The IELTS Speaking Part 2 requires candidates to deliver a structured two-minute presentation on personal topics, including describing influential individuals who have shaped their perspectives or inspired their goals. When you encounter prompts asking you to describe a person you admire, whether a family member, public figure, or business leader, thorough preparation becomes essential for demonstrating your English proficiency effectively. This comprehensive guide provides you with practical strategies, detailed sample responses, essential vocabulary, and Part 3 discussion techniques to help you achieve your target band score.
Describe A Person You Admire Cue Card
Describe a businessman you admire
You should say:
- Who this person is
- How you knew this person
- What kinds of business this person does
- And explain why you admire this person
You will have one minute to prepare your answer and speak for 1-2 minutes.
Ideas and Outline for the Cue Card
When preparing to describe a person you admire from the business world, consider focusing on entrepreneurs, company founders, or business leaders whose achievements, values, or leadership qualities have influenced your thinking or career aspirations. You might discuss well-known figures like Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, local business owners, or family members who have demonstrated exceptional business acumen and personal integrity.
Think about specific qualities that make this person admirable, such as their innovation, perseverance, social impact, or ability to overcome challenges. Consider how you learned about this person through media coverage, personal encounters, books, documentaries, or educational programs that highlighted their contributions to business and society.
1-minute note-taking example:
- Person: Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx
- How I knew: Documentary about female entrepreneurs, business magazines
- Business type: Undergarment and shapewear company, global retail business
- Why admirable: Self-made billionaire, started with $5,000, empowers women, philanthropist
Your notes should capture the person’s background, their business achievements, and the specific reasons why their story resonates with you personally when you describe a person you admire speaking about their journey and values.
Speaking Part 2 Describe A Person You Admire Sample Answer
I’d like to talk about Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, whom I deeply admire for her entrepreneurial spirit and determination. I first learned about her through a business documentary about successful female entrepreneurs, and I’ve followed her story through interviews and magazine articles since then.
Sara built Spanx into a billion-dollar shapewear company, starting with just $5,000 and a simple idea to create more comfortable undergarments for women. Her business now sells clothing and accessories in over 50 countries worldwide, expanding from that single original product into a comprehensive fashion brand.
What makes her truly admirable is her authentic approach to business and commitment to empowering other women. She spent two years developing her first product, facing countless rejections from manufacturers who didn’t believe in her vision. Despite having no formal business training, she persevered and maintained complete control of her company without external investors for decades.
Her philanthropic work particularly impresses me – she’s pledged to donate half her wealth to charity and actively supports female entrepreneurs through grants and mentorship programs. Sara embodies resilience, innovation, and social responsibility, proving that successful business leadership extends beyond profit margins to making a positive impact on society.
Most Important & Useful Vocabulary
Mastering sophisticated vocabulary related to business, personal qualities, and achievement will significantly enhance your ability to describe a person you admire with precision and depth. The following essential terms will help you articulate complex ideas about leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal characteristics that demonstrate advanced language proficiency.
| Word/Phrase | Pronunciation | Definition |
| Entrepreneurial spirit | /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːriəl ˈspɪrɪt/ | The mindset and qualities needed to start and run a business |
| Revolutionize | /ˌrevəˈluːʃənaɪz/ | To completely change and improve something |
| Empowering | /ɪmˈpaʊərɪŋ/ | Giving someone confidence and strength to achieve their goals |
| Comprehensive | /ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv/ | Complete and including everything that is necessary |
| Authentic | /ɔːˈθentɪk/ | Genuine and true to one’s own personality and values |
| Persevered | /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪəd/ | Continued trying despite difficulties and setbacks |
| Vision | /ˈvɪʒən/ | A clear idea of what you want to achieve in the future |
| Philanthropic | /ˌfɪlənˈθrɒpɪk/ | Related to helping others through charitable giving |
| Pledge | /pledʒ/ | A serious promise or commitment to do something |
| Resilience | /rɪˈzɪliəns/ | The ability to recover quickly from difficulties |
| Innovation | /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən/ | New ideas, methods, or inventions |
| Embodies | /ɪmˈbɒdiz/ | Represents or is a perfect example of particular qualities |
| Acumen | /ˈækjʊmən/ | The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions |
| Integrity | /ɪnˈteɡrəti/ | The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles |
| Mentorship | /ˈmentɔːʃɪp/ | The guidance provided by an experienced person to someone less experienced |
| Obstacle | /ˈɒbstəkəl/ | Something that blocks your way or prevents progress |
| External funding | /ɪkˈstɜːnəl ˈfʌndɪŋ/ | Money provided by outside investors or organizations |
| Profit margins | /ˈprɒfɪt ˈmɑːdʒɪnz/ | The difference between costs and selling price |
| Social responsibility | /ˈsəʊʃəl rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/ | The duty to act in ways that benefit society |
| Exceptional | /ɪkˈsepʃənəl/ | Unusually good or outstanding |
Speaking Part 3 Describe A Person You Admire – Model Responses
- What qualities make a good business leader?
Good business leaders need strong communication skills and the ability to inspire their teams during challenging times. They should also demonstrate integrity and make ethical decisions that benefit both the company and society. Most importantly, they must be adaptable and willing to learn from their mistakes.
- Do you think successful businesspeople are born with special talents or do they develop these skills?
I believe business skills are mostly developed through experience and education rather than being born with them. While some people might have natural leadership qualities, success usually comes from hard work, learning from failures, and continuously improving their abilities through practice.
- How important is it for business leaders to give back to society?
It’s extremely important because successful businesses benefit from society’s infrastructure and educated workforce. When leaders give back through charity or social programs, they help create better communities and often build stronger customer loyalty. It’s both morally right and good for business.
- What role does failure play in business success?
Failure is actually essential for business success because it teaches valuable lessons that can’t be learned any other way. Most successful entrepreneurs have failed multiple times before achieving success, and these experiences help them make better decisions and become more resilient.
- How has technology changed the way people do business today?
Technology has completely transformed business by enabling global communication, online sales, and remote work opportunities. Small companies can now compete with large corporations through digital marketing and e-commerce platforms. However, it also means businesses must adapt quickly to stay competitive.
Conclusion
Mastering the skill to describe a person you admire effectively requires consistent practice with diverse examples and sophisticated vocabulary that extends beyond basic biographical information. Use these sample responses as foundational frameworks for developing your own authentic presentations, but remember that personal connections and genuine admiration create more compelling narratives than memorized scripts.
Regular practice with topics about influential figures, role models, and inspirational leaders will build your confidence and improve your ability to discuss complex human qualities and achievements spontaneously. Focus on developing clear reasoning for your admiration, organizing ideas logically, and delivering responses with appropriate emotional engagement that demonstrates both language proficiency and genuine personal insight.