THE CODE
How to Create Your Own Speaking Opportunities
If you are like me, you have a vision for 2026 ready to go. If part of that vision is finally stepping onto a stage—virtual or in-person—and having your expertise heard, then today’s newsletter is for you.
The truth is: most speaking opportunities won’t come from waiting to be discovered. Organizers are busy, inboxes are full, and the default pipeline still favors the loudest (often male) voices. The fastest way to get seen as the authority you already are? Stop waiting to be picked. Start creating your own stages.
You don’t need permission. You need a plan—and a bias for action.
Here’s how to manufacture your own speaking momentum, starting this week.
1. Host Your Own Virtual Fireside or Panel (Yes, Really)
The easiest stage to control is the one you build yourself.
This week’s action: Schedule and host a 45-minute live conversation on a topic you know cold.
Steps:
Pick a focused topic you can speak on for 20–30 minutes without notes (e.g., “Lessons from Scaling ML Models in Production,” “Navigating Bias in Data Science Teams,” “What I Wish I Knew About Patenting in Biotech”).
Invite 2–3 colleagues or connections as co-panelists or simply interview one person whose work you admire.
Use free tools: LinkedIn Live, Zoom webinar, Riverside, or StreamYard.
Promote it lightly: Post on LinkedIn, share in 2–3 relevant Slack communities or Women-in-Tech groups, and DM 10 people directly.
Record it. That recording becomes your on-demand talk and future pitch asset.
Why this works: You bypass gatekeepers, practice live delivery in a low-stakes environment, and instantly have social proof (“I recently hosted a session on…”).
Goal for this week: Have the event on your calendar and at least 5 RSVPs.
2. Launch a Short “Lunch & Learn” Series at Your Company
Internal stages count—and they often lead to external ones faster than you think.
This week’s action: Pitch and schedule one 30-minute internal talk for January.
Steps:
Identify a pain point or new trend your team/department could benefit from hearing about.
Draft a simple 3-sentence email pitch to your manager or ERG lead: “I’d love to share a 30-minute overview of [topic] and how it impacts our roadmap. Are you open to me running a lunch & learn in January?”
Prepare 10–12 slides max. Reuse content from blog posts, past projects, or even this newsletter topic.
Record it (with permission) for your portfolio.
Internal talks build confidence, get you comfortable with Q&A, and give you a credible credit to list when pitching external events (“I recently presented this topic to 80 engineers at [Company]”).
Goal for this week: Send the pitch email and secure a date.
3. Turn Existing Content into Bite-Sized Talks
You already have “big enough” ideas—they’re in your notebooks, Notion pages, and past PRs.
This week’s action: Create and publish one 5–10 minute recorded talk.
Steps:
Choose one specific lesson, framework, or case study you’ve lived through.
Script it loosely (aim for 800–1,200 words).
Record yourself delivering it on video (phone + quiet room works fine). Use Loom, Riverside, or even LinkedIn’s native video.
Post it publicly on LinkedIn with a clear title: “How We Reduced Latency 40%—A 7-Minute Breakdown.”
Add it to a simple speaker one-pager (Google Doc or Carrd) that you can link in your bio.
This becomes evergreen proof of your speaking ability and a magnet for organizers looking for fresh voices.
Goal for this week: Publish the video and update your LinkedIn profile with the link.
4. Offer to Speak —Strategically
Not every opportunity needs to be a big conference. The goal right now is reps and recordings.
This week’s action: Reach out to 5 smaller communities or meetups with a specific offer.
Steps:
Find niche groups: local Women in Tech chapters, university alumni groups, Slack communities, Discord servers, or early-stage meetups in your domain.
Send a short, helpful message: “Hi [Name], I’m a [role] at [company] and recently led [brief credible thing]. I’d love to share a 20-minute talk on [specific topic] with your group in Q1—no fee needed. Happy to send a short clip if helpful.”
Attach or link your new 5–10 minute recording.
Small stages compound quickly. One yes often leads to referrals.
Goal for this week: Send 5 personalized outreach messages.
You don’t need a viral TED Talk to start being seen as a thought leader. You need one talk, then another, then five more. Each one makes the next easier.
At WitVoices Speaker Lab, we remove the guesswork. Our members get four guaranteed conference placements each year, weekly practice stages, pitch reviews, and a network that actively recommends one another.
You have the expertise. The world just needs to hear it from you—on your terms.
Take one action from the list above this week. Then hit reply and tell me which one you chose. I read every response.
THE RUN
🎬 3 Actions to Create Your First Speaking Opportunity
No excuses—these are quick, high-impact moves you can knock out before the weekend. Pick one (or all three) and build real momentum.
1. Schedule Your Own 45-Minute Virtual Session Create the stage yourself.
2. Pitch an Internal Lunch & Learn Your company is the perfect low-risk starting point.
3. Record and Publish a 5–10 Minute Talk Instant proof you’re a speaker.
Pick your action, get it done, then hit reply and tell me which one you chose—I’ll cheer you on.
You’re ready. Go claim your stage.
THE WRAP
✋Before you go:
We are Brunching this weekend! Join us: https://community.sfwit.org/events/B75486
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🌞 Keep Shining,
Barkha
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