a Bio Important for Professionals and Entrepreneurs?

A bio briefly describes a professional’s work experience, skill set, qualifications, and the accomplishments that they have achieved in their field. 

It serves as an introduction to a specific audience, highlights an entrepreneur’s and professional’s intriguing qualities, and enables prospects to reach out for future investment and job opportunities. 

Read on more to find out the importance of a professional business bio,

1. Builds Credibility Among Your Professional Network

For building your personal brand, a professional bio is one of the key elements that identify who you are, what you do, and what you can do for your prospects. It enhances credibility among your professional network and strengthens your reputation. 

2. Enables You to Tell Your Story 

What sets you apart from the competition is your own story that you can tell using your professional bio. It enables you to outline your journey to where you are now and what makes you an expert at what you do. 

3. Helps You Stand Apart from the Competition

A professional bio is a part of your brand that helps you stand apart from the crowd. Everyone sends the typical resumes to introduce themselves to potential prospects. 

But to set yourself apart, you can send a sharp one-page bio during the introduction phase. It will leave a positive impression and significantly increase your chances of landing the job or closing the business deal. 

4. Attracts Potential Leads and Prospects

Professional bios play a significant role in attracting new job opportunities, enhancing customer base, gaining investors, and obtaining clients for your business. It is a valuable resource that employers and investors look at, first and foremost, to determine expertise. A strong bio will impress your prospects and motivate them to learn more about you .

5. Can Be Used for Media Profiling

A professional bio can be used for media profiling and is useful for journalists and other media personnel when covering a story related to your business’s or professional career’s achievements. 

This is why a professional bio is an essential part of your brand’s overall press kit and enables media professionals to reach out when they are looking for an expert to speak on a specific topic. 

Tips for Writing an Effective Professional Bio

When writing a professional bio, the first draft can be challenging as there are so many things you want your audience to know about you. It becomes challenging to cram all information and write a compelling professional bio for the company website, a bio for your business profile, or even a startup founder bio to attract potential leads. 

So, here are some tips to help you write a professional bio for yourself to enable you to draft a compelling bio for multiple uses. 

1. Introduce Yourself as a Third Person

Introducing yourself as a third person is essential for writing a professional bio. Start with your first name and surname, then proceed to enter your details from a third person’s perspective , which gives your bio a formal feel that is good for business.

2. Keep Your Bio Concise and to the Point

Consider your audience and the purpose of your professional bio to determine which facts are relevant to keep your bio concise and to the point. Your potential prospects want to know why they should hire you, invest in you, or buy your services. 

Stating relevant accomplishments without exaggerating will help them know what makes you an expert and if you are worth their time and money. 

3. Update Your Bio as You Progress in Your Career

Occasionally update your professional bio to keep your audience updated on your career progress, current projects, and whereabouts. 

Keep them informed on what your upcoming goals are as well, so they can reach out to assist you, invest in your business, or connect you with potential employers that could land you your dream job. 

4. Don’t Forget to Add a Call to Action (CTA)

Ending with a Call to Action (CTA) will prompt your audience to reach out for further information about you. It will help you build your network and get your name out there for relevant opportunities. 

State your contact details, such as a primary business email , and stay responsive to your audience to build credibility and trust. 

What to Avoid When Writing a Professional Bio? 

A professional bio can contain facts about your career and your business, but keep in mind that some things are better to be left off of your bio. 

Here are the top things you should avoid writing in your bio,

1. Starting With Your First Job

Starting chronologically with your first job is not a good idea when writing a professional bio. Employers and business investors are not interested in what you did a few years back, but rather they want to know what you are doing now, what position you hold, and what your goal is for the future. 

2. Family Information

Describing your family history and background will not pique the interest of your potential prospects. Family information is best kept off of the professional bio unless it is somehow related to your business. 

3. Dates to Describe Your Career

Your audience does not care about the dates that describe your job promotions or specific business events. With many industries having ageism rampant, writing dates in your bio will cause more harm than good. 

4. Hyperbole

Hyperbole refers to exaggerated claims or phrases that are not meant to be taken literally. Adding hyperbole to your resume will make you appear unprofessional and might even put off potential prospects from reaching out to you, 

5. Exaggerating Achievements

Exaggerated, false, and fabricated achievements should never be a part of your professional bio. In today’s digital age, false statements are caught instantly, and the fallout for claiming something fabricated will stay with you for a long time. 

In contrast, you should not downplay your accomplishments and highlight essential achievements that will attract potential employers and business investors. Add professional awards you have received in your field to let your clients know that you are worth their investment.  

Professional Bio Template to Write Your Bio

You can use a professional bio template to write your short bio by compiling your career facts and achievements. This work bio template can be used to present your professional skills, motivations, personality, goals and frustrations.

What does a professional bio look like? Here is the template that you can use to create your own strong business bio:

Start With Your Full Name

To write a professional bio, you should first start with your full name and describe your professional journey from a third-person’s perspective in a few words.

Add Your Current Job Title or Brand

After that, you should add your current job title or brand that you are associated with to let your target audience know what you are working on currently. 

Briefly Explain Your Work Responsibilities

Next, you should explain work responsibilities in a way that defines your expertise and portrays the skill set. 

Describe Your Motivations for Your Field of Work

Define what motivates you to do your job or business and why you are passionate about progressing in the field. 

State Relevant Accomplishments and Your Goal

Next, you should explain relevant accomplishments and state your goal for the future by possibly associating them with your career journey in a way that describes how you will reach your goal. 

Reflect Your Personality by Adding Hobbies and Interests

Personality is an integral part of a professional bio and can be reflected by adding your hobbies and interests. This makes you relatable to your target audience and builds your network based on relevance.

Contact Details and Call to Action

Lastly, adding the call to action and active contact details will prompt prospects to reach out for business opportunities and job offers. 

How to Present a Professional Bio?

Professional Bios can be presented in several ways. 

A bio can be used to gain the attention of visitors on a personal, brand’s, or even a business company’s website. 

It can be used in presentations at speaker events, webinars, during the introduction phase, and even when presenting a business proposal to obtain investments. 

You can browse our collection of 100% editable PowerPoint templates to create your business presentations , insert your professional bio in a way that captures your client’s attention, and deliver your message by using captivating graphics and reports.  

Other than that, professional bios can also be used on social media profiles, specifically LinkedIn, where like-minded professionals and entrepreneurs can learn more about you, connect you with the right audience, and help you reach your goals.

Professional Bio Examples for Inspiration in Multiple Contexts

Here are a few sample bios for you to take inspiration from and use in multiple contexts to attract potential prospects,

Professional Bio for Website or Portfolio

Here is an example of professional bio for a business biography case.

Josh Daniel is the founder and current CEO of Boundless, a traveling company specializing in creating customized travel plans and tours for solo travelers, family trips, and vacations so people can enjoy their travels to the fullest. 

Being an avid traveler himself, Josh wanted to create an application that could help people travel without worries, save time and money by quickly finding tour packages that fit their lifestyle and interests, and plan their traveling journey conveniently from their smartphone. 

He launched Boundless in 2018 after graduating from Yale University, and since then, the application has been downloaded over 1.5 million times, has served about 90,000 users to create their specialized tour plans, and has helped people make memories that last a lifetime. 

Currently, the company has over 120 employees on board and was named “Top Traveling Application of the Year 2020” in Travel Unlimited Magazine. 

Josh lives in Chicago, Illinois, spends free time with his family of two, enjoys traveling and working remotely. He plans to expand the company by offering a specialized program for digital nomads to find affordable travel destinations to enjoy working remotely. 

Reach out to Josh via contact form or email at joshemail at gmail.com

Professional Bio for LinkedIn

Meet Ryan Chase, a Digital Marketing Executive who surpassed over a Million Followers on social media and drove advertisement sales for several brands by 50%. 

Currently working for Vibe Media Company, Ryan has been working in the digital marketing field for over five years. His professional duties involve developing digital marketing strategies , launching social media campaigns for different brands, and analyzing outcomes. 

Ryan’s interest in digital media marketing increased when he was still in college studying business and psychology. His understanding of business growth and human psychology has led to him successfully launching campaigns that attract the right audience, boost ROI, and develop a positive brand image. 

He was awarded “Best Digital Marketer of 2020” by Vibe Media company as his campaigns broke the company’s previous records. 

Ryan enjoys reading books, cooking, and traveling in his spare time. He lives in Manhattan with his pet dog named Jasper. 

Reach out to Ryan via DMs, and he will get back to you shortly!

Professional Bio for Using in Presentations

When using a professional bio to present yourself during a meeting, there is a thin line where you can either captivate the audience or make them bored. To avoid making the audience bored with your presentation, make sure you use a captivating bio template. 

SlideModel has several editable bio templates that you can use to create your own professional bio. Their presentation bio templates will help you save time and create a professional bio within minutes!

Check out the Biography PowerPoint Template , for example. Here you can enter your name, your designation, and other facts you need the audience to know about you. You can end with a quote to make it even more interesting and let the audience know you. In summary, you can showcase a short bio and include a photo of yourself.

Another great example is the Self Introduction PowerPoint Template , which has a simple and professional design. You can simply add your professional bio to the presentation and have an attractive bio slide without wasting your precious time. 

Your professional bio should evolve as you do in your business and professional career. A bio should reflect your best professional version so people will know about your achievements before they meet you. 

Even if you use the conventional structure for writing your bio, your unique accomplishments will make it stand out and help your audience determine the value you provide. 

The best bios are written with the audience, purpose, and context in mind. They are crafted with the intention to attract clients and customers. It is not something that you should leave to the last minute, but it should be written carefully and thoughtfully used in each context. 

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How to Write a Short Professional Bio (With Examples and Templates)

3 key takeaways

• What a short professional bio is and why you need one
• What to include in a short bio to make it stand out and relevant to your audience
• Short professional bio examples, templates, and a faster way to write your biography with Teal's Professional Bio Generator

In a world where just about everyone is represented online, your short professional bio often serves as a first introduction.

Often, it's what employers or other professionals will use to form their initial impression. And how you present yourself can help influence whether someone invites you to connect, interview you, or simply move on.

Below, you'll learn what you need to write your bio and how to actually write one. You'll also find templates and some short professional bio examples to use as a guide.

Looking for a quicker way to a polished bio? Sign up for Teal for free and try the Professional Bio Generator.

What is a short professional bio? 

A short professional bio is exactly what it sounds like—a short professional biography that introduces yourself and gives a brief overview of your career and accomplishments. It gives future employees, colleagues, and anyone else you're networking with a more well-rounded picture of who you are.  

While "short" can be subjective, length often depends on the platform and the audience you're sharing your bio with. There's no one-size-fits-all, and you'll tailor the length based on where it's being shared—whether that’s on your personal website, LinkedIn profile, Twitter bio, or your resume.

What’s the difference between a professional bio and short professional bio?

A professional bio and a short professional bio both summarize your career, qualifications, and achievements, but each caters to different contexts and needs. 

A professional bio is a detailed account—that can span several paragraphs—and covers your:

• Career background
• Most noteworthy achievements and impact or results
• Skills you've developed or are developing
• Some personal insights

This version is appropriate for professional websites, long-form pitch documents, or networking platforms (like in your LinkedIn About Me section) where a more thorough introduction is valuable.

On the other hand, a short professional bio is a concise version that filters the most important information from your professional bio into key takeaways. A short bio:

• Communicates your core qualifications
• Briefly touches on your professional persona
• Is ideal for your resume, author bio, or speaking engagements
• Can be used across social media profiles like Twitter and Instagram

What to include in a short bio 

Your short bio should summarize the key takeaways from a longer, more rounded-out professional bio. Think of it as kind of an elevator pitch that highlights what you'd want your target audience (who doesn't know much—if anything—about you) to understand about your career so far.

Here are some things you'll want to address.

• Level of education, if relevant to the audience
• Years of experience in your field, if relevant to the audience
• Your current or former career title
• Major professional accomplishments with impact or goals
• Professional experience, skills, and area(s) of expertise

Now, if you're a student or making a pivot, like transitioning into a new field where you might not have relevant work experience, you'll focus more on your educational achievements (think relevant awards, projects, or volunteer experience) and the skills and knowledge you're developing.

What to include in a short bio if you’re a student

Even if you're still in school, there's plenty of information you can include in your bio, like: 

• Where you're from
• What university, trade school, or boot camp you're attending
• Your area of study or intended major
• Any clubs, teams, volunteering, or other extracurriculars you're a part of 
• Any internships you've completed
• Your career goals 
• Your availability

Generate your professional bio with AI

Want to save time? You can also use the Teal to generate multiple versions of your short professional bio.

How to write a short bio

There's no right or wrong way to write your own bio. Think of this next section as a guide, and remember: short professional bios are unique to each person.

Here are the things you might want to consider if you're ready to write your professional bio:

1. Choose your voice

You have the option to write your short bio from either a first or third-person POV.

In the first person, you'll use  "I, me, and my." In the third person, you'll refer to yourself using your name and preferred pronouns.

As a general rule, using the third person is typically considered more formal, while using the first person is more casual and personal.

 First-person example : "I'm a bestselling author. My work has been published in The New York Times."

Third-person example: "Zane Smith is a bestselling author. His work has been published in The New York Times."

If you want to write and store multiple versions of your short professional bio in different tones or even with different information, use Teal to write and save as many versions as you need for free.

2. Choose your tone

Language can convey different moods. Depending on the context and your personal brand , your bio can sound more buttoned-up or more relaxed and conversational.

These two sentences describe the same person but showcase very different tones and writing styles: 

Example 1: “A recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sally is currently a consultant at XYZ Consulting based out of their New York office.” 

Example 2: “A recent UPenn grad, Sally swore off econ after years of hard classes only to end up as a consultant at a major firm — but don't worry, she loves it.” 

3. Start with your name and a current or recent role

This isn't a hard and fast rule, but to get your bio started, it's usually easiest to start with your name and current professional title or role. 

Example: “Zane Smith is currently the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company.”

If you're pivoting careers , you can list your most recent role and use your first sentence to say what you're looking to do next.

Example 1: “Previously the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company, Zane Smith is actively pursuing new opportunities in marketing management.” 

Example 2 : “Previously the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company, Zane Smith is now an aspiring 2nd grade teacher.” 

4. Share your accomplishments and achievements

Once you've introduced yourself and your current title, you can flow into your professional background, former job titles, and what you've done or aspire to do. Together, the first two sentences of your bio could read something like this: 

Example:  “Zane Smith is currently the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company. Previously, he was a Marketing Specialist at FGH Tech Company, where he grew paid traffic to their website by 500% year over year.” 

Pro Tip: Not sure where to start? Try the generative AI in the Teal Resume Builder . With Teal's AI, you can write individual achievement-based bullet points using a job description, keywords, or a custom prompt to articulate your accomplishments effectively and confidently.

5. Share your philosophy or “why” 

Self-promotion can feel incredibly uncomfortable, but it's important to make sure you don't undermine your value. Your “why,” the reason you do what you do every day, can be powerful and meaningful. Adding what gives you the spark to start each workday can set your own professional bio apart from others. 

Example: “Claire was inspired to pursue a career in elder law after volunteering in a nursing home throughout high school and college.” 

6. Add your personal touch

Even though your bio will be used in a professional capacity, it's okay to list a few personal details. We're more than just our jobs, and adding a few personal facts can help illustrate who you are outside of the office. 

Example: “When he's not working, Martin can be found tending to his spice garden and going on nature walks with his golden retriever.” 

Short professional bio examples

Examples of professional bios are invaluable because they provide a clear framework and inspiration for writing your own. They can also help you see how to condense years of experience into a few compelling sentences so you communicate the right details clearly, briefly, and full of impact. 

Short bio example for a personal website

"AUDREE KATE LOPEZ IS A FASHION STYLIST, EDITOR, INDUSTRY EXPERT AND INFLUENCER BASED IN NEW YORK. Audree began her professional career in the fashion departments at Glamour, O, the Oprah Magazine, Editorialist and Redbook magazines. She launched Audree Kate Studios in 2017 and worked on freelance projects at Marc Jacobs, Alice + Olivia, J.Crew and Club Monaco, joined the styling team at Alice + Olivia and became a contributing fashion editor for StyleCaster.com. Over the past few years Audree has styled for various publications, celebrities and retail brands. In 2016, Audree founded a digital course and community for fashion students called Fashion Fundamentals and has hosted workshops and classes around the country, and wrote an ebook titled Fashion Fundamentals."

Why it works: Audrey's bio immediately establishes her as a multifaceted professional within the fashion industry. It outlines her career trajectory and showcases broad experience and evolution, demonstrating growth and adaptability. The mention of initiatives and workshops adds a layer of approachability and commitment to education in her field, improving her appeal as an influencer and mentor.

Professional short bio example on LinkedIn

"Latina creator. Speaker. Tech Mentor. Christen is the Founder of the newly launched app Clara, a community that empowers creators through transparency, brand reviews, and discoverability. An industry vet, Christen has almost a decade of experience working with top content creators at social networking companies such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. She is a motivational speaker and mentor in the tech space who is passionate about helping people break into the industry through career advice and actionable content."

Why it works: This professional bio online is punchy and concise. It opens by noting Christen's titles and includes years of experience, giving her credibility while underscoring her heritage (which can resonate strongly with a diverse audience on LinkedIn). By focusing on her app, she not only showcases initiative but also aligns herself with trends in tech innovation. Rounding out her short bio are details of working with top content creators, establishing her as a seasoned industry pro.

Short professional bio example on social media

"Founder of Makelane, a private community for female DTC founders. 70K followers on TikTok where I analyze consumer brands"

Why it works: With only 160 characters to work with, Dulma’s Twitter bio is an example of brevity. It clearly outlines her two main pursuits: managing an online community and producing content for TikTok, making it easy for readers to gauge her interests and activities at a glance.

Company website short bio examples

"Meet our wonderful team We're a tight-knit group of curious creatures, always learning, and constantly seeking out new perspectives and ideas. Get to know our team—they're what makes Teachable, well, Teachable."

Why it works: "Meet our wonderful team" feels like a personal invitation to get to know the group, which can make visitors more inclined to engage. Describing them as "tight-knit" and "curious creatures" adds character and illustrates a vibrant and collaborative work environment. Highlighting that the team is "always learning" and "constantly seeking out new perspectives" positions Teachable as a dynamic and innovative company—committed to growth and evolution.

Tips for writing a short bio

Even though there aren't official rules for writing a bio, there are still some things you should strive for as well as steer clear of if you want to make the best possible impression. 

1. Tailor your professional bio to your audience

Whether it's potential employers, LinkedIn connections, Twitter followers, or visitors to your website, each platform and audience has its own expectations. Keep your information relevant and concise, focusing on what matters most to that intended audience.

2. Be authentic

Your bio is not the place to fudge the truth about who you are. Be honest about what you've done and where you're heading. Not telling the truth could bar you from achieving your goals and land you in hot water. 

3. Prioritize relevant information

We really hate to be the one to tell you this, but unfortunately, most people do not have the time or patience to read a five-paragraph essay about your life story. Sorry to break it to you! 

4. Be relatable

No matter how lofty your accomplishments are, staying grounded may help you establish stronger connections with others. This is where adding personal details and highlighting your personal brand can serve you well. Whether that's with a hobby, interest , or other role outside of work, being relatable can let others understand and get to know you better and determine if you would be a good fit for a company.  

5. Be professional

It's appropriate and expected for you to talk about your professional skills and accomplishments in your short bio. That said, there's a fine line between talking about your achievements and sounding arrogant. These two examples talk about the same accomplishment but come across differently: 

Example 1: “An accomplished pianist, Ryan was selected out of nearly 7,000 applicants to perform at the annual New York State School Music Association festival last spring.” 

Example 2: “An accomplished pianist, Ryan was the obvious choice to perform at the annual New York State School Music Association festival last spring (because he's the best).” 

Also, if you're revising your bio after a lay-off or termination, avoid sounding spiteful. As tempting as it might be, don't make negative statements or accusations in your short bio. Positivity and a good attitude will get you much further.

Short professional bio templates

If you prefer to plug and play or need a short bio in a pinch, don't worry; here are three short bio templates to get you started:

Short professional bio template for working professionals

[First name last name] is [currently/formerly] a [insert most recent job title] at [most recent company name] . A proud graduate of [school or university] , they were inspired to pursue a career in [field] after [explain what led to your decision to work in your industry] . Prior to working at [most recent job title], they were the [previous title] at [previous company], where they were responsible for [insert professional accomplishments here] . In their free time, they can be found [insert your favorite hobbies] . 

Short professional biography template for students

[First name last name] is a current [year] at [institution] majoring in [area(s) of study] . On campus, [First name] is actively involved in [activity name] , for which they [insert details about what you do for the activity you're involved in] . They most recently [interned/worked] at [organization name] , where they had the opportunity to [insert details about what you did on the job] . They intend to work in the [insert field name or industry] after graduation to follow their passion of [insert what you are passionate about] . In their spare time, they can be found [insert your favorite hobbies] . 

Short professional bio template for a gap in employment

[First name last name] is a [position/job title] with [number] years of experience in [specific skills or industry] . Following [briefly mention the reason for the employment gap] , [he/she/they] took some time off to focus on [briefly mention what they did during the gap, e.g., personal development, family obligations, health reasons] . During this time, [he/she/they] also [briefly mention any relevant skills or achievements acquired during the gap] . [Name] is now eager to return to the workforce and is excited to bring [specific skills/accomplishments] to [his/her/their] next role. With a proven track record of [list specific achievements or skills] , [Name] is confident in [his/her/their] ability to contribute to [specific industry/profession] and make an impact in [his/her/their] next position.

If you decide to use any of these biography templates, tweak it ever-so-slightly. Once you've finished entering your details, try adding a bit of personal flair.

Swap adjectives, remove anything that doesn't quite fit with your vibe or experiences, or append some more personal details as you see fit. Feel free to work off of any one of the bios from these resume examples to get a feel for how different styles can be used across roles.

Create your short professional bio with Teal

In a digital world where your online presence often speaks before you do, writing a good, short professional bio is more important than ever. It's the first glimpse potential employers, clients, or colleagues get of your professional life and persona, and the right presentation can open doors to new opportunities and connections. 

Teal's Professional Bio Generator saves time by speeding up the writing process with AI. Whether you're trying to impress potential employers, clients, or peers, Teal's generator adapts to your needs and experience, allowing you to create a unique short bio for any audience with one click.

Ready to write a professional bio with maximum impact in less time?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a short professional bio.

An example of a short professional bio is: "Katie is a seasoned marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in digital advertising strategies. She has helped numerous brands achieve their online marketing goals, leading to increased visibility and 3x revenue YoY."

How do you write an impressive short bio?

To write an impressive short bio, focus on your most significant achievements, relevant skills, and experiences that set you apart. Keep it concise and tailored to your audience to engage and leave a memorable impression. You can also use the Teal  AI Resume Builder  Generative AI to craft a bio that highlights your unique professional journey and skills in an engaging way.

What is a short biography about yourself?

A short biography about yourself should concisely summarize your professional background, major accomplishments, and skills. For example, "I'm an innovative software developer with 5 years of experience in creating scalable applications, known for my ability to troubleshoot complex issues and my commitment to delivering high-quality software solutions."

Emily Polner

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20 of the Best Professional Bio Examples We’ve Ever Seen [+ Templates]

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Lindsay Kolowich Cox | HubSpot | October 13, 2022

Your professional bio is not only relevant when applying for jobs, seeking new clients, or networking — it also gives the world a brief snapshot of who you are and your professional ideals.

To help you author one that packs a punch, we’ll teach you how to write a professional bio and leverage professional bio templates with the best professional bio examples we’ve ever seen to draw inspiration from.

What is a Professional Bio?

A professional bio or biography is a short overview of your experience. Professional bios usually include details about education, employment, achievements, and relevant skills.

Purpose of Professional Bios

A bio tells an audience who you are, and what you’ve done, and also hints at what you are capable of doing. It can help potential employers, fans, or customers get a sense of your personality and what you stand for.

That may be hard to achieve without a starting point. Below, we’ve included professional templates to expedite the process of writing a great resume bio.

Read the full article and access templates here .

How to Write a Professional Bio for Any Situation—Without the Stress

How many times have you sat in front of a blank screen staring at the pesky cursor, wondering why it’s so hard to write about yourself? I’ll bet it’s more than once. Contemplating who you are as a human being is an exercise in mental (or existential?) gymnastics. And if you’re trying to write a professional bio, you’re trying to distill who you are and what you do in a way that’s compelling to recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues, potential clients, and other contacts all at once—so it can feel ramped up to Simone-Biles-floor-routine-difficulty levels.

SEARCH OPEN JOBS ON THE MUSE! See who’s hiring here , and you can even filter your search by benefits, company size, remote opportunities, and more. Then, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll deliver advice on landing the job right to you.

Your professional bio is, arguably, the most important text you’ll ever write about yourself. It’s the first introduction to who you are, what you do, and what you’re interested in—whether it’s for a social media platform, a personal website , or company team page. What you choose to highlight may play a role in others deciding to follow you, call you in for an interview, or invite you to participate in an event. It’s an opportunity for you to—in a few lines—showcase your work, competence, and areas of expertise. So you’d better stick the landing.

But don’t worry too much: You don’t have to be the Simone Biles of LinkedIn to write a professional bio. We’ve gathered the steps, template, examples, and bonus tips you’ll need to write a bio for any occasion.

How to get started on your professional bio

We’ll get to the good stuff shortly (read: the template and examples), but before you put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, there are a few things you should know—about yourself.

Your bio shouldn’t be a laundry list of accomplishments, but a window into the person behind the accolades. You’re more than your most recent position (especially if you have a trendy startup title; I’m looking at you, ninjas and rock stars), so think about the strengths that make you good at what you do and the qualities that make you unique. These are what you want the person reading your bio to come away knowing.

If you’re drawing a blank, try to answer these questions before you start writing:

• How have you personally helped your company, department, or clients?
• Which of your accomplishments would be most impressive to your entry-level self?
• What makes you most valuable in your role?
• What’s one thing not in your job description that relates to why you’re so successful? Maybe you want to include a line about volunteering, about writing in your free time, or about a previous role.
• Why do you do what you do? What do you believe about your field that drives you to do the work you do each day?

Once you’ve got all that down, you’re ready to get it into your professional bio.

Professional bio template

The template below is designed to help you write a “master” professional bio that you can then tweak for different situations. This template is meant to offer you a general framework only—if you find that you need to add an extra couple of sentences or determine that a section we’ve included doesn’t feel relevant to how you wish to present yourself, feel free to tweak it.

[Name] is a [role] who [how you help clients, customers, or your employer] by [something unique about your process or output]. [First name] [knows/believes] [what you know/believe about the work you do].

[First name] has [landed/secured/garnered/worked at/supported/mastered] [insert your most compelling experiences, accomplishments, and skills]. Currently [he/she/they] is/are [working toward/studying/planning to] [your next professional goal or some way you’re developing as a professional].

[First name] is [trained/certified/awarded] in [relevant trainings, awards, honors, etc]. [First name] holds a [ degree] in [area of study] from [University].

When [he/she/they] is not [brief phrase that describes what you do], [First Name] [can be found/enjoys] [brief description of compelling interests or hobbies you’d like to share].

Here’s an example of how this template could look filled in:

Matthew Chang is a social media manager who excels at creating campaigns and posts for nonprofits that make followers take action by combining strong writing and design with insights about the org’s  audience. Matthew believes that the right post, seen at the right time, can inspire people who believe in a nonprofit’s mission to help the causes they care about and ultimately allow that org to make a bigger impact.

Matthew has driven more than 10,000 social-influenced donations to three different nonprofits, with over $200,000 raised for important causes. Currently they’re working with GoodBoyGirl dog rescue to inspire not only donations, but also pet adoptions through Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok posts. (Matthew is always happy to share pictures of dogs they’ve helped find forever homes!)

Matthew holds a HubSpot Social Media Certification, and has taken several graphic design courses through The New School. They hold a bachelor’s degree from UCLA where they double majored in marketing and English.

When they’re not crafting social media campaigns, Matthew can be found biking around the city with their chihuahua Kyra on their back (don’t worry, the pup has a tiny helmet!) or taking in a Broadway show.

How to adapt your bio for different situations

Now that you have your “master professional bio,” you’ll want to tweak it for different situations.

For each iteration of your bio, imagine a specific reader and what they’d want to know about you, and then write for them. For instance, let’s say you’re on an alumni panel for your college. Student attendees will want to know what they should be doing now to get the career you have. In this case, your bio should reflect less of your day-to-day work responsibilities and more of the past campus activities, classes, and early-career internships and jobs that led you to where you are.

We’ve outlined specific advice for some of the most common scenarios where you’ll need to write a professional bio below—along with examples.

1. Your LinkedIn summary

Start by identifying how you use—or would like to use— LinkedIn . Are you content with your job, but looking to expand your network? Are you trying to attract recruiters?

Whatever you’re seeking, your LinkedIn summary should support your activity on the site; a profile focused on networking within the industry will read differently than that of someone aggressively hunting for a new job. Once you’ve identified your purpose, it will be much easier to tweak the above template for your LinkedIn summary. You’ll still want to lead with your position and other info from the first paragraph of the bio template. Then move onto whatever skills or accomplishments are most relevant to your LinkedIn goals. Last, share those goals.

Here’s an example of a LinkedIn summary that follows this strategy:

As a field sales manager with over eight years of experience driving market share growth in designated territories, I have mastered the ins and outs of pharmaceutical sales and territorial prospecting. After honing and executing these specialties to reach numerous company goals, I was honored with an invitation to join the National Marketing Council. Now, I spend the majority of my time brainstorming sales strategies and connecting with other industry professionals who are interested in talking shop.

You can always add supporting content on either side of this skeleton paragraph, such as a personal anecdote, previous positions, or a mission statement. If you need a bit more inspiration, look to your recommendations for outside opinions on what makes you special.

Read More: 5 Templates That’ll Make Writing the Perfect LinkedIn Summary a Total Breeze

2. Your Twitter bio

Even a snappy, 160-character bio can help set you apart. To write a great bio for social media, grab the first two sentences of the bio we just drafted. We’ve crammed a lot of great info in there: who you are, what you do, who you do it for, how you do it, and what you believe about the work you do. Then make sure you’re stating it as succinctly as possible. Finally, squeeze in your pizazz. Key word: squeeze. Don’t focus on unrelated quirks or superfluous details.

For example:

Software engineering whiz @Belly spreading nuggets of coding gold related to mobile applications. 8-year member of @IEEEorg, aspiring member of The Avengers.

If you’re looking to create a more serious social presence, though, you may choose to leave out the pizazz while including all the same important info:

Proud 8-year member of @IEEEorg and lead software engineer @Belly. Passionate about innovations in coding and mobile applications.

3. Your company website blurb

A bio for your company website (like on a team or staff page) is where you can opt out of some standard details, such as your title, in favor of things that distinguish you as a pro (or a person). After all, anyone reading this knows where you work and your job title will likely be listed by default. So you can use the second and third paragraph of the template to craft a bio focused on what makes you unique.

Margot has exceeded every Clarabridge sales goal by at least 84%, which landed her in the top CEM-seller spot and prepared her for the challenging position of strategizing sales tactics for the National Association of Sales Professionals. Her keen and innovative insights in the areas of forecasting and sales force development have enabled Clarabridge to emerge as a national leader, with a sharp and qualified team in tow to maintain the standard she helped set.

If that’s too formal for the culture of your office, and all your colleagues mention their favorite food trucks, you can aim for a 50-50 split between the professional and personal—or whatever balance suits the company’s brand.

Margot tops the sales charts at Clarabridge. In fact, she’s beat every goal by at least 84% without ever missing a practice as the coach of her son’s (undefeated) soccer team. Fueled by loaded nachos, she landed the top CEM-seller spot and took on a position brainstorming sales tactics for the National Association of Sales Professionals. Not only is she a pro when it comes to forecasting and sales force development, but she can also advise a team on where to find the best free events in the city on any given weekend.

4. Your personal website or portfolio “About Me” page

Here’s where you want to lay it all on your audience. You can use as much of the bio you wrote from the template above as you see fit and feel free to expand on whatever sections you’d like. Craft your “About Me” page so potential partners or employers understand what you can do for them and why you’re the person they should hire .

Chad Wilborn takes complex technical ideas and distills them into user-friendly visuals to improve digital marketing campaigns for companies along the West Coast. He has an education in traditional advertising and a background loaded with marketing and graphic design projects, centered around modernizing the consumer experience. Chad’s portfolio demonstrates his ability to capitalize on every pixel for the overall benefit of startups or established enterprises trying to reach consumers. His services have won multiple design and branding awards, and he is excited to help add your company to his list of successes.

But don’t forget your brand ! If you want to showcase yourself in a more unique or quirky light, opt for a first-person version with more light-hearted language.

I am a modern magician, except I transform complicated technical ideas into user-friendly images before the eyes of your company’s customers. I believe in telling relatable stories through graphics, so I studied the basics of traditional advertising before working my magic on corporate marketing projects for companies along the West Coast. My portfolio showcases a lineup of my most recent tricks, which range from visual startup campaigns to Fortune 500 projects—each of which have won design and branding awards. I’m always ready for new design opportunities and have plenty of room up my sleeve for a few more award-winning performances.

A few more tips

Keep these in mind as you write your professional bio, no matter where it’s going to end up:

• Know your limits: Just as your resume is best when it fits on one or two pages, your bio likely also requires a certain length. Whether it’s two sentences, two paragraphs, or 160 characters, respect the limit or risk it being arbitrarily chopped down.
• Avoid jargon and buzzwords: When you spend nearly a third of your life at work, it’s easy to forget that the rest of the world doesn’t speak your industry’s (or company’s) language. Use your bio to share facts and impact in terms everyone will understand.
• Use your own voice: Write about what you know best and write the way that you talk. If your bio readers ever meet you in person, they should feel as if they already know you.
• Write more than one draft: Don’t just throw something together and send it off. Write it, sleep on it, then come back to it and ask: “Would I want to meet me?” Or better yet: “Would I want to hire or work with me?”
• Don’t forget to update your bio: Your bio should evolve as you do. If you start looking for jobs in different industries, have a new and exciting accomplishment to note, or just feel ready for a refresh, go for it. Now that you’ve got this draft down, it’ll be easy to rework your professional bio.

Alex Honeysett , Adrian J. Hopkins , and Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

How to write an awesome speaker’s bio or introduction

You’re going to be speaking at an event – congratulations! Now comes the awkward, nail-biting task of writing your speaker’s bio so that you can be properly introduced. But what to put in the bio? How do you highlight your skills without sounding like you’re bragging or have an over-inflated ego?

I know I’ve felt this angst myself, and so many people have asked me about writing their bio. Mike wrote in and summed up the problem perfectly in his question:

“Hi Lauren, I’ve been invited to speak at an association event (congratulations, Mike!). The organizers have asked for my speaker’s introduction and bio. What should I put into this? Every time I try to write something, it sounds cheesy or made-up. I don’t even know how long it should be! Any help would be appreciated.  Yours, Mike”

I love this question, Mike, because it brings up something that’s tricky for a lot of us – talking about how awesome we are without feeling gross!

So get ready to up your confidence, take pride in your accomplishments, and put your best food forward when you take your place in front of your audience:

(Embedded video being fussy? Click here to watch it on YouTube )

What accomplishment would you be most proud to share in your speaker’s bio? Share it in the comments below or drop it my way @lsergy on Twitter

Remember to like the video, subscribe to my  channel, and share this post with your colleagues so that they, too, can create speaker bios they feel good about!

Welcome to Communication Q&A, where I take your tough speaking and communication questions and dish out a bit of advice to help you through them. Today we’ve got Mike writing in with a question about his speaker’s bio.

There’s a couple of reasons why something that should be as simple as writing your speaker’s bio can actually be very difficult.

First, it’s sometimes hard for us to appreciate our own skills and accomplishments because we’re viewing them through our own internal lens, and they don’t always seem all that impressive to us. It’s that adage of us being our own worst critics.

Second, we don’t want to come across as if we’re bragging or arrogant. So our reaction is to downplay a lot of what we’ve done to keep ourselves humble.

But the thing is, Mike, neither of these help your audience.

A speaker’s bio is a critical piece of information for them – it’s what tells them who you are and why you’re the RIGHT person to be speaking to them about your topic!

It helps establish your credibility even before you open your mouth to speak, which is important for making a good first impression and boosting your persuasiveness.

When you’re writing your bio, you want to focus in on how the audience perceives you, rather than how you perceive yourself. What parts of your experience would be most important to them? How did you come to be an expert on this topic (and if you’re the speaker, you’re the expert – whether you like it or not!)? What would make the audience sit up and say “wow, that’s really impressive!”

For most talks, it’s going to come down to these details:

1: Your name and title or what you do

2: How many years of experience you have (this could be years of experience in your field, or with the topic you’re speaking about)

3: What sort of people you work with or clients you’ve had (you might say that you work with certain fortune 500 companies, or you  could describe the types of clients your typically help)

4: Significant accomplishments, such as honours or awards, books you’ve written, media appearances you’ve had, or major projects you’ve worked on.

Keep the details short and always make sure they’re relevant to the audience and the topic. For example, let’s say that you’re a policy analyst specializing in zoning regulations, and you’re speaking to an engineers’ association. You’ll definitely want to tell them about your Master’s degree in governmental policy, but maybe leave out that Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Design or the fact that you’re a certified yoga instructor. On the other hand, if you were speaking to an association of art educators, the theatre degree and yoga instruction might suddenly become relevant again.  Always ask yourself: will the audience see this as adding to my credibility? Will it help them understand my views better? Will they care?

If you’re really stuck, ask your friends what THEY would put in your speaker’s bio, and run your bio past them for feedback. That can help you get that outsider’s perspective you need.

Best wishes for your talk, Mike, and take pride in all the great things that make it into your speaker’s bio!

And now it’s over to you – if you were writing your speaker’s bio, what would you be most proud to put in? Share your comments down below.

And as always, please like this video and subscribe to this channel – it helps others find this video and gives me some warm fuzzies as well. And of course if you haven’t already, make sure to visit laurensergy.com and sign up for speaking tips like this sent straight to your inbox.

Thanks for watching – see you on the next Communication Q&A!

Author:  Lauren Sergy

Related posts.

How to be Less Stressed Before Your Presentation: A Public Speaking Pro Tip August 2, 2018

Thank you Lauren, that was very helpful. (coincidently my name is Mike as well).

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

How to write a professional bio (with examples and templates)

• Rebecca Strehlow
• 13 min read

Get started by: Creating a website →  | Getting a domain →

Which three words would you use to describe yourself? Most of us have been asked this question and many of us have fumbled through it awkwardly.

Coming up with a personal description can be daunting. But there are times when it’s essential - whether we’re updating our LinkedIn profiles, blogging for Medium or creating a business website of our own.

In this post, we’ll go over how to write a bio, step by step. To help guide you, we’ve also included a handy template, along with some professional bio examples for your inspiration. With these resources, you’ll find that writing a bio, as part of making a website , is much easier than you might think.

What is a short bio?

Before you learn how to write a bio, you should have a clear understanding of what it is and why you need it.

In the world of literature, a personal biography can span the length of an entire novel, like Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom or Malala Yousafzai’s I Am Malala . In the online world, however, a bio is a short paragraph in which you introduce yourself. Typically, some of the best business websites place bios on a designated About Us page in their website, as well as on their social media pages and other networking platforms.

What to include in a short bio

Depending on your audience and goals, your bio can highlight your personal interests, your professional achievements or a mix of both. Here are some of the elements a bio might include:

Job title or workplace

University degree and other qualifications

Hometown or city of residence

Personal or professional goals

Mission statement and values

Skills and expertise

Interests and hobbies

The goal of writing a bio is to provide people with a snapshot of who you are. This is important for a variety of reasons, whether it’s drawing people toward your personal website or promoting your blog, attracting clients and business partners to your brand, or highlighting your achievements for job interviews.

How to write a short bio

The most effective online bios are both professional and concise. Here’s how to write a short professional bio that suits your website or brand:

Introduce yourself

State your company or brand name

Explain your professional role

Include professional achievements

Discuss your passions and values

Mention your personal interests

01. Introduce yourself

Begin your bio by stating your first and last name. If you’re writing in the third person, these should be the first two words of the paragraph. This makes your name easy for your audience to identify and remember. Your bio is a huge part of your personal branding efforts, and should start with a strong intro to make a positive impact.

02. State your company or brand name

Think about whether you want your bio to represent yourself on a personal level, or whether you’d like it to come across as more professional. If you have a personal brand or business - for example, a blog, freelance business or eCommerce site - be sure to mention your brand name at the beginning of your bio. Don’t be afraid if the name sounds simple or redundant. It’s perfectly fine, for instance, to say Mary Smith is the founder and CEO of Smith Digital.

Likewise, feel free to mention the name of another company or brand that you work for if you’d like to associate it with your professional accomplishments - e.g., Mary Smith is a consultant at Google and the founder and CEO of Smith Digital.

03. Explain your professional role

Next, briefly explain your current position. This is relevant whether you’re the founder of a company, a high-level specialist or a beginner in your field, and it can be similar to the description you have on your resume. Your website visitors won’t necessarily know what your job involves, so elaborating on your primary responsibilities helps paint a picture of who you are and what you have to offer. This can also be used, if needed for employment and recruitment opportunities. If you're a freelancer a strong bio can make all the difference in how successful sourcing work can be.

04. Include professional achievements

In addition to explaining what your job entails, highlight milestones that make you stand out. Even if you haven’t won an award or gained external recognition, you can discuss ways in which you’ve contributed to your professional role and touch on new ideas or approaches that you bring to the table.

05. Discuss your passions and values

Once you describe what you do and how you contribute to your role, you’ll need to explain the why . This is one of the most important elements to focus on as you consider how to write a bio.

Think about the values and passions underlying your work, as well as your professional philosophy. What gets you up in the morning? What’s the driving force behind what you do?

You can also think of this part of your professional bio as a kind of mission statement. Perhaps your mission is to serve others, contribute to society, grow your expertise or learn new skills. Whatever your reasons, expanding upon these ideas can help your audience get a better understanding of what truly matters to you. Don't be afraid to deploy storytelling in this part of creating your bio. Explore your narrative and then convey it.

06. Mention your personal interests

The most effective short bios will not only focus on your professional experience, but will also touch on what you like to do in your spare time. Consider mentioning:

Your family

Your hometown

Your hobbies

Side projects you’re working on

Transitioning to a more casual discussion of who you are outside of work is a great way to conclude your bio. This will present you as a more well-rounded person while making you relatable for your audience.

Professional bio template

As you go through the steps on how to write a bio, this handy template will help you get started:

Sentence 1: [Name] is a [job title] who [job description].

E.g., Lisa Green is an English teacher who teaches beginning to advanced literature courses for 10th and 11th grade students at Bloomfield High School.

Sentence 2: [Name] believes that [why you do the work you do].

E.g., Lisa believes that written and analytical skills are not only a fundamental part of academic excellence, but are also the building blocks of critical thinking in high school and beyond.

Sentence 3: [Name/pronoun] has [mention your achievements].

E.g., In addition to managing the English curriculum for the school, she runs an after school program where she works one-on-one with students.

Sentence 4: [Name/pronoun] is a [mention any relevant awards, training or honors].

E.g., She has also been nominated Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years.

Sentence 5: [Name/pronoun] holds a [insert degree] in [field of study] from [university].

E.g., Lisa holds a BA in Creative Writing and a Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Michigan.

Once you’ve filled in this template, put it all together into a single paragraph to create an initial framework for your professional biography. Note that you can shorten or expand upon this bio according to your unique needs.

Professional bio examples

Now that you know the basics of writing a professional bio, here are some short bio examples to inspire you. You can use these examples as additional templates for guidance as you craft your own personal biography.

Like the creators of these examples, you can place your bio on your personal or professional website and, later, revise the structure for other online platforms.

01. Bristol Guitar Making School

Of all the professional bio examples, Alex Bishop’s content exudes passion. Strategically placing the bio on the About page of his small business website , he highlights his skills and explains why he finds his work meaningful. In particular, we love his description of why he chose to pursue guitar making:

“​My passion as a guitar maker comes from a life-long obsession with making things. From a young age I have always tried to manipulate objects and materials in order to create something entirely different. I find that working with wood is a way for me to connect with nature. The simple act of shaping wood to make something functional or beautiful brings me endless satisfaction.”

He also lists his accomplishments and awards, adding credibility to his business and building trust among prospective clients.

02. Alexandra Zsigmond

As someone who has served as art director for both The New York Times' opinion section and The New Yorker , it's no surprise that Alexandra Zsigmond's bio is thorough and detailed. Providing statistics or reflections on the things she achieved in her career is a clever way to demonstrate her value without saying so directly. As she explains:

"She has collaborated with a roster of over 1000 artists worldwide and art directed over 4000 editorial illustrations. She is known for greatly expanding the range of visual contributors to the Times, drawing equally from the worlds of contemporary illustration, fine art, animation, and comics."

03. Amanda Shields Interiors

Amanda Shields provides us with another effective bio example on her interior design website. Importantly, she spices up her bio by explaining how home decor aligns with her personal life and why it’s so close to her heart as a mother and entrepreneur:

"After working as a product designer for numerous retailers over the years, and after I had my first child, I decided to take the plunge and start my own home staging business…. Coincidentally, a month later I discovered I was pregnant with my second child. I loved the new challenges I faced as a new entrepreneur and mom and it didn't take long for me to discover that this was my calling…. I felt the need to expand my business and launch Amanda Shields Interiors as its own entity to focus specifically on residential interiors and design."

By placing this content on her website’s About page, she provides potential clients with insights into her expertise and professional experience. She expands upon the choices she made along her career path, strategically making note of her achievements and acquired skills along the way.

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Tips for writing a bio

As you write your bio using the professional template above, make sure to keep the following tips in mind:

Keep it concise: Your bio should be sufficiently explanatory but it should also be short and to the point. A good rule of thumb is to keep each element of your bio - from your job description to your mission statement and hobbies - to about 1-2 sentences. That way, you’ll end up with a brief paragraph that holds your readers’ attention without rambling on.

Consider your audience: The voice and tone you choose for your biography largely depends on your audience and personal goals. If you’re looking for a job and are writing primarily for recruiters, you’ll want to use a serious, professional tone. On the other hand, if you’re creating an Instagram bio , consider using more casual, conversational language that reflects your personality.

Add humor: Relatedly, consider adding humor when appropriate. This is especially valuable if you’ve founded your own business or created your own website , as it can give you a distinct brand identity while helping your audience build a stronger sense of connection with your brand.

Link to your website: When writing a bio for a platform other than your own website - a social media page, another company page, or a guest blog or publication - remember to include a link to your website. This will help you promote your website while highlighting your professionalism and authority.

Adapt for different platforms: You’ll most likely need to adapt the length and writing style of your biography to suit different platforms. For example, you may place a longer bio on your website’s About page and a shorter one on your LinkedIn page. In these cases, use the same main principles for writing a bio while scaling down the most important elements.

How to write a bio in four sentences or less

Really need to create a super short bio? We'd suggest following some of the tips above, just condensing them into less word for a short bio that still makes impact.

But if we really had to choose we'd say focus on - you, your professional role and company. That condenses everything that matters for bio into three sentences. Humor, creativity and uniqueness still all matter - just use fewer words to convey them.

Creating a bio for your website

As we’ve noted in the examples above, one of the most strategic places to put your bio is on your website - so be sure to consider it within your web design plans. Whether the goal of your site is to start and promote your business , showcase your design portfolio or display your resume, including a bio gives your audience a glimpse into the person behind your content. It can also kickstart your professional growth . Show the world what you do, how you do it and why it matters, and people will be drawn to your passion and inspired by your experience.

Bio for a website example:

Hi, I'm Alex Johnson, a passionate web developer with over 10 years of experience in creating dynamic and user-friendly websites. I specialize in front-end development, bringing innovative designs to life with clean and efficient code. When I'm not coding, you can find me exploring hiking trails, experimenting with new recipes, or buried in a good book. Let's build something amazing together.

Pro tip: You can add a bio to many different types of websites, so using templates can help you create yours faster. For example, if you're creating a portfolio website , explore portfolio website templates to help you get started.

Creating a bio for social media

Crafting a professional bio for social media is vital as it introduces you or your brand, and it builds credibility and trust. A well-written bio establishes your expertise, attracts the right audience, and fosters engagement. It helps maintain a consistent brand image, optimizes search and discovery, and opens doors to networking and career opportunities. A compelling bio delivers a concise, informative snapshot of who you are, what you do, and the value you bring, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and potential collaborators alike.

Bio for social media example:

🌟 Tech Enthusiast | 📚 Avid Reader | 🎨 Amateur Artist | 🌍 Explorer

Passionate about AI and its impact on our future. Sharing insights on tech trends, book recommendations, and my travel adventures. Lover of all things creative. Let's connect and inspire each other

You may need to edit your bio depending on which social media platform you plan to use it on. Some of the most popular ones include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Focus on getting your bio right on the platforms you plan to focus your personal or brand social media marketing efforts on.

Writing a bio with AI

If you're looking to write your bio fast while creating your website, consider using an AI text generator to build your draft. You'll still need to make sure it goes through. an intensive editing process, so that it really captures the essence of who you are and your professional skills. A bio is about much more than just basic information, so don't forget to include the storytelling too. Build a website with Wix and you can make use of the in-built AI text generator within its Editor .

Why good bios are important for a professional

In a world where first impressions matter, a well-crafted bio can make a significant impact in establishing trust and credibility with potential clients, employers or collaborators. It also offers insight into your personality and values, helping to forge authentic connections with your audience. It acts as a powerful tool for personal branding, allowing you to differentiate yourself in a competitive landscape and leave a memorable impression.

A strong bio also serves as a gateway to opportunities, whether it's securing new clients, landing job interviews or establishing partnerships. It acts as a professional introduction, allowing you to showcase your expertise. A polished and impactful bio is essential for you to effectively communicate your professional identity and stand out in your field.

Writing a bio without experience

Writing a bio when you don't yet have experience can be challenging, but it's an opportunity to showcase your potential and aspirations.

Begin by highlighting your educational background, skills and any relevant coursework or projects you've completed. Focus on your passions, interests and personal qualities that make you unique. Consider including volunteer work, internships or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your commitment and initiative. Emphasize your eagerness to learn and grow in your chosen field and express your future goals and aspirations. Don't be afraid to be honest about your current stage and your willingness to gain experience and develop professionally.

If you don't know what to write in your bio, start by brainstorming your key experiences, achievements, skills and personal attributes. Consider what sets you apart and what you want others to know about you. Look for inspiration from other bios or profiles in your field, and consider seeking feedback from friends, mentors or colleagues. Don't hesitate to highlight your passions, interests and goals, as well as any unique experiences or perspectives you bring to the table. Remember to keep it concise and engaging, and don't be afraid to revise and refine your bio until it accurately represents you.

How to write a bio FAQ

A short bio, short for biography, is a concise summary of a your life or professional background. It provides a brief overview of your key achievements, qualifications, experiences, and relevant details. Typically written in the third person, a short bio is often used in various contexts, such as professional profiles, social media accounts, introductions for speaking engagements, author descriptions, and other situations where a brief introduction is required. The length of a short bio can vary, but it's generally kept to a few sentences or a short paragraph to provide a snapshot of the person's background and expertise.

How do I write a bio about myself?

What should i include in a short bio, how do you write a fun bio for work, how do i make my bio stand out, related posts.

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How to Write a Short Bio: 5 Examples and Templates

By Status.net Editorial Team on June 16, 2023 — 12 minutes to read

• How to Write a Short Bio Part 1
• What to Include in a Short Professional Bio Part 2
• Example of a Formal Short Bio Part 3
• Example of a Casual Short Bio Part 4
• Examples of Well-Written Short Bios Part 5
• Short Bio: Best Templates Part 6
• Tips for Writing a Short Bio Part 7
• Optimizing Your Bio for Different Platforms Part 8

A short bio is a concise and informative summary of your professional background, accomplishments, and personal interests. It’s an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to others, whether it’s for networking, job applications, or social media profiles. By writing a short bio, you allow others to quickly understand your expertise, strengths, and personality.

As you write your short bio, consider your audience and tailor the content accordingly. You might want to have different versions of your bio for varying contexts, such as a professional conference, a job application, or a social media platform. Regardless of the situation, strive to be authentic and maintain a tone that reflects your personality while also adhering to professional standards.

Part 1 How to Write a Short Bio

When writing a short bio, first focus on being concise and relevant. A short bio should be approximately 4-6 sentences or about 150 words. Be sure to highlight your achievements, experience, and expertise with confidence and clarity.

To start, introduce yourself briefly, including your name, title, and current role or profession. Next, mention your most significant accomplishments in your field thus far. This can include awards, certifications, publications, or any other relevant milestones. Discuss your current work and projects, providing the reader with a snapshot of your professional life. Make sure to emphasize your unique strengths and specialties. Then, touch upon your education or any other credentials that showcase your expertise.

“Jeremiah Smith, an award-winning graphic designer, specializes in creating visually stunning websites and marketing materials for a diverse clientele. With over 10 years of experience, Jeremiah has led branding projects for major corporations and small businesses alike, receiving accolades for his innovative design solutions. Currently, he serves as the Creative Director at X Design Studio, where he is dedicated to helping clients grow their digital presence. Jeremiah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago.”

For a stronger impact, customize your short bio by tailoring it to the specific platform, audience, or purpose. By prioritizing information and emphasizing the most relevant points, you can create a brief, engaging bio that showcases your unique skills and accomplishments.

Part 2 What to Include in a Short Professional Bio

• Your job title and current role : Start by mentioning your current role and the industry you’re working in. This helps to establish your expertise and gives readers an immediate understanding of your professional focus.
• Career accomplishments and milestones : Highlight a few significant achievements in your career thus far. These can be successful projects, promotions, or awards you’ve received. Be specific about what you’ve accomplished and how it demonstrates your expertise.
• Skills and qualifications : Briefly mention the key skills and qualifications you possess that make you an expert in your field. This can include technical abilities, soft skills, certifications, or degrees.
• Interests and personal touch : Add a few personal details that showcase your interests and passions outside of work. This can humanize your professional persona and help you connect with readers on a more personal level. However, be careful not to share too much personal information.
• LinkedIn and networking opportunities : Include a link to your LinkedIn profile or other professional social media accounts. This provides readers with an opportunity to connect with you and discover more about your background.

To present this information effectively, write your short professional bio in the third person and maintain a confident, knowledgeable, and clear tone of voice. Keep the content concise and easy to understand by breaking it into paragraphs and using formatting elements such as bullet points and bold text when necessary.

Here is one more example of a well-crafted short professional bio:

“John Smith is a seasoned marketing manager with over 10 years of experience in the tech industry. He currently leads product marketing efforts at X Company, where he has successfully launched new products and significantly increased market share.

John holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is certified in digital marketing. His expertise includes strategic planning, content creation, and driving brand awareness through innovative campaigns.

In his free time, John enjoys hiking, photography, and volunteering at the local animal shelter. Connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about his professional experience and accomplishments.”

Taking Into Account Personal and Professional Aspects

Try to strike a balance between your personal and professional aspects:

• Make sure to mention any relevant professional accomplishments and skills that showcase your expertise in your field. If you are a student or a working professional, add details about your university, current position, or professional experiences that give readers an insight into your capabilities.
• Don’t forget to add a touch of personality to your bio. Including personal details, interests, and hobbies will make you more relatable and create a connection with your audience. However, try to keep these personal elements brief and relevant to your overall bio. For example, if you are writing a bio for a personal website or Twitter, you could mention that you are an avid painter or a dedicated volunteer at a local animal shelter.

When writing in the second person, use short paragraphs to make your bio easy to read and understand. For instance:

• Full name: Briefly mention your full name at the beginning of your bio.
• Professional skills: List your core skills and accomplishments in bullet points or a table format.
• Personal interests: Share some hobbies or interests related to your profession or that showcase your values.
• Personal goals or mission statement: Include a sentence or two about your professional philosophy and core values to give readers a sense of your personal brand.

Related: How to Write a Personal Mission Statement (20 Examples)

Be cautious with the contact information you provide, especially if your bio will be accessible to the public on your personal website or social media profiles. Make sure only the necessary details are included to avoid any privacy concerns.

In summary, your short bio should be a reflection of both your personal and professional self. Showcase your skills and accomplishments while adding personal touches to make it engaging and relatable. Keep the text concise, use appropriate formatting, and remember to maintain a confident, knowledgeable, neutral, and clear tone throughout your bio.

Related: What Are Your Values? How to Discover Your Values

Selecting the Tone for Your Short Bio

Selecting the right tone for your short bio is crucial to portraying yourself in the way you want to be perceived. Consider the context in which the bio will be read and choose a tone accordingly. There are two main tones you can adopt: formal and casual.

Part 3 Example of a Formal Short Bio

Formal Tone : If you’re writing a bio for a professional context, such as a job, conference, or publication, opt for a formal tone. This means using more sophisticated language, avoiding slang, and maintaining a professional vibe throughout the bio. To achieve this, write in complete sentences, utilize proper grammar and punctuation, and highlight your achievements and expertise. Be sure to remain confident and clear in your writing. Example: “Dr. Jane Doe is a renowned expert in the field of molecular biology, with over 15 years of research experience to her credit. As the recipient of several prestigious awards, Dr. Doe’s groundbreaking work has had a significant impact on the scientific community.”

Part 4 Example of a Casual Short Bio

Casual Tone : A casual tone works well for less formal situations, such as bios on personal websites, blogs, or social media profiles. Here, you can use more relaxed language and showcase your personality. However, it’s still important to sound knowledgeable and approachable. Feel free to use contractions, incorporate humor, and speak directly to your audience to create an engaging tone.

“Hey there! I’m John, a travel enthusiast who loves exploring new cultures and tasting exotic dishes. When I’m not backpacking across the globe, you can find me geeking out about the latest tech gadgets or sipping on a well-crafted cocktail.”

In both cases, whether formal or casual, always ensure that your voice is confident, neutral, and clear. Remember to keep it concise, avoid exaggeration or false claims, and maintain a second-person point of view.

Part 5 Examples of Well-Written Short Bios

Short bio example 1.

Jane Smith is a marketing expert with over 10 years of experience in helping brands elevate their online presence. With a passion for storytelling, Jane excels in creating content that engages and inspires. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, photography, and exploring her city’s local coffee shops. Connect with Jane on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter @JaneSmith.

Short Bio Example 2

John Doe is an experienced software engineer with a knack for developing cutting-edge applications. Specializing in full-stack web development, John’s expertise lies in JavaScript, Python, and Node.js. When he’s not coding, John can be found playing the guitar, tutoring local students in programming, or cheering on his favorite esports team.

Part 6 Short Bio: Best Templates

Short bio template 1.

[Your Name] is a [industry or profession] expert with [number of years] of experience in [specific skills or areas of expertise]. [He/She/They] specializes in [technical skills or industry knowledge] and has a passion for [relevant interests]. In [his/her/their] free time, [your name] enjoys [hobbies or activities]. Connect with [your name] on [social media platforms] or through [his/her/their] website.

Short Bio Template 2

As a [occupation or field], [Your Name] incorporates [unique qualities or skills] to produce [specific type of work]. With a background in [relevant experience], [He/She/They] has been able to [achievement or accomplishment] through [personal path or passion]. When not [working or creating], [Your Name] spends [his/her/their] time [hobbies or activities], always seeking new inspiration.

[Your name] is a [profession or role] with a background in [relevant expertise or industry]. [He/She/They] earned a [degree] in [field] from [institution]. [Your name] has [number of years] experience in [profession/industry], providing [valuable service or skill]. Outside of work, [your name] enjoys [hobbies or personal interests]. Connect with [your name] on [social media platform] or visit [your website or portfolio].

Customize these examples and templates to fit your own unique skills, experiences, and personality. Using a second person point of view, focus on the key aspects you want your audience to know about. Be confident and transparent about your achievements and interests, and let your short bio speak for itself. Happy writing!

Part 7 Tips for Writing a Short Bio

• Know your target audience : Consider the people who will be reading your bio and focus on the information that will be most relevant to them. Tailor your bio to best serve their needs and expectations.
• Highlight your accomplishments : Share information on your achievements, awards, and notable experiences. This will give your audience an understanding of your expertise and success in your field.
• Include your goals and mission statement : Tell your audience what drives you and what you hope to achieve. This can help create a connection with the reader and showcase your dedication to your work.
• Maintain a professional tone : Write in a clear and concise manner, avoiding casual language and slang. A confident and knowledgeable tone will convey your competence in your field.
• Keep personal information to a minimum : While you may choose to mention some personal tidbits, be mindful of what you share. Focus on information that enhances your professional image, rather than oversharing personal details.
• Promote your brand and company : If you represent a business or have a personal brand, mention your company name and mission statement. This can help reinforce your brand identity and make a stronger impression on your audience.
• Prioritize transparency and authenticity : Be honest about your experience and qualifications. Avoid exaggerating or making false claims in order to maintain trust with your audience.
• Limit self-promotion : While it’s important to show off your accomplishments, be sure to keep the focus on meaningful information rather than excessive self-promotion. This will help engage readers and build credibility.
• Use formatting to enhance readability : Break up your bio into paragraphs, use bullet points for lists, and bold text for important details. This will make it easier for your audience to read and understand your bio.
• Include contact information : Provide a way for your audience to get in touch with you, whether it’s an email address, phone number, or a link to your website.

Part 8 Optimizing Your Bio for Different Platforms

On LinkedIn , focus on your professional achievements and skills. Use bullet points or a table to highlight your most significant accomplishments. Feel free to include any relevant certifications, courses, or awards. Remember that LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, so maintaining a professional tone is crucial.

For a resume , your bio should be concise and focus on summarizing your career history and specific expertise. Make it easy for potential employers to grasp your main strengths quickly. Use bold text to emphasize crucial information, such as your job title, years of experience, or industry-specific skills.

On a personal website , you have more freedom to express your personality and showcase unique aspects of your life. Consider adding anecdotes, hobbies, or personal achievements to give visitors a glimpse of who you are outside of your professional life. You can also touch on your professional capabilities but keep it concise.

For Twitter , keep in mind the character limit for bios and make every word count. Capture your profession or industry, and maybe add a touch of your personality or interests through emojis or hashtags. It’s common to see authors and celebrities mention their latest projects, books, or achievements here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essential elements of a short bio.

A short bio should include:

• Your name and current role or profession.
• Brief background information including education and relevant work experience.
• Notable accomplishments or skills relevant to your profession.
• Personal interests or ambitions that showcase your personality.
• A call-to-action, such as directing readers to your portfolio or LinkedIn profile.

How can I create a compelling short professional bio?

To create a compelling short professional bio, follow these steps:

• Start strong with a clear and concise introduction.
• Focus on your most relevant qualifications and experience.
• Highlight key achievements and successes.
• Provide a personal touch that showcases your unique attributes.
• Keep it brief and easy to read, aiming for around 100-150 words.

What are some tips to make my short bio stand out?

• Use vivid language and strong, active verbs.
• Tailor your bio to your audience, emphasizing information that is most relevant to them.
• Share a unique or unexpected personal interest to pique interest.
• Edit and proofread your bio carefully, ensuring it is free of errors and reads smoothly.

How can I tailor my short bio to different contexts?

Adjust your short bio for different contexts by:

• Focusing on relevant skills, experience, or accomplishments for each specific audience.
• Adjusting the tone or language to suit the platform (e.g., more casual for a social media profile or more formal for a conference bio).
• Emphasizing specific personal interests or accomplishments that align with the context or audience.
• Updating your call-to-action as needed to direct readers to relevant content or profiles.

Related: 150+ Awesome Examples of Personal Values

• 20 Inspiring Examples: How to Write a Personal Mission Statement
• How to Live By Your Values

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Summary. To write a short bio you should first make an initial introduction introducing yourself in the first or first person. Your short bio should include your brand, your accomplishments, and your values and goals. Your short bio should be one to three short paragraphs or four to eight sentences long.

Knowing how to write a concise, informative, and interesting biography about yourself can help throughout various parts of the professional process. You can use your bio to capture the attention of potential employers or clients and convince them to choose to employ or work with you.

In this article, you’ll learn more about what goes into a short bio and how to write one, and you’ll also get to see some short bio templates and examples to help you get an idea of what yours should look like.

Key Takeaways

A short bio serves to introduce you, your achievements, and what you offer professionally to potential employers or clients.

It’s important to keep your bio brief so that readers stay engaged and will remember your main points.

You may need to adjust your bio for different audiences, as your clients may want to know different information than a recruiter would.

Talk about your skills and accomplishments in your bio, but don’t exaggerate them.

What Is a Short Bio?

How to write a short bio, what to include in a short professional bio, short bio examples, short bio templates, tips for writing a short bio, writing a short bio faq.

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A short bio serves as your introduction to the professional world. In terms of finding or expanding on your job, a bio will cover your:

Work history

Achievements

Any other relevant professional information

Think of it as a professional memoir that a hiring manager or consumer can read and understand quickly. It’s usually about one to three paragraphs depending on experience.

There’s an emphasis on being succinct when it comes to writing a professional bio. This is because a bio is supposed to be a preface to attract recruiter attention and incline them to reach out for more information. Many readers will get lost or bored with a lengthy bio.

Using a short bio can be helpful across very different industries, from marketing to accounting, from psychiatry to sales.

You’re probably familiar with providing short bios on social media websites and applications. While the information and skills you include in a professional bio may differ, the general formatting is similar.

There’s a lot of considerations to take into account when writing a short bio, and it can quickly become intimidating. Deciding what information is relevant and how to keep it near 140 characters is no small task.

If you’re having difficulty writing a short bio, follow the outline below to craft an introduction that engages your reader.

Make an initial introduction. You can’t jump right into everything you’ve done and what you want to do in the future before introducing yourself.

Your bio’s first sentence should begin with your full name in the third person or introduce yourself in the first person and continue to briefly outline your most notable skills and accomplishments. It’s a good place to state your current job and employer.

Go deeper with what motivates you. Once you’ve catchily illustrated who you are in your short bio, you can use the second sentence to describe your motivations for your work.

Stating what drives you to do the work you do is essential to employers and customers alike. Whether you work as a physician or fitness consultant , there’s a reason why this is your profession, and you should explain that in your short professional bio.

Describe your accomplishments. Your short bio is for detailing why you’re the ideal candidate to be trusted with handling an employer or consumer’s business. By describing your prior accomplishments, you let them know what you could offer as an employee and how you’ve succeeded in the past.

While you should avoid sounding braggy, the reader is looking for information about what your qualifications are , and your accomplishments generally measure these qualities.

Even though you could probably go on for ages about the details of your accomplishments, save that for an interview . In a short bio, only include the most impressive of your achievements to outline.

Accomplishments relevant to a short bio could include:

Impressive results on a project

Former promotions

Awards received in your field

Certifications received

Include contact information. The purpose of a short bio as either a business or a job seeker is to inspire the reader to reach out. Without contact information, this pursuit becomes futile. Make sure your short bio has some way to contact you at the end.

Relevant contact information may include:

Phone number

Professional networking profile

A short professional bio includes:

Your full name. You can choose to write your bio in the first person (I, me, my) or third person (he, she, they), but either way, you need to include your full name at some point. Branding doesn’t work so well without a brand name (i.e., you!)

Your brand. Of course, if you have an actual brand that you’re trying to market, you should include the brand name as well.

What you do. Summarize what you want the reader to know about what you do in one sentence — tricky, we know.

Your accomplishments. For a short bio, you can stick with just one major accomplishment from your professional life. Or, if you have a string of impressive achievements, try condensing all of them down to one sentence.

Your goals and values. Let the reader know what makes you tick — why do you do what you do and what do you hope to achieve with your work? People are compelled by a story more than anything else, so it’s important to get this part right.

Something personal (optional). If you have a quirky tidbit about yourself you’d like to include, go for it. Just make sure it doesn’t throw off te the tone of the rest of your bio.

Contact info (optional). If your bio is serving as a call-to-action to drum up business or get leads on job opportunities, it makes sense to include your contact information at the end of your bio. It’s not necessary if that information is available elsewhere on the page , though.

Entry-Level Job-Seeker Bio Example

Mitchell Morrison is an upcoming video producer and editor who believes in the art of visual organization. He is a recent graduate from the University of Washington and focused on post-production during his time studying there. He was introduced to the magical world of visual art production by watching his father work on editing commercials growing up and has been working towards his dream of becoming a video editor ever since. During his last year of college, Mitchell participated in a competitive internship with Digital Space Films. He was chosen out of 2,000 applicants based on his academic portfolio and personal statement essay. This internship was an incredible learning experience and resulted in three professional accreditations for music video editing. Mitchell currently lives in Seattle, Washington pursuing freelance opportunities and spending time with his Dog, Pikachu. To get into contact with Mitchell: MitchellMorrisonVideo.com/contact

Working Professional Website Bio Example

Lisa Kennedy is an experienced real estate professional. She knows how important a home is for long-term happiness and has invested her career in putting people in the house they’ve always dreamed of. Lisa was driven to pursue real estate from her passion for helping people during life-altering times, and a keen interest in high-end, luxury homes. She’s been working in the real estate industry for ten years and in that time has assisted over 3,500 people in finding homes. She was educated at the University of Los Angeles with a bachelor’s in business management. She’s worked for some of the most respectable Real Estate companies in Los Angeles and individually under her agency “Kennedy Homes.” Lisa has also been published in Real Estate Quarterly Magazine as the 2017 winner of the “Top Luxury Home Seller” award. Lisa loves the culture of Los Angeles and has been living there with her family of five since she graduated from college. She enjoys spending her free time exploring towns along the West Coast and swimming. If you’d like to get in touch with Lisa: Email: [email protected]

Professional Networking Profile Bio Example

Bianca Jones Marketing Manager Miami, FL The first step towards customer satisfaction is being reached by stellar product marketing, and that’s what I aim to provide. My professional experience as a product marketing manager has allowed me to assist many organizations in improving their sales margins and audience response to emerging products. I’ve brought dedication and positive results to the companies I’ve worked for because I am passionate about product perception, marketing, and business statistics. What drives a product to success interests and inspires me. I specialize in long-term growth strategies and audience outreach. In addition to eight years of experience in professional product marketing, I have also published two books on creating a career as a marketer called “What to Do After Your Bachelor’s” and “A Marketer’s How-To.” If you’re interested in learning more about how to market your business better, or just discuss more, feel free to contact me by email at [email protected].

Your first choice is whether you want your bio to be written in the third person or first person. These short bio templates show both options, and also include different ideas for what to include, and how. Feel free to pick and choose your favorite parts of each of the two.

[Full Name] is a [job title] who [believes/knows] in the power of [what you do]. [He/She/They] began their journey in [field] by [how you got started in the field], and now dreams of [what you hope to accomplish]. [His/Her/Their] biggest accomplishment to date has been [your biggest accomplishment]. [Full Name] lives in [where you live] and participates in [a hobby/interest]. To get in touch with [Full Name], call/email/message me on [how you’d like to be contacted].

I am a [job title] who helps [who you help] [what you help them do]. It’s my belief that [your unique perspective on the field]. In the past [# of years] years, I’ve [major accomplishment #1] through [how you accomplished it]. I have a passion for [your professional passion], but on the side, I also enjoy [personal passion]. Get in touch with me today at [contact info] — I look forward to talking with you about [what you want to talk to your readers about].

You have a firm grasp of the structure of a short bio and what to include. Now, you may need some tips for how to polish your short professional bio and make it stand out from the competition.

Be mindful of length. While you’re probably getting sick of hearing that your bio should be short, it’s good to keep in mind throughout the writing process. It’s easy to go off on a tangent while trying to include everything relevant or rationalize, making your bio too long.

Avoid this impulse. The point of a bio is that it’s limited. You want to intrigue the reader enough to inspire them to seek more information about you or your services.

Tailor your bio to your intended audience. Whether you’re using a short bio to attract a particular customer base or potential employer, tailoring it to fit their wants and needs is crucial. Consider your intended audience base and what they’re looking for in a candidate or service.

Be genuine. Your short bio should be an authentic representation of your traits, experience, and personality. People are repelled by what they interpret as stretching the truth. If you’re being received as disingenuous by the reader, they’ll probably move on.

Proofread. The only way to steer clear of errors in your short bio is by proofreading it. Imagine a hiring manager being completely interested in your bio.

They love what you have to say about yourself and find your prior experience enticing. That is, until they come across a mistake that clearly shows you didn’t do proofread or edit.

Include links to your portfolio, website, or networking profile. One way to circumvent the confining factor of keeping your bio short is by including links to more detailed sources.

This can be in the form of linking your portfolio or website to allow the reader to go deeper into your discussed skills if they please, without taking up more space in your bio.

Implement these links seamlessly into your bio by attaching them to anchor words that describe what clicking will lead them to.

Add some personality. You aren’t the only person who has an impressive list of accomplishments to put on a bio, so you’re going to need to find some additional ways to make an impression.

What should a short bio include?

A short bio should include your name, what you do, and your achievements. You should also include your company or product’s brand, if you have one, and your goals and motivations for doing what you do. This humanizes you and helps you stand out from the rest of the pack.

How long is a short bio?

A short bio is typically one to three paragraphs long. These should be short paragraphs though, as other experts say that between four and eight sentences is the ideal length for a short bio.

What makes a good bio?

A good bio is succinct and memorable. Readers don’t want to spend long reading about your professional and personal life, so go back and cut it down to the important parts multiple times after you draft it. You might be surprised at how little you actually need to include.

What should you avoid putting in a short bio?

You should avoid including anything negative or arrogate. It’s never a good idea to write anything negative about previous jobs or employers. Only include positive things in your professional short bio.

It’s important to include your achievements in a short bio, but there is a fine line between mentioning your achievements and bragging about them. Stick to the facts when talking about your accomplishments.

Fremont University – Building Your Professional Bio

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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20 of the Best Short Professional Bio Examples to Inspire You

Every working professional needs a short bio to make a positive statement about their skill set.  Whether it’s for a LinkedIn bio, Twitter account, or business website, this bio needs to be brief and striking to captivate readers and invite them to learn more about you. 

Everyone needs three types of bios, long, short, and two-liners.

• The long bio can be a page and goes on your website.
• A short bio is about a paragraph and is used as your default bio. 
• Your bio should summarize your professional qualification and experience, accomplishments, and skills.

Each of these bios should make you stand out from other professionals. They should explain why people would want to work with you. 

With that in mind, here are 20 of the best short professional bio examples. Hopefully, you can use these examples to create your engaging bio.

1. Rebecca Bollwitt

You should include a professional bio on all of your social media accounts and website. Some people craft a single professional bio template. However, each platform is different, and so it’s important to mix it up accordingly. 

LinkedIn is a professional network where you can showcase your professional background and qualifications to prospective clients. Facebook is more geared towards personal interactions, while Twitter is more concise and direct. Meanwhile, Medium requires a deeper and more detailed bio. 

2. Lena Axelsson

You should use a well-written professional bio if you publish content on industry-relevant websites. Niche websites are a great spot to share your professional experiences with people who work in your sector.. 

In this example from Lena Axelsson, she begins her bio by first connecting with the readers. She acknowledges the problems that her audience is suffering from and empathizes with them. 

She then proceeds to explain how she helps clients and the benefits they can gain from her services. More importantly, she highlights her professional skills and qualifications, how she differs from other practitioners in the field, and why she would be best suited to help the clients and their families.

The final paragraph then showcases her educational background, an important piece of information for readers. Overall, the professional bio is compassionate, empathetic, and understanding– traits that are crucial in counseling clients. 

3. Audra Simpson

Another great bio example on the professional website is from Audra Simpson, an Anthropology professor from Columbia University. Here is the bio that she uses on the University website. 

Professional bios are often written in the first person to give it a personal touch, but in this example, it’s written in the third person to give it more authority. It also allows the writer to showcase her impressive accomplishments and qualifications without sounding boastful. 

In a limited space, the professional bio shares her work experience and interests. It displays Audra’s credentials, specializations, and even her work ethic. 

4. Corey Wainwright

Corey Wainwright’s professional bio on HubSpot’s website is the definition of keeping it cute and simple. As mentioned in her bio, she is a content marketer for the company, among other things. With less than 25 words on her bio, she presents a very approachable and friendly vibe to the readers.

Even though it’s written in the third person, the bio has character due to its casual and personal content. It’s almost as if she’s giving readers a piece of her personal life. 

This professional bio connects to her social media profiles so people can learn more about Corey. This type of bio doesn’t work in every situation. Some websites require a more serious tone, so it’s important to assess the medium before crafting your professional bio template. 

5. Marie Mikhail

When companies look for recruiters, they would want to hire someone passionate and genuinely interested in the field and your product. 

Marie Mikhail makes this particularly known to the readers. Not only does she express her love for recruiting, but she also presents a relevant story about it. Telling a story is also a good tactic in professional writing. 

Some may not find talent acquisition the most interesting career path out there, but Marie does a good job turning a relatively dull topic into something exciting. This LinkedIn bio from her profile details her professional experiences and her love for the company’s products. She also includes relevant qualifications to build up her profile. 

6. Megan Gilmore

Another good example of a professional bio on Instagram is from cookbook and food writer Megan Gilmore. 

Most professionals try to establish themselves on one or two platforms first instead of selling themselves short on over five or ten other platforms. Focusing on a few platforms allows you to customize the content for each platform, which means you’ll need two different bios.

You can use these bios to cross-promote your brand on each platform. 

Megan does this by highlighting her “no fad” writing style and listing down some books she has written. After this, she uses a pointing emoji to link her LinkedIn profile where readers can access her recipes. 

This is a great way to show off her credentials to potential book buyers. 

7. Tim Cook

Tim Cook is the CEO of the multinational technology company Apple since 2011. You would think that, with such a massive title, people who visit Apple’s website already have a pretty good idea of who he is. 

Nonetheless, Tim’s professional bio on Apple’s website doesn’t assume this. It is professionally written and highlights his position as Apple’s CEO. It also includes the fact that he serves as one of its board of directors. 

Moreover, it narrates details about his earlier career and his time as COO of Apple. Even with such an impressive resume, he provides readers all the information they need to know about him.

8. Shaquille O’Neal

Most professional bios, like some of the examples above, are written in the third person. That can make it sound more professional. It also allows people to list their experience and qualifications without sounding like they’re bragging. 

Writing in the first person can also be highly effective.

This is exemplified by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s LinkedIn bio. Aside from being a famous athlete, he also has a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctorate. 

Since it’s something he is most known for, Shaq begins his bio with his greatest achievement as a basketball player. He then proceeds to his accomplishments and credentials outside of basketball by detailing his business ventures with some of the big brands he’s worked with and his speaking events nationwide.  

He is a man of many talents, and professional bio writing is one of them. 

9. Richard Branson

Richard Branson starts off his professional bio by introducing the Virgin Group, a British company he founded. He is a man known equally for his failures as well as his many successes. 

His bio summarizes his career, but the last few sentences are the highlight. He shifts from a professional tone to a more fun and personable one by using the term “tie-loathing adventurer” and referring to himself as “Dr. Yes.”

10. Anthony Gioeli

If not written properly, bios tend to sound boastful, making some professionals hesitant to talk about themselves and their achievements. However, highlighting these achievements and skills is important as it can attract people to do business with you.

 Anthony Gioeli holds no stops in boasting his professional accomplishments. Rather than sounding big-headed, he does it confidently and factually. One of the skills he highlights is being an expert negotiator working with multimillion firms like Vodafone. 

Notice how his professional bio has good formatting. He does this by using a series of paragraphs and bullet points to present information to readers. 

While keeping your professional bio short and concise is effective, you can also be detailed like Anthony– you just need the right format. 

11. Katrina O.

Professional bios can sometimes seem repetitive and boring, which is why putting a little spin on it can work wonders. To do this, you will need to arouse curiosity from your readers so that they’ll be encouraged to read further. 

Katrina Ortiz does this in her LinkedIn bio. The first sentence alone sparks intrigue by using a line like “caught fire coding.” It’s different and, in turn, intrigues readers. Even her name ‘Katrina O.’ catches your attention.

In just three words, Katrina could captivate readers and give them an idea of her work. As an enthusiastic software developer, she highlights both her professional and personal experiences. She also shares the programming languages she is proficient with. 

12. Karen Abbate

We love a good list. Lists are a good way to organize ideas or thoughts in an easier way for readers to grasp. While it’s an unusual method in writing professional bios, it’s probably more unusual than this example from Karen Abbate uses numbers instead of bullet points. 

In her list, she presents six important and notable things about her professional and personal details.  She uses a confident and professional tone, just enough not to sound boastful. She starts by mentioning impressive brands she’s worked with and discusses her love for everything on the web. 

The bio also details her educational background, work experience, and passions. She also shares a personal backstory and relates it to her work. All in all, it is an innovative bio. 

13. Gijo Mathew

Another good use of the list on LinkedIn bios is this example from Gijo Mathew. A list can help improve readability and organize information that, if written otherwise, can seem complicated. Appearance-wise, it also makes the bio seem more compelling. 

In this bio, Gijo uses bullet points to list information to express why clients should choose to work with him. It makes his LinkedIn profile look more interesting and easy to grasp. 

14. Genevieve McKelly

LinkedIn is one of the most important channels for promoting yourself. You will need this perspective when crafting your professional bio on LinkedIn. 

A social media marketer’s mission is to instigate engagement or start a conversation among readers or consumers. Genevieve McKelly encourages this conversation by giving readers book and podcast recommendations in the last few sentences of her bio and, in turn, asking the readers for recommendations too. It’s a great ice breaker and makes her sound friendlier.

Aside from asking for great reads and listens, she also throws in an industry-related question. She then ends it with approachable words that welcome discourse. 

15. Darrell Evans

Identifying customer pain points is important in setting up marketing campaigns or a business in general. Pain points are specific problems that potential customers may be experiencing.

In this bio by Darrell Evans, he brings up a common pain point that most businesses suffer from: spending money on marketing and not the return on investment. Darrell then gives them a solution by telling readers the kind of work he does and the benefits it offers. 

Going further, he introduces who he is and what his company does. He also gives readers some facts and figures to suggest that his professional services are the best and help them solve their marketing predicament. 

16. Fernando Silva

Professional bios almost always start with the ‘professional’ aspect rather than the bio. It’s a common formula to showcase your credentials before adding a personal touch to make it seem friendlier and more approachable. 

However, Fernando Silva mixes things up with his LinkedIn bio by starting with personal information first. He kicks things off by describing himself as a “city dweller who loves to travel” and then proceeds to more professional details like his experience in SaaS.

Although short, it is a very passionate bio because it showcases things that he loves, like traveling and meeting new people. 

17. Nikki Ivey

Being relatable is a great way to connect with potential leads and clients. Nikki Ivey does this by sharing a heartfelt story about the struggles she had to face to become the “sales coach wing-woman” she is today. 

Her story shows empathy and allows readers to relate to her. It also encourages conversation among readers who may have experienced a similar situation. With this shared history, readers can get emotionally invested in her and make them open to working with her. 

However, this approach can be tricky as it needs to be sincere and relevant enough to attract attention. 

18. Raphael Parker

You should include your professional experience in your bio. Raphael Parker shows off his experiences in a very unique, unconventional way. He uses the term ‘ex’ to refer to his work history. He then indirectly discusses his current work by presenting it as a passion instead of a career. 

Raphael’s bio leaves a lot to the reader’s imagination but builds him up as an experience career man nonetheless. That is pretty impressive, considering he only uses a few words and sentences. 

19. Allison Zia

First impressions count. Having a striking first sentence in your professional bio can hook your readers into learning more about you. 

These first sentences are typically a few words long but should have a lasting impact. Allison Zia does this with only five words: “I like to solve problems”. It’s a bold statement that makes you want to read more. 

Allison moves on to her work experience, specialities, and skills to sustain her reader’s attention. She also includes relevant examples to relate to readers. 

20. Ann Handley

Ann Handley’s bio is a great example of how even a few words can make the best impression. She is an experienced marketer and, although many can claim this to be true, she evokes this kind of credibility with her choice of words. 

She encourages readers to read more by clicking a link on her website with little information she provides. Even after clicking the about page of her website, she keeps things short and simple by dividing information with bullet points. If readers are interested to learn more, she provides a few relevant links. 

This bio used as her header highlights her achievements as a writer, speaker, and partner in a major marketing company.  

A professional bio is your opportunity to attract a potential client, customer, or employer. Some may be short, while some may be detailed. The bottom line is that they should make you stand out in a crowd.

Use these examples as helpful templates you can use in creating your compelling professional bio.

About the author

Nicholas Prins

I'm the founder of Launch Space. We work with global companies helping them scale lead generation through SEO and content marketing. Head over to the homepage to find out more.

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