Speaking at events is one of the highest-leverage activities available for building a professional brand in the disability sector.

One conference keynote can reach hundreds of decision-makers, build your credibility overnight, and generate referrals, partnerships and opportunities that take years to build through other means.

Here’s how to get there.

Starting where you are

You don’t start with a keynote. You start with whatever stage is available to you right now.

  • A team meeting where you present your perspective on a sector issue
  • A webinar for your organisation’s stakeholders
  • A local industry meetup or networking event
  • A podcast guest appearance
  • A panel at a regional conference

Every one of these is a rep. You’re building the skill, the confidence, and the track record simultaneously. Don’t be shy either, many event organisers are looking for presenters and subject matter experts, ask for a chance to talk and then nail the talk. Rinse. Repeat. One good speaking opportunity typically turns into another speaking opportunity. 

What conference organisers are looking for

Conference organisers have one job: fill seats and satisfy attendees. They want speakers who:

  • Have a clear, relevant, differentiated topic
  • Can demonstrate they can deliver (recordings, testimonials, track record)
  • Are known in the sector or known by people who can vouch for them
  • Will promote the event to their own network

Notice that “famous” is not on the list. Organisers are looking for credibility and delivery, not celebrity. Our industry doesn’t have celebrities.

The speaker one-pager

Every professional who wants to speak needs a speaker one-pager. It includes:

  • A professional headshot
  • A short bio (50 words and 150 words versions)
  • 3-5 keynote or session topics with brief descriptions
  • Past speaking engagements or credibility markers
  • Contact details

Create this now, even if you haven’t spoken anywhere yet. Having it ready means you can respond immediately when an opportunity appears.

Proactively pitching yourself

Most speaking opportunities go to the people who ask, not the people who wait.

Identify 5 events in your sector calendar for the next 12 months. Research their submission process or key decision makers. Write a specific session proposal for each one and submit it.

Exercise

Create your speaker one-pager. Then identify one event in the next 6 months and write a session proposal for it.

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