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This post was created from an NSA Speakernomics™ podcast interview with Heather Younger, CSP. Want to hear the full conversation? Click here to listen to the episode. Heather Younger, CSP, has written multiple books, built a certification program and a masterclass, and holds a registered trademark on the phrase Caring Leadership®. Ask her what separates … Read more
For years, I thought getting paid was the clearest sign I was succeeding as a speaker. There’s something validating about receiving a check to stand on a stage and share your ideas. It tells you your expertise has monetary value. And for speakers whose primary business model is speaking; fees matter. A lot. But after … Read more
There is a version of this story every meeting planner knows, and most speakers have never heard. A planner posts publicly that she needs a speaker. She is specific: contact info, program title, brief description, speaking sample link. Four things. The first response is two words: “I’m interested.” The second is several paragraphs of backstory, … Read more
I have spent a good part of my career in sales and business development, and one thing I wish I had learned much earlier is that there are more than two answers in sales. We tend to think everything is either yes or no. They booked you or they didn’t. They answered the email or … Read more
This post was created from an NSA Speakernomics™ podcast interview with Barb Betts. Want to hear the full conversation? Click here to listen to the episode. Barb Betts spent 14 years building a real estate speaking career before she ever stepped on a corporate stage, and she brought exactly one strategy with her: relationships, ranked … Read more
NSA’ers, we have a thing in common. Most of us like to hear ourselves talk. Some of us even got “Most Talkative” in our eighth-grade yearbooks. (Wait, just me? I doubt it.) And we’re so lucky because during keynotes and trainings, we get to experience our love of the gift of gab. Even better is when someone asks a question … Read more
The speaking industry has a trust problem, and it didn’t start with AI. Several years ago, meeting planners began telling me something I initially found hard to believe. They were booking speakers with polished demo reels, glowing testimonials, and a professional online presence, then watching them bomb on stage. When they looked deeper, they found the reel … Read more
What event organizers actually wish keynote speakers knew, straight from meeting planners at the annual NSA conference, Influence. Public speakers spend years honing their craft, their message, and their delivery. Fewer spend any time on what happens backstage, in the inbox, and in the weeks before the event—even though this is often what determines whether … Read more
How One Adventurer Turned Global Attention into a Sustainable Speaking Business Using the Award-Winning Speaker Business Model from MainStage Speaker Business Academy Mark Agnew looked perfectly set up for a speaking career. A world-first expedition in the Arctic. Headline coverage from the BBC. More than 200 media features worldwide. Surely, the speaker bookings would just … Read more
Influence 2026 lands in my hometown of Austin, TX, this July 25–27 at the Hilton Austin. The theme is about building a better business, and if you’re attending, you should show up ready to learn. The main stage will be strong, the breakouts will be useful, and the hallway conversations will be everywhere. Bring a notebook and … Read more
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Rob Ferre
Member since 2015
It's been awesome to see exactly what NSA has done to create a great hybrid virtual experience and also making sure that everyone feels safe in this environment while producing great content.
Helen Turnbull
PhD, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow, Member since 2007
I’m delighted that I could still be a part of Winter Conference even though I was at home and I still had so many takeaways.
Lisa Koenecke
Member since 2020
I love the variety, I love the level. I love the content that's happening. As a new speaker, it's giving me lots of ideas on how to scale my business and seeing people that I've heard about for so long.