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Sharing your voice on stage is more than just getting out there and speaking—it can be a way to amplify the impact on your knowledge and work, build authority, and strengthen your professional network and skills. Yet for many, the leap into public speaking feels overwhelming, especially when aiming to stand out at international conferences.
In a recent Women in Marketing – Bulgaria webinar on Public Speaking, we had the privilege of talking to an incredible panel of professionals, amongst which some international speakers and conference and webinar organisers, with whom we explored the essentials of kick-starting a successful speaking career.
In this blog post, we’ll unpack the core lessons from the webinar, giving you the tools to take your speaking career to the next level, including a summary of the tips from expert-led discussions on:
Throughout this resource, we’ll be referencing the insights from these incredible women, shared in the webinar or in follow-up discussions:
Organising your pitch is the first step in applying to speak at events, and the most important one to build a successful public speaking career. In this section, based on Giulia’s advice from the webinar, we’ll cover everything you need to know about putting together a strong pitch, including what materials you’ll need and how to tailor your approach for different conferences.
When we talk about pitching, we are referring to preparing your application to speak at an event. While every conference has its own application form, most will ask for the following essentials:
For many first-time speakers, picking a topic can feel intimidating. The best approach according to Giulia? Combine your expertise with your passions.
If you’re stuck on what to present, think about your unique experiences or insights. Even if your audience is familiar with the topic, your perspective adds value. And remember, it’s okay to avoid overly familiar topics if they don’t excite you—stressful experiences like public speaking are easier to tackle when you’re genuinely interested in the subject.
Your bio should highlight your expertise in a way that supports your talk. Focus on what’s relevant to your chosen topic:
When it comes to your pitch:
To discover speaking opportunities, search for “call for speakers” alongside your field of expertise (e.g., SEO). Some conferences update their calls annually, so keep an eye out. Local meetups are also excellent platforms for gaining experience.
Don’t wait until you feel “ready” to pitch—you may never feel 100% prepared, and that’s okay. The key is to start. Submit your pitch, learn from any feedback, and improve as you go. Remember, rejection isn’t personal; it’s often about the event’s specific needs or focus that year.
Keep a record of your pitches and refine them for future opportunities. Many topics can be repurposed with slight adjustments, increasing your chances of success. Pitching is a valuable exercise that not only builds your public speaking skills but also helps expand your professional network. So take the plunge and start pitching—you’ve got this!
Action steps:
One last ‘golden tip’, as Kirstie so correctly put it:
When you submit a pitch, the first thing organizers see is your name and talk title. Speaking from experience as someone who reviews submissions for HeapCon, Iva highlighted that it’s the initial impressions that matter the most. Conference organisers don’t dive into the topic description right away; the title and description are what draw them in first.
So, what makes a pitch stand out, according to Iva Jovanovic? Let’s break it down.
Whether it’s the selection committee or the event team, we’re always looking for something unique—a fresh perspective or insight. While it’s important to cover relevant industry topics, it’s even better if you can offer a new angle or combine ideas across disciplines. For example, in marketing and tech, many subjects overlap. Standing out means presenting something the audience won’t hear every day.
Ask yourself:
Remember, you’re not just delivering information; you’re sharing your expertise and insight.
Before submitting, research the conference. Most events archive previous talks on their websites or YouTube channels. Take time to review past sessions to avoid pitching a topic that’s already been covered. Organizers prefer new, innovative content, so showing that you’ve done your homework will work in your favor.
Also, avoid turning your pitch into a sales presentation. You’re not selling a product; you’re selling yourself as a speaker. Show how your talk will bring value to the audience by solving problems or providing actionable insights.
Creativity is key, especially when crafting your talk title. A compelling title doesn’t just describe the talk; it grabs attention. Think outside the box and infuse your personality into it—your talk is an extension of you, after all. Some of the best speakers in the marketing and tech industries incorporate their unique style right into the title and talk itself.
And don’t be afraid to have fun with it! A creative title can intrigue both organizers and attendees, making your session a must-see.
The more detail you provide in your pitch, the better. Event organizers sift through hundreds of applications, so a vague or overly brief description won’t cut it. Use every word limit wisely:
If your talk involves interactive elements, mention that. Interactive sessions often engage audiences better, making them highly attractive to organizers. Whether it’s live polling, audience Q&A, or hands-on activities, these elements can make your pitch stand out.
Reusing a talk across different events? That’s fine! But you’ll need to tailor it to fit the specific conference and its audience. Every conference has a unique focus, so adapting your talk ensures it resonates.
By tailoring your content, you’re not only showing professionalism but also increasing your chances of being selected.
The key to a successful pitch is blending relevance, uniqueness, and creativity. Give organizers a clear picture of what your talk will cover, why it matters, and how it will engage the audience. And above all, remember to be yourself. Your personal touch is what makes your pitch—and ultimately your talk—memorable.
Pitching isn’t just about landing a speaking spot; it’s an opportunity to share your expertise with a new audience and grow as a speaker. So, research, refine, and go for it!
To also add a final note to this section, here’s a couple of important points from Kirstie:
Conference organisers are always striving to do better and understand the speaker experience, so if you have constructive feedback, they welcome receiving it.
Being a good speaker has nothing to do with how skilled you are at your job, according to Jojo Furnival.
Public speaking is an entirely different skill set, one that takes time and dedication to master. In fact, some of the most compelling speakers are early in their careers, outshining seasoned professionals. So, what sets a great speaker apart?
Here are the key elements from Jojo’s perspective:
Charisma is often considered innate, but Jojo disagrees—it’s something you can cultivate. The key is making a genuine connection with your audience. Here are some ways to do that:
Whether on stage or online, self-awareness is critical. You need to gauge how your audience and fellow panelists are responding to you.
To illustrate, Jojo highlights a situation, in which a webinar speaker who dominated the session, talked over others and ignored cues essentially failed to notice that they were losing the audience. Lesson being, read the room—know when to step back and when to adjust your approach.
Jojo clarified that this isn’t about language proficiency; it’s about clarity and conciseness. Rambling will lose your audience. The best speakers, like Sam Torres and Luke Hy, deliver their points succinctly. This skill comes with practice, so focus on honing it over time.
Energy is vital in keeping your audience engaged. The way you use body language, facial expressions, tone, and pacing can significantly impact your delivery. Aleyda Solis is an expert at this, injecting vitality into her talks. Relaxation also plays a role; a stiff delivery can be off-putting, especially on camera.
Finally, the old adage holds true: practice makes perfect. The more you practise, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become.
Take advantage of these opportunities, and remember: great speakers are made, not born.
Delivering a stellar talk goes beyond presenting information—it’s about cultivating thought leadership and building your personal brand. Thought leadership can elevate your career, positioning you as an expert while generating inbound leads and internal credibility.
Here’s how to develop a winning presentation, according to the insights Navah Hopkins shared on the webinar:
Passion makes your talk engaging and memorable. Whether you’re speaking about marketing, business development, or data, framing your content through a lens that excites you will captivate your audience.
For example, Navah once gave a talk comparing video game characters from Baldur’s Gate to paid search and social strategies. It reflected her brand—energetic, nerdy, and authentic. As she has pinned it: “I am adorkable.”
Your brand might be different. What matters is that it’s genuine and relatable.
That’s part of the process. Iterate until your content flows smoothly.
For organising your deck, Navah shared the following key tips on structure:
Good design enhances your message. Here’s how to keep your slides visually effective:
According to Navah, GIFs, video, and music all represent risk – if you can roll with any tech hiccups, feel free to use them, but don’t rely on them.
Energy is crucial to keep your audience engaged. Whether you prefer listening to power metal before a talk or pacing the stage to keep your delivery dynamic, find what works for you.
Consider the cultural context of your audience. ‘Audience participation is market dependent.’, as Navah highlighted. Humor and interactive elements resonate differently depending on the location and demographic.
Before you go live, do a rough run-through with two types of reviewers:
The process of acing your talk involves iteration, practice, and authenticity. From refining your deck to aligning with your personal brand, every detail contributes to making your presentation a success. Thought leadership isn’t just about sharing knowledge; it’s about creating a lasting impression.
Listen to music or recordings that make you feel confident, or pull together the positive feedback from others as a way to empower yourself. For example, Giulia listens to an empowering intro from a podcast that praises her work, which helps boost her self-belief before stepping on stage.
Jojo implements a similar tactic but via a customised confidence folder. Collect positive feedback and encouraging comments in a digital folder titled “Imposter Syndrome.” When nerves hit, you can review these affirmations to remind yourself of your worth and abilities.
Kirstie advises people to focus on perfecting the first 1-2 minutes of your presentation, an advice she was taught by Judith Lewis. Knowing you’ve nailed the opening helps ease the tension and allows the rest of your talk to flow more smoothly.
Keep in mind that you’re the only person who knows exactly what you’re going to say. If something goes off-track, only you know the intended message, so don’t stress about minor mistakes.
One powerful technique that Tazmin Suleman shared with us after the webinar is the BRAVE technique, which she highly recommends to implement before going on stage, or whenever you feel overwhelmed regarding any step of your public speaking journey.
BRAVE stands for Breathe, Reframe, Affirm, Visualise, Energise, and it’s a great tool whenever you feel nervous or overwhelmed.
By following the BRAVE technique, you can shift your mindset and approach your presentation with composure, making the whole experience more enjoyable and effective.
If you’re serious about mastering public speaking, there are plenty of resources to guide you. Here’re the ones our expert panel recommended to dig into first:
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