The best examples of formal introduction speeches (with scripts)

Real examples of formal introduction speeches you can copy

Let’s skip the theory and jump straight into real examples of formal introduction speeches. After each script, I’ll break down why it works and how you can adapt it.

Example of a formal introduction speech for a keynote speaker at a conference

Scenario: You’re introducing the opening keynote at a professional conference.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Jordan Lee, and I serve as the Director of Product Strategy here at Horizon Tech.

It’s my honor to introduce our keynote speaker, Dr. Maya Patel. Dr. Patel is a professor of computer science at Stanford University and a leading researcher in artificial intelligence and ethics. Her work has been featured in The New York Times and MIT Technology Review, and she recently advised the U.S. Senate on AI policy.

Over the past decade, Dr. Patel has helped organizations around the world use AI responsibly—balancing innovation with privacy, fairness, and transparency. Today, she’ll be sharing real-world strategies for building trustworthy AI systems that work for people, not just for algorithms.

Please join me in welcoming our keynote speaker, Dr. Maya Patel.”

Why this works:

• Starts with a simple self-introduction.
• Uses two or three strong credibility markers (Stanford, Senate, publications) without turning into a long résumé.
• Clearly states the benefit to the audience: “real-world strategies” and “trustworthy AI systems.”
• Ends with a clear, upbeat welcome line.

If you’re looking for examples of examples of formal introduction speeches that feel professional but still human, this one is a strong starting point for any conference or summit.

Example of a formal introduction speech for a CEO at an internal town hall

Scenario: You’re HR or communications, introducing your company’s CEO at a quarterly meeting.

“Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Alex Rivera from the People & Culture team.

Today we’re joined by someone who needs little introduction, but deserves a proper one. Our CEO, Maria Gomez, has led our company through five straight years of growth, expanded our presence into three new markets, and championed flexible work long before it became mainstream.

Under her leadership, we’ve launched new benefits for parents, invested in professional development for every team, and committed to cutting our carbon footprint in half by 2030.

This afternoon, Maria will walk us through our progress over the past quarter, the challenges we’re facing in the year ahead, and how each of us plays a part in where we’re going next.

Please help me welcome our CEO, Maria Gomez.”

Why this works:

• Focuses on outcomes employees care about: benefits, flexibility, growth, sustainability.
• Short, clear, and respectful without sounding stiff.
• Signals what the CEO will talk about so people know why to pay attention.

For internal events, the best examples of formal introduction speeches focus less on titles and more on what the leader has done for the people in the room.

Example of a formal introduction speech for a guest of honor at an awards banquet

Scenario: You’re introducing a guest of honor at a nonprofit fundraiser.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Dana Collins, and I have the privilege of serving as Chair of tonight’s gala.

Our guest of honor this evening, Senator Alicia Nguyen, has spent more than 20 years fighting for equitable access to education. As a former public school teacher, she’s seen firsthand how opportunity can change a child’s life—and how lack of opportunity can limit it.

In the Senate, she co-sponsored the 2023 Community Schools Act, which has already expanded wraparound services to more than 500,000 students nationwide. She continues to work closely with educators, families, and organizations like ours to make sure policy translates into real support in classrooms.

Please join me in welcoming our guest of honor, Senator Alicia Nguyen.”

Why this works:

• Connects the guest’s background to the mission of the event.
• Uses one specific, recent achievement (a 2023 act) to make the introduction feel current.
• Keeps the tone formal but warm—perfect for a gala.

If you need examples of formal introduction speeches for nonprofit events, this structure—role, impact, specific achievement, warm welcome—translates well to almost any cause.

Example of a formal introduction speech for a university lecture or panel

Scenario: You’re a faculty member or student introducing a visiting lecturer.

“Good evening. I’m Professor Lauren Mitchell from the Department of Public Health.

It’s my pleasure to introduce tonight’s speaker, Dr. Samuel Ortiz. Dr. Ortiz is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he leads research on pandemic preparedness and community health resilience.

His work has informed CDC guidance on respiratory diseases and has been published in leading journals, including The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine.

Tonight, Dr. Ortiz will discuss what we’ve learned from recent global health emergencies, and how local communities can prepare for the next one—not with fear, but with practical, science-based planning.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Samuel Ortiz.”

Why this works:

• Names a respected institution (CDC) and publications to quickly establish authority. You can explore more about the CDC’s role in public health at cdc.gov.
• Clearly defines the topic and angle (“not with fear, but with practical, science-based planning”).
• Fits both in-person and virtual academic settings.

For academic events, the best examples of formal introduction speeches highlight research, institutions, and publications in a way that non-experts can still follow.

Example of a formal introduction speech for an award recipient

Scenario: You’re introducing the winner of a professional award before they accept it.

“Good evening. I’m Michael Chen, and I chair the Innovation in Nursing Awards Committee.

Each year, this award recognizes a nurse who has improved patient care in a meaningful, measurable way.

This year’s recipient, Jasmine Carter, has done exactly that. As a nurse manager at Riverside Medical Center, Jasmine led the development of a new bedside handoff process that reduced medication errors by 30% in just twelve months.

She partnered with patients, families, and colleagues across departments, drawing on best practices from organizations like the National Institutes of Health, which you can learn more about at nih.gov.

Because of her work, patients at Riverside feel more informed, more involved, and more confident in their care.

It is my honor to present the 2024 Innovation in Nursing Award to Jasmine Carter.”

Why this works:

• Uses a clear statistic (“reduced medication errors by 30%”) to make the impact real.
• Connects the recipient’s work to broader best practices.
• Ends by naming the award and the year, which sounds polished in recordings and press releases.

If you’re searching for real examples of examples of formal introduction speeches for award ceremonies, notice how this one quickly explains why this person, this year, for this award.

Example of a formal introduction speech for a virtual webinar or online event

Scenario: You’re hosting a professional development webinar on Zoom or a similar platform.

“Welcome, everyone, and thank you for joining us online today. My name is Priya Shah, and I’m the Learning & Development Manager here at Northbridge Financial.

I’m pleased to introduce our presenter, Chris Walker. Chris is a certified financial planner with more than 15 years of experience helping individuals and families build long-term financial security.

He has been featured by organizations such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and has contributed to investor education resources similar to those you’ll find at investor.gov.

Today, Chris will walk us through practical strategies for managing debt, building an emergency fund, and investing for retirement—no matter where you’re starting from.

Please welcome our presenter, Chris Walker.”

Why this works:

• Acknowledges the online setting without dwelling on it.
• Keeps the introduction tight so people can get to the content.
• Uses one or two credibility markers relevant to a broad audience.

For remote events, the best examples of formal introduction speeches are even shorter than in-person ones—attention spans are limited on screens.

Example of a formal introduction speech for a new employee or leader

Scenario: You’re introducing a new VP to the company at a formal all-hands meeting.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Taylor Brooks from the Executive Leadership Team.

I’m excited to introduce our new Vice President of Marketing, Daniel Kim.

Daniel joins us from Horizon Media, where he led a global team of 60 marketers and helped launch campaigns that increased brand awareness by more than 40% in key markets. Before that, he spent a decade in consumer insights, giving him a deep understanding of what drives customer loyalty.

Here at Apex, Daniel will be leading our brand strategy, digital marketing, and customer research efforts. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see him visiting offices, joining team meetings, and listening closely to your ideas and experiences.

Please join me in welcoming Daniel Kim to Apex.”

Why this works:

• Balances Daniel’s past achievements with what he’ll be doing now.
• Sets expectations for how employees will see and interact with him.
• Keeps the tone formal enough for an all-hands, but still friendly.

If you need examples of formal introduction speeches for new hires, this pattern—past achievements, new responsibilities, what to expect—is a reliable formula.

How to write your own formal introduction speech (using these examples)

Now that you’ve seen several real examples of examples of formal introduction speeches, you can probably feel the pattern. Most strong introductions follow a simple flow:

• Step 1: Introduce yourself briefly. One line with your name and role.
• Step 2: Name the person you’re introducing and their current role. This orients the audience.
• Step 3: Highlight 2–3 key credentials or achievements. Pick what matters most to this audience, at this event.
• Step 4: Explain what they’ll talk about or do. Make the benefit to the audience clear.
• Step 5: End with a warm, clear welcome. “Please join me in welcoming…” is a classic for a reason.

The best examples include specifics: numbers, years, well-known institutions, or recognizable outcomes. That’s what makes an introduction feel real instead of generic.

When you adapt any example of a formal introduction speech from above, ask yourself:

• What does this audience care about most—status, impact, relevance, or relatability?
• Which two or three facts about this person will matter most today, not just in general?
• How can I say this in under two minutes?

If you’re introducing someone in a field with technical or scientific language, consider linking or referring to trusted sources like Harvard University or NIH for context in your written materials, while keeping the spoken introduction simpler and more conversational.

Quick tips pulled from the best examples of formal introduction speeches

Looking back at all these real examples, a few patterns stand out:

• Shorter is almost always better. Aim for 60–90 seconds. Anything longer starts to feel like a biography instead of an introduction.
• Speak to this audience, not every audience. A research achievement might impress a medical conference but mean nothing at a community fundraiser. Adjust like the best examples above do.
• Don’t steal the spotlight. Your job is to set the stage, not give your own mini-speech.
• Check names, titles, and pronunciation. This sounds obvious, but mispronouncing a name can undercut an otherwise polished introduction.
• End on a clear cue. Phrases like “Please help me welcome…” signal the audience to applaud.

When you look for examples of examples of formal introduction speeches online, you’ll see a wide range of styles. The most effective ones are simple, specific, and respectful of time.

FAQ: examples of formal introduction speeches

Q: Can you give a short example of a very brief formal introduction speech?
Yes. Here’s a tight, 30-second version:

“Good afternoon. I’m Renee Thomas from the Research Department. It’s my pleasure to introduce today’s speaker, Dr. Alan Brooks, a climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Brooks has spent the past 15 years studying extreme weather patterns and their impact on coastal communities. Today, he’ll share what recent data tells us about rising sea levels and what that means for cities like ours. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Alan Brooks.”

Q: How formal should I sound in a corporate setting?
Use a tone similar to the examples include above for CEOs and town halls: respectful, polished, but not stiff. Avoid slang, but it’s fine to sound like a real person. If your company culture is relaxed, you can lighten the tone slightly while keeping the structure of a formal introduction.

Q: What are the best examples of formal introduction speeches for students?
For student events—like introducing a graduation speaker or a visiting lecturer—borrow from the university and award examples of formal introduction speeches in this article. Focus on:

• The speaker’s connection to students (former student, mentor, researcher in a field students care about).
• One or two achievements that are easy to understand.
• A hopeful tone about what students will gain from listening.

Q: Is it okay to read my introduction word-for-word?
Yes. Many of the best examples of formal introduction speeches are written out and read, especially at formal events. Just practice enough that you can look up regularly and sound natural.

Q: Where can I find more real examples of formal speaking?
Watch recordings of conferences, commencement ceremonies, and public lectures. Universities like Harvard and public health agencies like CDC often post full events online. Listen to how hosts introduce speakers—those are live, real examples you can learn from.

Use these examples as templates, not scripts you must follow word-for-word. Swap in your speaker’s achievements, your event’s purpose, and your own natural phrasing. With that, you’ll have your own best examples of formal introduction speeches—tailored to your audience and ready for the microphone.