How to Introduce Yourself in 10 Seconds So People Remember You

You know that sinking feeling. Someone turns to you and says, “So, tell me about yourself.” Your mind races. Do you give your job title? Your life story. A funny joke.

Most people fail this test, “introduce yourself in 10 seconds”. They either ramble for five minutes or shrink themselves with phrases like “I’m just a…” or “I sort of do…”.

Last week, a senior manager fumbled his introduction at a $2M pitch meeting. He lost the room in 10 seconds. Here’s what he should have said instead…” Or: “I’ve watched brilliant professionals destroy their credibility with three words: ‘I’m just a…’

But in our connected world, your introduction is your most powerful personal branding tool. It is not just what you say. it is the first signal of your confidence, clarity, and value.

A powerful introduction is not about boasting. It is about connecting. It is about making the other person think, “I need to know more about this person.”

Through my courses on the platform www.whatisscrum.org, I’ve helped over 140,000 students master these principles., I have refined a simple, universal formula. Let me show you how it works, using my own career as a real-world example.

Think You Can’t Be a Scrum Master? Watch This FIRST!

The 3 Fatal Mistakes Why Most Introductions Fail

1. Too Much Information – People dump their entire resume
2. No Clear Value – They describe what they do, not what problems they solve
3. No Human Connection – They forget to show why it matters

The 3-part formula fixes all three issues…

The Universal 3-Part Formula for a Powerful Introduction

Forget memorizing a rigid script. You only need to remember three parts. The magic is in how you adapt them.

1. Who You Are: Your name and your professional anchor. (1 sentence)
2. What You Do: The specific problem you solve or value you create. (1 sentence)
3. Why It Matters: Your hook. the higher purpose or impact. (1 sentence)

This framework forces clarity and cuts the fluff. Let us see it in action with my profile.

My Core 3-Part Introduction (The Template):

• Who I Am: “I’m Dejan. I help teams cut their project delivery time in half using Scrum”
• What I Do: “I’ve trained over 140,000 professionals who’ve gone on to land Scrum Master roles at companies like Uber and Netflix.”
• Why It Matters: “Why? Because when teams work well together, they can do amazing things.”

This is my skeleton. Now, let us dress it for different occasions. Watch how the same core information is twisted to achieve different goals.

How to Adapt Your Intro in a 5 Real-Life Scenarios?

1. The Formal Business Meeting

• Context: Meeting with potential enterprise clients for my “Agile & Scrum for Business” service.
• Goal: Establish authority and show strategic value.
• My Introduction: “I’m Dejan. I’ve spent over ten years helping companies switch to better ways of working. As a top IT leader, I helped one organization get 30% more work done. I’m here to see how we can use that same approach to help your team work faster and better.”
• Why it Works: It leads with a high-level role (CIO) and a concrete, impressive result (30% efficiency gain). It is direct, professional, and immediately frames me as a strategic partner, not just a trainer.

2. The Business Conference or Networking Event

• Context: A tech or leadership conference.
• Goal: Be approachable, memorable, and spark a connection.
• My Introduction: “Hi, I’m Dejan. I have a site called WhatIsScrum.org where I help teams fix chaotic projects using a method called Scrum. I’ve taught thousands of people, and I love meeting other leaders who want to build great teams. What are you working on?”
• Why it Works: It starts with a friendly, simple opener. It clearly states who I help and what problem I solve (“chaotic projects”). It ends with an open-ended question that turns a monologue into a dialogue.

3. Casual Settings (Networking Events & Social Mixers)

• Context: Business conferences, after-work meetups, or social gatherings where work naturally comes up.
• Goal: Be approachable and memorable without being “salesy.”
• My Introduction: “Hi, I’m Dejan. I run WhatIsScrum.org where I help teams escape meeting hell and actually ship products people love. The best part? I’ve taught over 140,000 people, and I still get messages from students who say, ‘Your course changed my career.’ That never gets old. But enough about me—what brings you here tonight?”
• Why it Works: It balances professionalism with personality. “Meeting hell” is relatable and slightly humorous, which works in casual settings. The social proof (140,000 students) establishes credibility without feeling like a pitch. Ending with a question immediately shifts focus to the other person, making you likable rather than self-promotional.

4. The Job Interview

• Context: First or second-round interview for a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or leadership role.
• Goal: Differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate strategic thinking.
• My Introduction: “I’m Dejan, and over the past two decades, I’ve specialized in transforming chaotic teams into high-performing units. As CIO at the Tax Administration, I led digital transformation that delivered 30% efficiency gains and 20% cost reduction. But my real passion is teaching. I’ve trained 140,000+ professionals globally through my courses, which gives me a unique perspective: I understand both the leadership and the practitioner side of Agile. I’m here because [Company Name if I know at that moment]’s mission to [specific company goal if I am aware of in that moment] aligns perfectly with how I approach transformation and changing how people think about work.”
• Why it Works: It follows the classic interview structure: past achievements (with metrics), present expertise (teaching scale), and future fit (why this company). The numbers are concrete and impressive. The acknowledgment of the company’s mission shows you’ve done your homework. This is “I’m uniquely qualified for YOU.”

5. LinkedIn Profile or Written Bio

• Context: Your LinkedIn “About” section, conference bio, or speaker introduction.
• Goal: Make people want to connect, follow, or book you.
• My Introduction: “I help teams stop wasting time and start delivering results. As CIO, I lead IT strategy for an organization serving millions of citizens. I’ve driven transformations that achieved 30% efficiency improvements and 20% cost reductions. That’s a proof that Agile isn’t just theory. But my real mission extends beyond my day job. Through WhatIsScrum.org, I’ve taught 140,000+ students on how to master Scrum and Agile. From career changers landing their first Scrum Master role to seasoned leaders transforming their organizations, I’m obsessed with making complex frameworks simple and actionable. Want to work smarter, not harder? Let’s connect.”
• Why it Works: Written bios need a different rhythm than spoken introductions. This version uses short, punchy paragraphs for scalability. It leads with a benefit statement, follows with credibility (CIO role + metrics), then shows scale and impact (140,000 students). The closing question is a micro-call-to-action that invites engagement. Notice: no jargon, no humble-bragging, just clear value.

6. With Friends of Friends or Family

• Context: A BBQ or family gathering.
• Goal: Be relatable and connect on a personal level.
• My Introduction: “You know me! Lately, I’ve been busy helping people learn a new way to work so they can find jobs they really love. The best part is hearing from them how it’s changed their lives.”
• Why it Works: It is personal and passionate. It focuses on the human impact of my work (“transformed their professional lives”) rather than the mechanics, which is what friends and family care about most.

The Pro Tip: Master the Pivot

The most powerful introductions are a two-way street. After you have delivered your clear, confident introduction, the next step is crucial. pivot the conversation back to the other person.

This shows you are interested in them and transforms a presentation into a conversation. Use a simple transition:

• “But that is enough about me. I would love to hear what brings you here today.”
• “So, that is what I am focused on. What is exciting in your world right now?”
• “But I am really curious about your perspective. What has your experience with that been?”

This single habit will make you not only confident but also incredibly likable.

The Missing Piece of Your Job Search Strategy

This post is Lesson #4 in my series on breaking into your first Scrum Master role. Here’s why I’m teaching you this now:
In the previous lessons, I showed you:

1. The Real Path to Your First Scrum Master Role – The honest roadmap that actually works
2. Making Yourself Irresistible to Recruiters (Even Without Experience) – How to position yourself when you’re “unqualified”
3. Your 90-Day Action Plan to Land Your First Scrum Master Role – The exact steps to take each week

But here’s what I’ve learned coaching thousands of career changers: You can have the perfect resume, the right certifications, and a solid action plan… and still lose the opportunity in the first 30 seconds of a networking call or interview.

Why? Because you haven’t mastered your introduction. So let me help you introduce yourself in 10 seconds.

Your introduction is the bridge between your preparation and your opportunity. It’s where all that hard work from Lessons 1-3 either comes together, or falls apart.

Think about it:

• That LinkedIn message to a hiring manager? It starts with your introduction.
• That networking coffee chat with a Scrum Master? You’ve got 10 seconds to make them want to mentor you.
• That “Tell me about yourself” question in your first interview? This is your moment.

The career changers who land roles aren’t always the most qualified. They’re the ones who can articulate their value with confidence and clarity.

Your Homework: Build Your Own Introduction Engine

1. Extract Your Core Three: Look at your own CV. What is your anchor role. What is the key problem you solve. What is your deeper mission. Write your core 3.part script.
2. Practice Two Versions Aloud: Start with a Formal and a Networking version. Say them out loud until they feel natural, not recited.
3. Drop the Weak Language: Commit to a week without “just,” “only,” “sort of,” or “I guess.” You will be amazed at the shift in your presence.

Your ability to introduce yourself with confidence is the key that unlocks doors you did not even know were there. It sets the tone for every relationship and opportunity that follows.

Now, go make those 10 seconds count.

One Last Thing

I’ve trained over 140,000 students, and here’s what separates those who land roles from those who stay stuck: execution.

Reading this post won’t change anything. Doing the work this week will.

So here’s my challenge: Write your 3-part introduction in the comments below. I’ll personally review the first 20 and give you specific feedback on how to make it stronger.
And if you want to experience my teaching style before committing to the full journey? Try my Scrum Career Compass course. It’s the same approach, practical, no-nonsense, and designed to get you results.

Your first Scrum Master role is waiting. Let’s make sure you’re ready when opportunity knocks.

Dejan