Hope-Driven Leader Libby Gill
Recently, I had the chance to chat with Libby Gill, a wonderful woman and a fantastic keynote speaker whom I met back in my bureau days. We wanted to share our conversation with you as, in my view, Libby is one of a few women who have "cracked the code" of...
The Fierce Entrepreneur Podcast
Last week, my interview with The Fierce Entrepreneur Podcast was released. I shared a bit about my post-Stanford journey from an aerial acrobat (who without any prior experience turned heads on Cirque du Soleil's talent recruitment team) to event producer...
What are women’s voices worth?
In between my junior and senior year of college, I spent a very hot and humid summer doing research at Princeton University. My research topic was the life's work of Czech artist and the father of Art Nouveau, Alfons Mucha. Not particularly life-altering for the world...
5 things that every successful speaker’s website needs
Do you know just how many speakers I've met that don't have a clue what event planners are looking for once we get to your website?Sadly, a lot!Event planners are time-crunched and patience-poor, and speakers bureaus and talent buyers are even worse. So the quicker...
Genius in Simplicity
"Everything genius is simple." So says one of my favorite Russian proverbs. But let's not confuse "simple" with rudimentary. Simple doesn't always mean basic. It doesn't mean that it's not well thought-out or cleverly designed. In fact, more than likely, you'll find...
The Myth of Being Discovered
Almost everyone has heard the "rags to riches" urban myths and legends about how big-name Hollywood stars got "discovered" -- literally picked out of a crowd in some random place, purely thanks to a chance encounter. True serendipity. Natalie Portman was approached...
Up From The Ashes
On rising up from the ashes: When you first make a leap without a net, all you can think of at first is, "Holy sh*t! What if I fail?" Then you instantly realize that this is the crucial moment where you have to make the most important choice of your life: FLY or FAIL....
When It’s Do-Or-Die
My business & life changed when I left my job at the speakers' bureau, because it was do-or-die. Instead of following the traditional bureau model, I joined forces with two thought leaders to work together independently, to help them grow the speaking part of...
Nothing Is Worse Than Waiting or Chasing
There's a Russian proverb that says: "Ху́же нет -- ждать да догоня́ть." The translation means, "Nothing is worse than waiting or chasing." This goes equally for someone who's wanting to get started speaking, and also for someone who's looking for speakers. Event...
A Common Mistaken Assumption About the Industry
Before the end of the year, I wanted to help you set the record straight on a very commonly-held (and mistaken) assumption about the speaking industry. I often hear a lot of new speakers say, "I want to find a speakers' bureau to represent me." That's not what...