3 Steps That Landed Me A Recommendation From The White House

I had the pleasure of introducing The Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm onto the stage at Grace Hopper 2024, where she gave me a glowing endorsement on camera (be sure to watch until the end!) This experience felt like a significant milestone in my career.

Why This Moment Was Important

• Uncertainty and Responsibility: As a speaker, you only find out who you’ll be introducing 30 minutes before the event for security reasons, adding a layer of excitement and pressure.

• Trust from the Organisation: Being chosen to introduce such a prominent political figure indicates that the organisation has placed a considerable amount of trust and credibility in you.

• Engaging the Audience: My role involved engaging the audience while making sure everything ran smoothly and on schedule.

When Secretary Granholm took a few moments to express her appreciation, I was relieved it was captured on video, especially for future imposter syndrome moments. It reminded me of a similar compliment Sajid Javid paid me in 2021 as the host for London Tech Week.

How to Land Speaking Gigs?

People often ask how to secure speaking gigs or what makes organisations want to collaborate with you. My answer is simple, it requires:

• Time - as all good things take time.

• Patience - auditions, advice and opportunities can take months to sign off.

• Professionalism- especially when the values don't align or the opportunity falls through.

• Credibility - bring evidence, build your portfolio, practise and share feedback.

• Effective communication - knowing exactly what's required of you is always key.

• Transparency - be honest about what works, doesn't and can be improved.

• Constructive feedback - ask in a start, stop and pause approach, implement to grow.

• Intentional networking - learn, listen and share insights plus show up where you can add value.

• Commitment to continuous improvement.

Takeaway

Success or opportunities like this don’t come overnight, and it’s heartening when leaders take a moment to acknowledge your efforts, especially amidst their busy schedules.

Key Piece of Advice

If you’re looking to land speaking gigs or gain recognition, focus on building your reputation through consistent effort, clear communication, and nurturing relationships within your industry.

So What?

Ultimately, every moment of recognition is a reminder that hard work and dedication can lead to remarkable opportunities. So, keep striving for excellence and remember: you never know who’s watching or when the next big opportunity will arise!

Sonya Barlow is an award-winning entrepreneur, author and presenter who writes about and vlogs her travels, business and lifestyle. She has over 100K followers and works with brands to diversify their luxury travel, lifestyle and business spaces.

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