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A modern manifesto for founders, analysts, and expert communicators who need their slides to perform, not just present.
We’ve all seen it: the pitch deck that should’ve closed millions but didn’t. The quarterly report that fell flat despite solid numbers. The keynote that was technically fine… and totally forgettable.
And if you’ve ever sat through a mind-numbing, career-killing presentation, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly where Sterling Vega began, a fictional persona we created as the living embodiment of the modern master presenter. Part muse, part mirror, and all influence, she’s our internal north star and a modern-day Steve Jobs with better slides.
Our hero wasn’t born the GOAT. She became it. After witnessing a brilliant idea die on a terrible slide deck, Sterling made a vow: no idea should ever be lost because of poor presentation.
She didn’t just redesign slides. She rewrote the rules.
Now, her approach to high-stakes storytelling is the framework behind how we work at Adrienne Johnston Presentation Design.
These aren’t best practices. They’re battle-tested standards used by tech founders, Fortune 500 execs, and top-tier consultants to command rooms, close deals, and raise millions.
We believe no one should lose an opportunity because their slides didn’t live up to the message.
That’s why we created The Sterling Standard — 10 clear, commanding laws for designing presentations that don’t just look good, but drive results. Whether you're a startup founder raising capital, a financial professional clarifying data, or a consultant teaching at scale, these are the non-negotiables for building decks that perform under pressure.