Schedule
In Person Meetings
Virtual Meetings
Detailed Curriculum
Speechcraft Phase
Module 1: Value Proposition and Target Audience (In-Person after Mainstage)
This module comes first because it helps participants identify the topics and audience(s) that align with their expertise, passion, and value proposition, ensuring they focus their marketing and speaking efforts for maximum impact.
Module 2: Storytelling and Message Structuring (Virtual)
This module teaches participants how to develop and structure stories. Storytelling serves as a core component of their message, which they build on as they refine their talks. The program exposes the cohort to different models and instructors guide participants to determine focus.
Module 3: Developing a Signature Presentation (Virtual)
After understanding target market/message and storytelling, participants begin crafting a core presentation. This module allows focus on creating a polished, cohesive segment.
Module 4: Masterful Stage Presence (In-Person)
This module establishes the basics of stage presence, helping participants feel confident and grounded. Understanding how to hold oneself on stage is a foundation for all speaking skills. A humor overview will be included in this session, as well as 5-minute intervals of stage time for each participant.
Module 5: Audience Engagement Techniques for In-Person and Virtual (Virtual)
With a core presentation in hand, participants learn to better read and engage with their audiences. Knowing how to engage an audience elevates the quality of delivery.
Module 6: Crafting Memorable Takeaways (Virtual)
With the elements of structure, engagement, and customization in place, participants are now ready to focus on leaving a lasting impact, including visual impact. This module will teach them to refine takeaways and ensure that the message has staying power. Participants translate their takeaways into written points to easily share with potential clients.
Virtual Presentation Week: No Curriculum Delivery
Participants deliver a 10-minute virtual version of their presentations and gain valuable feedback from instructors, cohort members and coaches.
Business-Building Phase
Module 7: Strategic Positioning for Professional Speakers (Virtual)
To help participants define and communicate a unique position in the speaking marketplace, stand out from competitors, resonate with a target audience, and clearly articulate value for clients.
Module 8: Building a Speaker Marketing Toolkit (Virtual)
With a clear brand identity, participants develop practical materials needed to support their speaking business. This toolkit is essential for reaching and attracting the right clients - including documentation of assets acquired during the Speaker Academy experience. Examples:
- Speaker one-sheet
- Professional bio template
- Proposal template
- Talk description template
- Contract template
- eSpeakers profile setup
- And more assets for participants to continue to develop after Speaker Academy Graduation
Module 9: Sales, Pricing, and Negotiation Skills (Virtual)
After learning how to identify speaking opportunities, participants learn how to price their services and negotiate contracts effectively. These are key skills to building a sustainable business.
Module 10: Business Management and Strategic Outreach (Virtual)
With a brand and toolkit in hand, participants now begin to identify and approach potential clients. This module provides strategies to find and engage prospects, equipping participants with templates for outreach. A focus of this module is effectively managing operations. Time management and delegation best practices are incorporated to scale business without getting overwhelmed.
Dress Rehearsal (In-Person)
Participants meet in-person to practice their speeches on-stage. Filming of the dress rehearsal and on the spot feedback is included to make final preparation for the Showcase performance.
Showcase and Graduation (In-Person)
Participants deliver the talk they've been designing and practicing during the entire Speaker Academy program in front of a live audience. The presentation is recorded and shot with three cameras.
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