First impressions are vitally important. If you’ve been asked to introduce a speaker, it’s up to you to make that first impression, and the success of the presentation is in your hands.
TIP: To prepare an effective introduction, reach out to the speaker in advance. Connect with the goal of understanding what their talk is about, what their key take-away message is and why this topic is important to them and to the audience. Take the time to get to know them as a person so you aren’t introducing a stranger but a colleague that is worth listening to!