Introducing yourself professionally means presenting your background, expertise, and role in a clear, confident, and strategic manner. In business, your introduction is not only about sharing your name or job title—it’s about demonstrating your value, building credibility, and opening doors for collaboration and networking.
A professional introduction should be concise, relevant, and tailored to the context—whether it’s a formal meeting, a multinational event, a video call, or a one-on-one conversation.
At C1 level, mastering the art of introduction means using sophisticated vocabulary, complex structures, and adapting your tone to suit the occasion and audience.
Professional introductions:
Create a strong first impression: The first few seconds can influence how others perceive your competence, confidence, and credibility.
Build rapport and trust: A well-structured introduction can establish rapport and make you memorable.
Facilitate effective networking: Sharing relevant details about your experience and interests can lead to meaningful business connections.
Set the stage for future collaboration: Clearly stating your role and expertise invites further interaction and possible partnerships.
A successful business introduction generally includes:
Your full name and (optionally) how you prefer to be addressed
Your position or role in the company
Your company or organization name
A brief summary of your responsibilities, area of expertise, or recent projects
A relevant achievement, qualification, or experience
A conversational or context-appropriate closing
Let’s break these elements down further.
“Good morning. My name is Dr. Emily Carter, but please call me Emily.”
“Hello, I’m Michael Lee. I go by Mike.”
“I am responsible for business development at GreenTech Solutions.”
“My main area of expertise is financial analysis, and I work with Deloitte in their London office.”
“I am the Head of Marketing at Lingexam.com.”
“I have a strong background in leading cross-functional teams on international projects.”
“I specialize in developing digital strategies for tech startups.”
“My role involves overseeing market research and competitor analysis for the EMEA region.”
“I have extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector.”
“Recently, I coordinated a successful product launch that resulted in a 30% increase in market share.”
“I look forward to collaborating with you all on this project.”
“I’m excited to learn more about your company’s approach.”
“Please feel free to connect with me if you’d like to discuss any potential synergies.”
“I am currently serving as…”
“My main focus at the moment is…”
“With over [number] years’ experience in [industry/sector], I…”
“I am responsible for…”
“My main area of expertise is…”
“I have a strong background in…”
“I specialize in…”
“My role involves…”
“I have extensive experience with…”
“I am passionate about…”
“I am particularly interested in…”
“I am committed to…”
“I have a proven track record in…”
Focus on your relevant qualifications, experience, and motivation.
“My name is Anna Fernandez, and I’m applying for the position of Project Manager. I have a strong background in agile methodologies and have successfully led international teams in the IT sector for the past seven years.”
Emphasize your expertise and openness to new opportunities.
“Hello, I’m Javed Khan, a Senior Consultant at FutureVision. I specialize in business process optimization, and I’m keen to connect with professionals in the field of digital transformation.”
Mention your cross-cultural experience or international scope.
“I’m Sophie Müller from the Berlin office of DataWave. My main area of expertise is market expansion in the DACH region, and I frequently collaborate with teams across Europe and Asia.”
Highlight your role and current projects; consider time zones or remote collaboration experience.
“Good afternoon, I’m Chloe Williams, Operations Manager at Interlink Global. I’m responsible for overseeing remote teams in three continents and implementing digital workflow solutions.”
Being culturally sensitive is crucial in international business. Consider:
Titles and hierarchy: Some cultures place great emphasis on titles (Dr., Professor, Mr., Ms., etc.).
Formality: Adjust the level of formality depending on the country or organization.
Physical gestures: Handshakes, bows, or nods may vary. In virtual contexts, a polite smile and direct eye contact are effective.
Example:
In Japan, you might say:
“Good morning, my name is Kenji Sato. I am the Business Development Manager at Sakura Corporation. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Carlos Mendes, and I am responsible for strategic partnerships at InnovateX. My main area of expertise is fintech solutions for emerging markets. Over the past decade, I’ve led several cross-border collaborations resulting in significant growth for our clients. I look forward to exchanging ideas and learning from your experiences today.”
“Hello, I’m Julia Wang from the HR department. I specialize in talent acquisition and leadership development. My role involves implementing recruitment strategies and organizing executive training programs. I’m excited to be working with you all on the upcoming talent management project.”
“Hi, I’m Sarah Johnson, a Supply Chain Analyst at Global Logistics Ltd. I have extensive experience with procurement optimization and supplier negotiations. I’m interested in connecting with others who are passionate about sustainable logistics.”
“Good afternoon, I’m Pavel Ivanov, IT Project Lead at NetSolutions, Moscow. I am responsible for coordinating development teams across Russia, Germany, and the UK. My main area of expertise is agile project management for large-scale ERP implementations. I’m pleased to be part of this global initiative.”
This pattern demonstrates accountability and authority in a specific area.
“I am responsible for developing our company’s digital marketing strategy.”
“I am responsible for managing client relations in the EMEA region.”
This phrase highlights your specialization and signals your value.
“My main area of expertise is financial risk assessment.”
“My main area of expertise is in international business law.”
This phrase establishes experience and builds credibility.
“I have a strong background in leading multinational sales teams.”
“I have a strong background in data analytics and visualization.”
Use this to showcase a niche or unique skillset.
“I specialize in process improvement for manufacturing industries.”
“I specialize in cross-cultural negotiations.”
Describe your main duties or responsibilities.
“My role involves overseeing compliance and regulatory matters.”
“My role involves coordinating product launches across different markets.”
Use this to highlight deep expertise.
“I have extensive experience with cloud-based IT infrastructure projects.”
“I have extensive experience with stakeholder management and engagement.”
Being too vague or generic:
Avoid: “Hi, I’m John. I work in sales.”
Better: “Hello, I’m John Taylor, Regional Sales Manager at Premier Solutions. I specialize in developing long-term client relationships in the healthcare sector.”
Giving too much personal information:
Focus on your professional background. Save personal interests for less formal contexts.
Speaking for too long:
Keep your introduction concise, relevant, and focused on the audience’s interests.
Using informal language or slang:
Maintain a professional tone, especially in first-time meetings or formal business settings.
Forgetting to adapt to the context:
Customize your introduction for the occasion and audience.
Draft an introduction for three different business contexts:
An interview
A networking event
A virtual team meeting
Use your phone or computer to record and play back your introduction. Listen for clarity, confidence, and pacing.
Ask a mentor, colleague, or teacher to review your introduction and suggest improvements.
Take every opportunity to introduce yourself in English—at meetings, conferences, online forums, and with new clients or colleagues.
As your role and expertise evolve, keep your introduction updated.
Here are some C1-level words and phrases commonly used in professional introductions, along with their meanings and sample sentences:
(verb) – to supervise or manage (something or someone).
Sample: “I oversee the global sales team across five regions.”
(verb) – to communicate and coordinate.
Sample: “I liaise with partners to ensure smooth project delivery.”
(verb) – to put a plan or system into operation.
Sample: “My role involves implementing digital transformation strategies.”
(verb) – to make a process easier or more efficient.
Sample: “I facilitate workshops and training sessions for our staff.”
(adjective) – highly skilled, having achieved much.
Sample: “I am an accomplished financial analyst with a decade of experience.”
(noun) – specialized knowledge or skill.
Sample: “My main area of expertise is risk management.”
(expression) – evidence of previous success.
Sample: “I have a proven track record in leading successful product launches.”
(adjective) – focused on achieving outcomes.
Sample: “I am a results-driven manager, committed to exceeding targets.”
Prepare a 30-second professional introduction for a hypothetical encounter with a company executive in an elevator. Focus on your expertise, achievements, and what you’re looking for.
Pair up with a classmate or colleague. Take turns introducing yourselves at a professional networking event. Provide feedback on each other’s clarity, confidence, and use of advanced vocabulary.
Write two versions of your professional introduction: one for a formal board meeting, another for a start-up networking mixer. Compare and discuss the differences in formality and language.
Join an online business English group or participate in a video call. Practice introducing yourself, focusing on camera presence, tone, and engagement.
A professional introduction should typically be 20–40 seconds. It should be long enough to convey essential information but short enough to keep the listener’s attention.
For first-time or formal introductions, it’s better to maintain professionalism. Once rapport is established, you can incorporate humor or personal anecdotes as appropriate.
Take a breath, smile, and return to your main points—your name, your role, your expertise. It’s perfectly acceptable to pause briefly to collect your thoughts.
Use specific examples, strong action verbs, and tailor your message to your audience’s interests or the context of the meeting.
“Good afternoon, I’m Daniel Novak. I am responsible for digital strategy at BlueSky Consulting, where I specialize in data-driven growth initiatives. With a strong background in e-commerce and project management, I’ve successfully led multiple international teams through complex digital transformations. I’m passionate about helping organizations achieve their growth targets.”
“Hi, I’m Priya Mehta, a Senior Analyst at Visionary Analytics. My role involves overseeing market research projects for global clients in the healthcare industry. I have extensive experience with data modeling and customer insights, and I’m always eager to connect with professionals interested in health tech innovation.”
“Hello, I’m Eric Müller from the Frankfurt office of Greenline Energy. I am responsible for coordinating cross-border renewable energy projects, and I specialize in strategic partnerships across Europe and Asia. I’m looking forward to collaborating with this team.”
A C1-level professional introduction is more than a formality—it is a strategic communication skill that sets the tone for all future business interactions. By practicing sophisticated vocabulary, structuring your message, and adapting to your audience, you will make a lasting, positive impression in any business context.
Draft three versions of your professional introduction for different contexts.
Record and review your delivery to ensure clarity and confidence.
Practice regularly in real-world situations, both face-to-face and online.
Expand your vocabulary by learning and using new expressions every week.
Seek feedback from mentors or colleagues to continually refine your introduction.
By following these steps and actively applying the language patterns, structures, and expressions provided in this lesson, you will build a strong foundation for professional networking, effective collaboration, and career advancement in any business environment.