Getting paid to speak is one of the most powerful ways to grow your authority, expand your reach, and attract aligned subscribers and customers. But for many entrepreneurs, the path to paid speaking feels unclear. How do you land quality opportunities, price yourself with confidence, and turn a single talk into long term business growth?
In this episode, I’m joined by Jess Ekstrom, bestselling author, professional keynote speaker, and founder of Mic Drop Workshop. Jess has built a thriving career speaking on stages of all sizes, and she’s pulling back the curtain on what paid speaking really looks like today. We dive into how to price yourself without second guessing, what event planners are actually paying for, and how to use speaking as a strategic lead generation tool rather than a one off opportunity.
We also talk about why pitching from the stage can hurt your credibility, how sharing your mistakes often creates more impact than sharing your wins, and why women are still being paid less to speak. Jess shares practical strategies for negotiating speaking fees, adding non monetary value when budgets are tight, and creating momentum from every speaking engagement. Whether you already have an offer or you’re just exploring speaking for the first time, this conversation will help you see what’s possible and step onto stages with clarity and confidence.
HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:
1️⃣ Speaking Isn’t About Selling Your Business, It’s About Sharing the Lesson – People don’t pay for an elevator pitch. They pay for the universal takeaway from your experience. Your business becomes the story that supports the lesson, not the headline of your talk.
2️⃣ Your Speaking Fee Is Based on Your Knowledge, Not the Size of the Stage – Audience size and talk length don’t determine your rate. Your experience, expertise, and the value of your message do. Some of the highest-paying gigs happen in small rooms.
3️⃣ Every Speaking Gig Can Create Ongoing Business Growth – From bundling your course into your speaking fee to collecting leads with a simple QR code, speaking can fuel your email list, sales, and referrals long after you leave the stage.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Learn more about Jess Ekstrom and Mic Drop Workshop
- Follow Jess on Instagram @jessekstrom
- Watch Jess’s TED Talk
MORE FROM ME
Follow me on Instagram @amyporterfield
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