TEDx Raleigh Summit · McKimmon Center · Aug 22, 2026
Face Time Before FaceTime
The lost art of showing up in person.
In a world of texts, emails, and Zoom calls, the relationships that actually change lives are still built through in-person, face-to-face interaction. Mark Agnew makes the case in his TEDx talk — and teaches individuals and teams how to use it to their personal and professional advantage.
About Mark
Forty years of showing up.
Mark Agnew is a performance management consultant, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker whose 40-year career spans corporate healthcare, cardiac device program launches, and professional theater.
His talk, "Face Time Before FaceTime," argues that in-person connection is an imperative in today's digital world. He teaches individuals and organizations how to use it to their personal and professional advantage.
Coming out of Stanford with a degree in Economics, Mark began his 40-year career in corporate healthcare, which expanded into HR strategy, digital health, and ultimately proactive heart health screening.
A consistent leader and team builder, he consulted to Silicon Valley heavyweights such as Apple, Cisco, and HP, and national financial leaders such as Bank of America and Fidelity. Moving into the digital health space, he helped take one of the industry's first health care price and quality transparency firms from first client to successful financial exit. Pivoting into the heart health arena, he led the effort to bring the first arrhythmia screening program to market.
He also helps advance the family business — the theatrical works of playwright Philip Barry (The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, The Animal Kingdom) — with his wife and sister-in-law, the playwright's granddaughters.
The throughline across each of these areas is creative solutions, effective storytelling, and always making the effort to connect with others on a personal, face-to-face level.
"The people who will stand apart are the ones who still take a chance, still notice what's personally important to others, and still show up in person."— Mark Agnew
The Be Better Series
Four talks. One unifying theme.
Get better by paying attention.
Face Time Before FaceTime is the flagship — but it's one of four talks built around the same principle: noticing what matters and then acting upon it.
Face Time Before FaceTime
Why in-person connection remains a decisive edge in business and life, and how to create the moments that build meaningful and lasting relationships.
Best for: Sales teams, client relationship groups, corporate all-hands, association conferences.
Shower Power
How to prompt, pay attention to, and capture your best creative thinking — using the unlikely incubator of the shower or bath.
Best for: Innovation teams, creative offsites, leadership retreats.
SleepQED
A simple sleep hack for waking up feeling rested and refreshed even on a short night's sleep — by focusing on what your mind and body need to be at your best the following day.
Best for: High-performance teams, sales kickoffs, wellness-themed events.
Tool Foolish
Why accumulating tools — physical or informational — can quickly become a form of unnecessary, avoidable procrastination and distraction from what matters most.
Best for: Productivity/ops audiences, entrepreneurs, project management groups.
Work With Mark
The talk introduces the idea.The workshop teaches the techniques.One-on-one sessions hone the skills.
Mark's keynote addresses state the case in anywhere from 8 to 30 minutes; the longer talks often involving requested client/audience customization.
Training goes further — giving teams specific, practiced techniques that they can begin using immediately. Train the trainer sessions are also welcomed and supported.
Individual or team coaching further customizes the lessons and helps success-minded professionals master the skills over time.
Face Time Before FaceTime — Sample Topic Menu
The items below are a partial menu of the techniques Mark can deploy with you or your team. The focus and content of any training engagement will be customized to your specific needs.
Land the Meeting
Worth Showing Up For
A framework for knowing when an in-person visit beats the efficient digital option.
The 3rd Dimension
Doing whatever's necessary to be in the room — only in-person interaction lets your senses pick up what can't possibly be captured through a screen.
The Second Pass
Noticing a detail on the way in, and acting on it on the way out.
Off Campus Encounters
Unscheduled, outside-the-office moments can pay huge dividends. Being open to them — if not making them happen — is a skill that can be taught and practiced.
"In the Neighborhood" Outreach
New contacts are inclined not to want you to go to great lengths to see them; but if you just happen to be "in the neighborhood," the answer can often be different.
Unofficial Experts
Titular SMEs are finite in number and are often deployed only with the most prominent or high-potential clients. Underutilized resources are fellow colleagues in other offices who often have unique, albeit unofficial, subject matter or client experience.
Conduct the Meeting
The No Agenda Agenda
Some of the best client insights spill forth apart from a stated meeting agenda. That can't be forced, but it can occur more frequently with training, planning and practice.
Scaling It Across a Team
Turning "noticing what's personal" into a shared habit — not merely the inconsistent instinct of some team members.
Follow-Up to the Meeting
The Follow-Through Gesture
Specific, well-timed actions following an in-person connection that reinforce the human side of the business world.
Deliverables That Are Personal
Proposals and follow-up materials that resonate with the specific audience you aim to engage.
Formats
- Keynote
- Training workshops
- Individual and team coaching
Results, Not Theory
A combination of these techniques helped generate more than $25M in client billings from a single client relationship.
Get In Touch
Go beyond this screen — connect with Mark.
For speaking, training and coaching inquiries — event dates, fit and customization — please send the details requested below.