Ironically, the difference in women’s brains, which is predominantly the greater size of the corpus callosum, (on average 23% larger in women than men) which is the bit that connects the left and right hemispheres, enables us women to make more connections and process information between the left/logic and language and right/emotion and creative sides of the brain. This apparently gives rise to the feminine ability to manage more tasks, and acknowledge feelings, and to men having a more logical and single-focused approach. (Though there is currently controversy in neuroscience over all this, as MRI scans of the brain have shown activity taking place throughout the brain when different tasks are performed).

Last time I saw Edward de Bono, he of ‘Lateral Thinking’ and ‘Thinking Hats’ fame, present at Leaders in London, in 2009 I think, (a reputedly truly world class thinker at a very upscale event consisting mainly of CEOs and senior execs) he was still using his intro of ‘Lords, ladies, gentlemen and blondes…’ . And he told a number of blonde jokes. He seemed anachronistic but was tolerated for his ‘wise elder’ status.
However, the rest of the presenters made no distinction in the gender of the audience.

These days when faced with the overt marketing garbage I switch off and somehow seem to be induced only into yawning and moving on. I’m probably jaded after many years of having so much material coming in for the magazine, and have honed my radar for the hype and hackneyed, the blatant self-promotion and the meaningless drivel.

But I also believe that the modern emphasis on cultivating relationships with customers is crucial—and maybe even more important if we’re providing services to women. It sounds as though the presenter you heard didn’t even address the “know, like, and trust” phenomenon, and that was a pretty big oversight.

I get how these people can get in early and make a name for themselves. What I DON’T get is how they perpetuate an apparently excellent reputation on second class performances – when there are so many who are now streets ahead of them

I have to say though, that my experience is a bit more depressing: it’s not that male presenters patronise women; it’s that such presenters patronise everyone! Obviously I wasn’t there so I can’t say – I’m just speaking generally here…

Essentially, it boils down to how much the presenter knows his (or her!) audience and how well he judges them: I’m risking over-stating things here but my hunch is that anyone who’s an experienced and skilled enough presenter to change his (or her!) presentation depending on the audience is also sufficiently good/experienced *not* to patronise that audience.

Patronising presenters will just patronise anyone!