Business Growth Speakers

A business growth speaker is someone who specializes in delivering talks, workshops, or presentations focused on strategies that help businesses scale, increase revenue, and improve operational efficiency. These speakers are often entrepreneurs, consultants, or executives with hands-on experience growing companies across different industries.

Unlike general motivational speakers, business growth speakers focus on actionable insights. They might break down go-to-market strategies, customer acquisition funnels, or pricing models. Their talks are often data-driven, filled with case studies, and tailored to the audience's stage of business.

You'll find these speakers at virtual summits, corporate retreats, startup accelerators, and podcasts. For example, someone like April Dunford might speak about positioning for growth in B2B SaaS, while someone else might focus on scaling brick-and-mortar operations in emerging markets.

Their role isn't just to inform - it's to equip. Whether it's a keynote at a global tech conference or a guest spot on a niche podcast, their goal is to help listeners walk away with strategies they can implement immediately.

In short, a business growth speaker is a subject matter expert who communicates growth strategies in a way that's engaging, relevant, and results-oriented.

When you're trying to scale a business, the right insight at the right time can change everything. That's where a business growth speaker comes in - they bring clarity, direction, and momentum to teams and founders who are ready to level up.

First, they offer an outside perspective. Internal teams can get stuck in echo chambers. A business growth speaker brings fresh frameworks and proven strategies from other industries or markets. For example, a speaker who helped scale a DTC brand in South Korea might offer tactics that a US-based e-commerce startup hasn't considered.

Second, they compress years of experience into a single session. Instead of spending months testing different growth levers, your audience can learn what works - and what doesn't - in under an hour. That's a huge ROI.

Third, they inspire action. While consultants might deliver a 50-page report, a speaker energizes a room. They make growth feel achievable. That emotional shift can be the catalyst for real change.

Finally, they help align teams. Whether it's a founder-led startup or a Fortune 500 division, hearing a unified message about growth can bring everyone onto the same page. It's not just about ideas - it's about shared momentum.

So if you're hosting an event, running a summit, or producing a podcast, bringing in a business growth speaker isn't just a nice-to-have. It's a strategic move that can drive real results.

Business growth speakers deliver targeted, high-impact presentations that help individuals and organizations understand how to scale effectively. But their role goes far beyond just talking on stage.

They research and tailor content. Before stepping in front of an audience, a business growth speaker studies the audience's industry, challenges, and growth stage. A talk for early-stage solopreneurs in Latin America will look very different from one aimed at enterprise leaders in Europe.

They simplify complex strategies. Whether it's breaking down customer lifetime value, explaining CAC-to-LTV ratios, or mapping out a multi-channel acquisition funnel, these speakers make tough concepts digestible. Think of someone like Neil Patel explaining SEO growth tactics in plain English - that's the level of clarity they aim for.

They share real-world case studies. Business growth speakers often draw from their own experience or from companies they've worked with. For instance, they might explain how a local service business in Canada used referral programs to triple revenue in six months.

They engage and interact. Great speakers don't just lecture - they involve the audience. That could mean live Q&A, polls, or even on-the-spot coaching. This makes their sessions more dynamic and memorable.

They follow up with resources. Many business growth speakers offer tools, templates, or follow-up materials to help attendees implement what they've learned. Some even offer office hours or consulting sessions post-event.

In essence, business growth speakers are educators, strategists, and motivators rolled into one - delivering value that lasts long after the mic is turned off.

Becoming a business growth speaker isn't just about having a great story or a few wins under your belt. It's about building a platform, developing a message that resonates, and knowing how to deliver it in a way that drives action. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Define Your Niche and Message.
- Business growth is a broad topic. Are you focused on scaling startups, optimizing corporate systems, or helping solopreneurs hit their first six figures?
- Your message should be clear, repeatable, and backed by results. Think of it as your signature talk.

2. Build Credibility.
- Publish thought leadership content: blogs, LinkedIn posts, podcasts.
- Get featured on other people's platforms. Use Talks.co to connect with podcast hosts and virtual event organizers looking for experts.

3. Create a Speaker Page.
- This is your digital resume. Include a bio, headshot, sample topics, testimonials, and a demo video if possible.
- Tools like Talks.co make it easy to build and share your speaker page with event organizers.

4. Practice and Refine.
- Start small: local meetups, webinars, or virtual summits.
- Record every talk. Review your delivery, pacing, and audience engagement.

5. Get Booked Consistently.
- Join speaker directories and virtual event platforms.
- Pitch yourself to podcasts, summits, and conferences. Use your speaker page as your pitch asset.
- Build relationships with event hosts. A good experience can lead to referrals and repeat gigs.

Remember, the key is consistency. The more you speak, the better you get, and the more opportunities come your way.

To be a business growth speaker, you need more than just a good idea or a few successful ventures. You need a combination of expertise, communication skills, and strategic positioning. Let's break it down:

1. Subject Matter Expertise
Business growth speakers are expected to bring real value to the table. That means:
- A proven track record of scaling businesses, improving operations, or driving revenue.
- Deep understanding of growth strategies like customer acquisition, retention, product-market fit, or team scaling.
- Case studies or data to support your insights.

2. Communication Skills
You need to be able to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable insights. That includes:
- Public speaking skills: pacing, tone, storytelling, and audience engagement.
- The ability to adapt your message to different audiences: startup founders, corporate teams, or global entrepreneurs.

3. A Platform and Presence
You need to be discoverable and credible:
- Build a speaker page on platforms like Talks.co. It acts as your digital portfolio.
- Publish content regularly: blogs, videos, or podcasts.
- Engage with your audience on LinkedIn, Twitter, or niche communities.

4. Networking and Outreach
You won't get booked if no one knows you exist:
- Use Talks.co to connect with virtual event organizers and podcast hosts.
- Attend industry events, even virtually, to build relationships.

5. A Clear Offer
What exactly do you speak about? What outcomes can organizers expect? Define your signature topics and make sure they align with what your target audience is looking for.

In short, being a business growth speaker is about combining expertise with visibility. It's not just what you know, but how well you can share it and who knows you do it.

Yes, business growth speakers do get paid, but how much and how often depends on several factors like experience, audience size, and format. Let's dig into the details.
1. Paid vs. Unpaid Opportunities
- Paid gigs: Keynotes at major conferences, corporate training sessions, and sponsored webinars often come with a speaker fee.
- Unpaid gigs: Podcasts, virtual summits, and community events may not pay upfront but can lead to leads, exposure, and backend revenue.
2. Factors That Influence Payment
- Experience and reputation: A speaker with a bestselling book or a viral TEDx talk can command higher fees.
- Audience size and budget: A Fortune 500 company will likely pay more than a local chamber of commerce.
- Format: In-person keynotes tend to pay more than virtual panels or podcasts.
3. Data Snapshot

Speaker Type	Typical Fee Range
New Speaker	$0 - $1,000
Mid-Level Speaker	$1,000 - $5,000
High-Demand Speaker	$5,000 - $25,000+

4. The Value of Free Gigs
Even unpaid opportunities can be profitable if they:
- Lead to consulting clients.
- Drive traffic to your products or services.
- Build your authority in a niche.
So yes, business growth speakers do get paid, but the real pros know how to turn every stage into a revenue opportunity, whether there's a check involved or not.

Business growth speakers make money in several ways, and it's not just about the speaking fee. Let's break down the revenue streams:

1. Speaking Fees
- Keynotes, panels, and workshops at conferences or corporate events.
- Virtual summits and webinars, especially when sponsored.

2. Consulting and Coaching
- Many speakers use their talks to attract clients for high-ticket consulting or coaching programs.
- Example: A speaker on SaaS growth might land a $10k/month retainer after a single talk.

3. Online Courses and Digital Products
- Courses, templates, or toolkits related to business growth strategies.
- These can be promoted during or after a talk.

4. Affiliate and Partner Offers
- Recommending tools or services during talks and earning commissions.
- Works well in virtual events and podcasts.

5. Book Sales and Licensing
- Publishing a book can boost credibility and generate passive income.
- Some speakers license their content to companies for internal training.

6. Hosting Events or Summits
- Using platforms like Zoom, speakers can host their own virtual events.
- Revenue comes from ticket sales, sponsorships, and upsells.

7. Retainers and Long-Term Engagements
- Some companies hire speakers as ongoing advisors or board members.
- These roles often come with equity or monthly fees.

In short, the best business growth speakers treat their speaking platform as a business engine, not just a stage.

The income of business growth speakers varies widely, depending on their experience, audience, and business model. Let's look at the numbers and what influences them.
1. Speaking Fees by Experience
- Beginner: $0 - $1,000 per talk. Often unpaid or compensated with exposure.
- Intermediate: $1,000 - $5,000 per talk. Typically includes regional conferences or niche summits.
- Advanced: $5,000 - $25,000+ per talk. These are seasoned speakers with a strong brand.
2. Additional Revenue Streams
Many speakers earn more from backend offers than from the speaking fee itself:
- A $2,000 talk that leads to $20,000 in consulting.
- A free podcast appearance that sells 100 copies of a $97 course.
3. Annual Income Estimates

Speaker Level	Talks/Year	Avg. Fee	Est. Income (Speaking Only)
Beginner	10	$500	$5,000
Intermediate	25	$2,500	$62,500
Advanced	40	$10,000	$400,000

4. Variables That Affect Income
- Niche demand: Growth speakers in tech or finance often earn more.
- Audience size: Bigger platforms mean more exposure and higher fees.
- Personal brand: A strong online presence can justify premium rates.
So while some business growth speakers make a modest side income, others build six- or seven-figure businesses around their speaking careers.

Hiring a business growth speaker can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, depending on several factors. Let's break it down.
1. Cost Ranges by Speaker Tier

Speaker Tier	Cost Range	Description
Emerging	$0 - $1,000	New speakers or those building a portfolio
Mid-Level	$1,000 - $5,000	Some experience, niche authority
High-Profile	$5,000 - $25,000+	Well-known experts or authors

2. Factors That Influence Cost
- Event Type: Corporate keynotes cost more than community webinars.
- Format: In-person events often require travel and prep time.
- Customization: Tailored content or workshops increase the fee.
- Duration: A 90-minute workshop costs more than a 20-minute panel.
3. Virtual vs. In-Person
- Virtual talks are typically 30-50% cheaper.
- Some speakers offer discounted rates for online summits or podcasts.
4. Hidden Costs to Consider
- Travel and accommodation (if not included).
- Licensing fees for recorded content.
- Post-event consulting or follow-up sessions.
5. Where to Find Speakers
- Platforms like Talks.co let you browse speaker profiles, check availability, and request quotes directly.
Ultimately, the cost depends on the value the speaker brings. A $10,000 speaker who helps your team unlock a $1M growth strategy is a solid investment.

- Peter Drucker: Often called the father of modern management, Drucker's insights on innovation and entrepreneurship have shaped generations of business leaders.
- Jim Collins: Author of 'Good to Great', Collins has influenced how companies think about sustainable growth and disciplined leadership.
- Tony Robbins: While known for personal development, Robbins has coached countless entrepreneurs and executives on scaling businesses.
- Zig Ziglar: A legendary speaker whose teachings on sales and motivation laid the groundwork for modern growth strategies.
- Tom Peters: Co-author of 'In Search of Excellence', Peters has been a vocal advocate for innovation and customer-centric growth.
- Brian Tracy: With decades of experience in sales and business development, Tracy's talks have helped thousands grow their companies.
- Jay Abraham: Known for his strategic thinking, Abraham has helped businesses across industries unlock exponential growth.
- Michael Gerber: Author of 'The E-Myth', Gerber's frameworks for systematizing small businesses are still widely used.
- Seth Godin: A marketing visionary whose ideas on tribes, permission marketing, and brand growth are globally respected.
- Stephen Covey: Though more focused on leadership, Covey's principles have been foundational for business growth cultures.

- Simon Sinek (UK/USA): Known for 'Start With Why', Sinek speaks globally on leadership and purpose-driven growth.
- Verne Harnish (USA): Founder of EO and author of 'Scaling Up', Harnish is a go-to expert for fast-growing companies.
- Daniel Priestley (Australia/UK): Author of 'Key Person of Influence', Priestley helps entrepreneurs scale through personal branding and systems.
- Marie Forleo (USA): A dynamic speaker and entrepreneur, Forleo teaches creative entrepreneurs how to grow with clarity and confidence.
- Alex Hormozi (USA): Known for his no-fluff approach to scaling businesses, Hormozi speaks on acquisition, monetization, and systems.
- Dorie Clark (USA): A Harvard Business Review contributor, Clark speaks on long-term thinking and strategic growth.
- Robin Sharma (Canada): Best known for 'The 5AM Club', Sharma blends personal mastery with business leadership.
- Nir Eyal (USA/Israel): Author of 'Hooked' and 'Indistractable', Eyal speaks on behavioral design and product growth.
- Whitney Johnson (USA): A former Wall Street analyst, Johnson speaks on disruptive innovation and scaling talent.
- Lars Silberbauer (Denmark): Former Global Director of Digital at LEGO, Silberbauer shares insights on brand growth and digital transformation.

Myth 1: Business growth speakers are just motivational cheerleaders.
This one's common, especially among skeptics. People often assume that business growth speakers are all hype and no substance. But if you look at speakers like Verne Harnish or Jay Abraham, you'll see that their talks are packed with frameworks, data, and proven strategies. They're not just telling you to 'believe in yourself'-they're breaking down systems for scaling operations, optimizing customer acquisition, and increasing lifetime value.

Myth 2: You need to have built a billion-dollar company to be a credible business growth speaker.
Not true. While some speakers do come from unicorn startups, many highly respected voices in this space have grown mid-sized businesses or helped others scale through consulting or coaching. What matters more is your ability to communicate growth strategies that work. For example, someone who helped 50 small businesses double their revenue in under two years has a lot to teach-even if they haven't IPO'd.

Myth 3: Business growth speakers only talk to corporate audiences.
Actually, many of them tailor their content to startups, solopreneurs, and even non-profits. Take someone like Melinda Emerson, who focuses on small business growth. Her talks are laser-focused on grassroots strategies-perfect for entrepreneurs in emerging markets or rural areas.

Myth 4: Speaking is just a side hustle for consultants.
While that's true for some, others make speaking their primary business model. They build entire ecosystems around their talks-books, courses, masterminds, and events. It's a full-fledged business, not just a marketing tool.

Myth 5: You have to be extroverted to succeed as a business growth speaker.
Plenty of introverts thrive in this space. They prepare deeply, deliver with clarity, and connect through substance rather than charisma. Think of someone like Susan Cain-her quiet style resonates because it's authentic and insightful. The same applies in the business growth world. Substance wins over showmanship when the content is strong.

When you think of a successful business growth speaker, your mind might go straight to someone like Gary Vaynerchuk. But let's zoom in on a few different types of success stories that show how diverse this path can be.

Take Tiffani Bova, for example. She started in sales strategy at Gartner and eventually became the Global Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce. Her talks blend research with real-world application, making her a go-to speaker for enterprise audiences. She didn't start on stages-she built her credibility through insights and data, then translated that into compelling keynotes.

Then there's Daniel Priestley. Based in the UK, he built multiple businesses before stepping into the spotlight. His talks focus on the 'entrepreneurial journey' and scaling small businesses into seven-figure operations. What sets him apart is how he combines storytelling with actionable frameworks, like his 'Key Person of Influence' model. His events attract both startup founders and corporate innovators.

In Southeast Asia, Harith Iskander-while primarily known as a comedian-has pivoted into business growth speaking by focusing on creative entrepreneurship. He speaks at incubators and creative economy summits, using humor to break down complex growth strategies for artists and freelancers.

And don't forget about female voices in this space. Entrepreneurs like Rachel Rodgers have carved out a niche by speaking to underrepresented founders. Her talks on scaling service-based businesses to seven figures resonate with women of color and marginalized communities. She's not just sharing tactics-she's shifting narratives.

Each of these speakers found their lane, built credibility through results, and then used speaking as a platform to amplify their impact. Whether it's through data, storytelling, or humor, they've shown that there's no one-size-fits-all path to success in this field.

The landscape for business growth speakers is shifting in some interesting directions. If you're thinking about stepping into this space-or you're already in it and want to stay ahead-here are a few trends to keep on your radar.

First, hyper-niche positioning is becoming more effective than broad appeal. Instead of being a general 'growth expert,' speakers are zoning in on specific industries, like SaaS, DTC e-commerce, or even creator-led businesses. Audiences want depth, not just breadth. For example, a speaker who specializes in scaling subscription box businesses will likely get more traction in that niche than someone speaking generically about revenue growth.

Second, data-backed storytelling is gaining traction. Audiences are tired of fluff. They want case studies, metrics, and real-world results. Speakers who can blend narrative with numbers-like showing how a 3-step funnel increased conversions by 42%-are standing out. Think of it as TED Talk meets Harvard Business Review.

Third, virtual and hybrid events are no longer a temporary fix. They're a permanent part of the ecosystem. Business growth speakers who can deliver high-impact virtual keynotes, run interactive workshops via Zoom, or even host their own summits online (like those on Virtual Summit Academy) are expanding their reach globally.

Fourth, AI and automation are becoming hot topics-not just in content, but in delivery. Speakers are using tools like ChatGPT to refine their scripts, Notion AI to organize research, and even AI-generated slide decks to speed up prep. But more importantly, audiences want to know how to grow in an AI-driven world. If you can speak to that, you're ahead of the curve.

Key trends to watch:
- Niche-specific speaking gigs (e.g., growth for Web3 startups or rural microbusinesses)
- Demand for measurable outcomes in talks
- Rise of speaker-educators who also run courses or communities
- Cross-border speaking opportunities via virtual platforms
- Integration of AI tools into both content and delivery

The takeaway? The business growth speaker of tomorrow is part strategist, part educator, and part tech-savvy communicator. If you can blend those roles, you're set for the next wave.

Talks.co. A smart platform that matches podcast hosts with potential guests. If you're looking to build your authority as a business growth speaker, getting featured on niche podcasts is a great way to start. Use it to find shows in your industry or region, and pitch your expertise with a tailored message.

Virtual Summit Academy. Created by Liam Austin, this resource walks you through how to host your own virtual summit. Hosting a summit positions you as a thought leader and gives you a platform to speak, even if you're just starting out.

SpeakerHub. A directory where you can list your speaker profile, browse speaking opportunities, and connect with event organizers. Make sure your profile includes video clips, testimonials, and your signature topics to stand out.

Notion. Use it to organize your talk outlines, track your outreach to event organizers, and store research. You can even create a speaker dashboard to manage your pipeline of gigs and content ideas.

Canva. Perfect for designing slide decks that look polished without needing a graphic designer. Use their presentation templates to create engaging visuals that support your message, not distract from it.

Slidebean. If you're more data-driven, this tool helps you build investor-style pitch decks with clean, professional layouts. Great for speakers who want to present business models or growth metrics in a compelling way.

Calendly. Simplify your scheduling with event organizers, podcast hosts, or coaching clients. Set up different event types (e.g., discovery call, pre-event briefing) and avoid the back-and-forth emails.

Descript. Record, edit, and transcribe your talks or podcast interviews. Use it to create short clips for social media or to refine your delivery by reviewing your own content.

These tools aren't just about looking professional-they're about saving time, increasing your visibility, and delivering more value to your audience. Start with one or two, then build your tech stack as your speaking career grows.