For many executives, the skills that drove their success in leadership can translate well to the stage as a professional speaker. We at ImpactEleven have seen this transformation firsthand, having guided leaders at all levels — from small business owners and startup founders to corporate divisional leaders and Fortune 500 VPs – in building thriving professional speaking practices.
Whether you're an active executive looking to expand your impact or a former leader ready for your next chapter, professional speaking offers a unique opportunity to leverage your experience and bring all you’ve learned to help others find more success.
The executive advantage within professional speaking
What makes executives particularly well-suited to enter the world of professional speaking? Throughout their careers, they've developed the very qualities that audiences crave: deep industry insight, proven leadership experience and the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly. Plus, when a company is running a sales kick-off or leadership meeting, they always value people who have “been there done that” over those who only share conceptual ideas.
Beyond that, executives bring crucial business acumen to the table. They intuitively understand the fundamentals of building a successful speaking practice: brand building, lead generation, natural skills on a sales call, maintaining professional relationships and investing in growth. In other words, they already speak the language of business — a major advantage in an industry where being an excellent speaker is only one part of the equation.
The value of professional speaking
Professional speaking isn't just about time on stage — it's a versatile platform that can serve multiple objectives for both active and former executives. Here are a few examples:
For active executives:
- Build brand awareness and visibility for your current company
- Generate additional revenue streams through selective speaking engagements
- Establish thought leadership in your industry
- Strengthen your personal brand for future career opportunities
For former executives:
- Create a sustainable, high-value business model
- Share hard-won wisdom with the next generation of leaders
- Tap into your creative energy to build something new that’s all your own
- Continue generating income based on your deep expertise
Speaking is more than a skill — it’s a strategic asset. Whether you’re using it to elevate your current role or build something entirely your own, it’s a powerful way to create impact, generate opportunities and share your expertise with the world.
Finding your unique voice
One of the most crucial elements of a successful speaking career is developing a distinctive point of view. Executives have already developed deep expertise and expansive career experiences, each of which offer a solid starting point. For example, we work closely with executives to identify their unique value proposition by:
- Mining their career experiences for powerful stories and insights
- Identifying the intersection between their expertise and market demand for paid speakers
- Crafting a message that resonates with event planners and audiences
- Developing presentation frameworks that deliver consistent value
All of this to say, as an executive, you have a head start — your wealth of experience, leadership insights, and industry expertise provide a strong foundation for a compelling message. The key is shaping that into a message that stands out and connects.
Success in professional speaking
Our client roster demonstrates that impactful speaking careers can emerge from diverse leadership backgrounds. Mark Fava, former VP at Boeing, brings valuable insights from his experience in aerospace leadership. Sheri Jacobs leverages her expertise as CEO of Avenue M Group to connect with association audiences, while Mike Rose draws from his experience founding and leading Mojo Media to speak about entrepreneurship and innovation.
We've also worked with leaders from globally recognized brands, such as Chris Barton (founder of Shazam) and Duncan Wardle (former head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney), demonstrating that speaking opportunities exist at every level of corporate leadership. Whether you led a division at a Fortune 500 company or built a successful regional business, your experience has value for audiences seeking authentic leadership insights.
For executives considering professional speaking, the key is to approach it strategically. Whether you're looking to speak occasionally to raise your profile or build a full-fledged speaking business, success comes from:
- Clearly defining your goals and desired outcomes
- Understanding the speaking marketplace and where you fit
- Developing content that delivers real value to audiences
- Building a support system to handle the business aspects
Great speakers come from all kinds of leadership backgrounds. With clear goals, valuable content, a strategic mindset and the right support, executives can turn their experience into a speaking career that creates real impact.
The energy of impact
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of professional speaking is the immediate impact you can have on audiences. Many of our clients report that the energy of live speaking rivals or exceeds the excitement of their executive roles. It's a unique opportunity to directly influence and inspire others while building a sustainable business around your experience and expertise.
For many executives, speaking becomes more than just a platform — it’s a new way to lead. The impact doesn’t stop when you leave the stage; it carries forward in the actions of those who hear you. Whether you're inspiring change, driving innovation or helping others navigate challenges, professional speaking allows you to extend your leadership beyond your industry and into the world.
Ready to take the stage?
If you're an executive considering professional speaking as your next step, we're here to help. With our proven track record of guiding leaders from the boardroom to the big stage, we can help you navigate this exciting transition while maximizing the value of your unique experience and perspective.
The stage is set. Are you ready to share your story?