Every conversation, every email, every meeting is a moment of communication. The most formal are pitches and presentations – the stakes are highest, as is the potential for failure. Whether we’re closing a deal, getting buy-in from our boss or convincing investors to part with their cash, these moments can be life changing and yet…. most pitches and presentations suck. 

By the time he was 26, Dominic Colenso had flown a spaceship, lost a million dollars and been fired by Simon Cowell. Since starring as Virgil Tracy in the Hollywood remake of Thunderbirds, he’s now transitioned from performing to coaching, empowering FTSE 100 leaders and sales teams pitching for millions around the world to communicate with impact and perform at their best under pressure.  

Now, in his new book Cut-Through: The pitch and presentation playbook, Dominic distils two decades of experience into a practical framework for high-stakes communication. It lands at a time when communication has never been more competitive. Whether it’s leaders aligning hybrid teams or entrepreneurs pitching in crowded markets, the ability to hold attention and influence decisions is a make-or-break skill. 

Built around Dominic’s six-step methodology – Discover, Distil, Design, Drill, Deliver and Debrief – the book provides a clear roadmap from blank page to standing ovation, using techniques such as the S.T.A.R Opening and the 20:70:10 structure. Readers learn how to crystallise their thinking into ‘sticky’ messages, shape them into a ‘blockbuster’ narrative, and deliver their words with confidence and presence.  

Unlike more academic texts, Cut-Through is packed with short, actionable exercises, downloadable tools, cheat sheets and a diagnostic scorecard – all infused with Dominic’s background as a professional actor and director.  

The key message? Great pitches and presentations aren’t magic – there’s a method. And when you follow the playbook, you get results.