Edtech Marketing Speakers

An edtech marketing speaker is a professional who shares insights, strategies, and experiences related to marketing in the education technology space. These speakers often appear at virtual summits, webinars, podcasts, or industry conferences to educate audiences on how to effectively promote edtech products and services.

Unlike general marketing speakers, edtech marketing speakers focus specifically on the challenges and opportunities within the education sector. That includes understanding procurement cycles in schools, navigating compliance issues like FERPA or GDPR, and tailoring messaging to educators, administrators, and sometimes even students or parents.

They may come from a variety of backgrounds: some are former educators turned marketers, others are startup founders who've scaled edtech platforms, and many are seasoned marketing professionals who've led campaigns for companies like Kahoot!, Duolingo, or ClassDojo.

The key is their ability to bridge the gap between education and marketing. They understand both the product and the people it serves. And they know how to communicate that in a way that drives adoption, engagement, and growth.

So whether they're breaking down a successful TikTok campaign for a language learning app or explaining how to build trust with school districts, edtech marketing speakers bring a unique and highly specialized perspective to the table.

When you're trying to grow an edtech business, knowing how to build a great product is only half the battle. The other half? Getting it in front of the right people-and that's where an edtech marketing speaker comes in.

These speakers bring clarity to a complex space. Education markets are notoriously tricky: long sales cycles, tight budgets, and decision-making that often involves multiple stakeholders. A skilled edtech marketing speaker helps founders, marketers, and educators understand how to navigate all that. They translate what works in B2B SaaS or consumer marketing into strategies that actually resonate in classrooms and district offices.

They also help demystify trends. For example, when AI tools started flooding the edtech space, many educators were skeptical. Speakers who understood both the tech and the classroom context were able to explain how to position these tools in a way that built trust, not fear.

From a business perspective, these speakers can accelerate learning curves. Whether you're launching your first product or scaling globally, hearing from someone who's been there can save you months of trial and error. They often share frameworks, case studies, and actionable tactics that you can apply immediately.

In short, edtech marketing speakers aren't just talking heads. They're strategic guides who help others succeed in one of the most nuanced and impactful industries out there.

Edtech marketing speakers do more than just talk-they educate, influence, and activate audiences across the education and tech sectors. Here's a breakdown of what they actually do:

1. Share Strategic Insights
- They explain how to market edtech products effectively, from early-stage positioning to enterprise-level sales.
- Topics might include lead generation for school administrators, content marketing for educators, or how to run paid campaigns that comply with education policy.

2. Translate Trends into Tactics
- Whether it's AI in the classroom or gamification in learning apps, these speakers help audiences understand how to market emerging technologies responsibly and effectively.
- They often draw from real-world examples, like how Canva for Education scaled through teacher communities.

3. Educate Diverse Audiences
- Their talks are tailored to different groups: startup founders, marketing teams, investors, or even educators looking to launch their own tools.
- They adjust their language and examples to fit the audience, whether it's a global edtech conference or a local school board webinar.

4. Inspire Action
- Great edtech marketing speakers don't just inform-they motivate. They challenge assumptions, spark new ideas, and encourage attendees to rethink their approach.
- For example, they might show how a small edtech startup used podcast guesting to land its first 100 school clients.

5. Build Community
- Many speakers also act as connectors, helping others in the space find collaborators, mentors, or customers.
- Through platforms like Talks.co, they often engage with hosts and audiences before and after events to keep the conversation going.

In essence, edtech marketing speakers are educators in their own right-teaching others how to share innovation with the world, one talk at a time.

Becoming an edtech marketing speaker isn't about luck or waiting for an invitation. It's a strategic process that blends expertise, visibility, and connection. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Define Your Niche.
- Edtech is broad. Are you focused on K-12, higher education, corporate learning, or emerging markets?
- Within marketing, are you a content strategist, growth hacker, or brand storyteller?
- Tip: The tighter your niche, the easier it is to stand out.

2. Build Your Thought Leadership.
- Start publishing content on LinkedIn, Medium, or your own blog.
- Host webinars or virtual summits. Use platforms like Talks.co to connect with event hosts.
- Tip: Repurpose your content into short videos, carousels, or podcast interviews.

3. Create a Speaker Page.
- This is your digital resume. Include a bio, headshot, talk titles, testimonials, and a speaker reel.
- Tools like Talks.co make it easy to showcase your speaker profile and get discovered by event organizers.

4. Get Your First Gigs.
- Start local or virtual. Look for edtech meetups, online summits, or niche podcasts.
- Reach out to hosts directly. Offer value, not just a pitch.
- Tip: Offer to speak for free initially to build credibility.

5. Collect Social Proof.
- After each talk, ask for a testimonial and permission to share the recording.
- Highlight audience feedback and engagement stats.
- Tip: Tag event hosts and attendees when you post about your talk.

6. Scale Your Speaking Career.
- Apply to speak at larger conferences like ISTE, ASU+GSV, or EdTechX.
- Partner with edtech brands for sponsored sessions.
- Use Talks.co to get matched with relevant speaking opportunities.

Remember, consistency beats perfection. The more you show up, the more you'll be seen as a go-to edtech marketing speaker.

To be an edtech marketing speaker, you need more than just a good idea or a slick slide deck. You need a blend of credibility, clarity, and connection. Let's break that down:

1. Subject Matter Expertise
You need to know your stuff. Whether you're a CMO at an edtech startup, a digital strategist for a university, or a consultant helping SaaS tools reach educators, your experience must be relevant and recent. Audiences want insights they can act on, not just theory.

2. A Clear Point of View
Generic talks don't cut it. You need a unique perspective on how marketing works in the education space. Maybe you believe traditional funnels don't work for teachers. Or that TikTok is the future of student recruitment. Whatever it is, own it.

3. Communication Skills
This is non-negotiable. You don't need to be a TED-level speaker, but you do need to be clear, engaging, and structured. Practice helps. So does feedback. Record yourself. Watch it back. Improve.

4. A Speaker Profile
Event organizers need to know who you are and what you talk about. This is where a speaker page on platforms like Talks.co comes in. Include your bio, topics, testimonials, and a short video clip. Make it easy for hosts to say yes.

5. Network Access
You need to be visible to the right people. Join edtech communities, attend virtual summits, and connect with podcast hosts. Talks.co is a great tool to match with event organizers looking for speakers in your niche.

In short, being an edtech marketing speaker is about combining your expertise with visibility and value. Nail those three, and you're on your way.

Yes, edtech marketing speakers do get paid-but not always, and not equally. The speaking industry is nuanced, especially in niche sectors like edtech. Here's a breakdown:

When They Get Paid:
- Keynote Speakers at Major Conferences: Events like ASU+GSV Summit or EdTechX often pay top-tier speakers, especially if they draw a crowd.
- Corporate Events or Sponsored Webinars: Edtech companies looking to build brand authority often pay speakers to present on their behalf.
- Workshops and Training Sessions: These are often paid engagements, especially when tailored to a specific audience (e.g., school districts, marketing teams).

When They Don't Get Paid:
- Podcasts and Virtual Summits: Many of these are unpaid but offer exposure. Talks.co, for instance, connects speakers with hosts for visibility, not always for cash.
- Panel Discussions: Unless you're a headliner, these are often unpaid.

Pros of Paid Speaking:
- Direct income.
- Perceived authority.
- Potential for recurring gigs.

Cons:
- Competitive and selective.
- Payment terms vary (some pay months later).

In short, yes, edtech marketing speakers can get paid-but it depends on your positioning, audience draw, and the event's budget. Many use unpaid gigs as stepping stones to paid ones.

Edtech marketing speakers earn income in several ways, and it's not just about the speaking fee. Here's a breakdown of the most common revenue streams:

1. Speaking Fees
- These range from $500 for a virtual panel to $10,000+ for a keynote at a global conference.
- Higher fees are usually tied to audience size, event prestige, and the speaker's profile.

2. Workshops and Training
- Many speakers offer half-day or full-day workshops for edtech companies or educational institutions.
- These can be billed per session or per participant.

3. Consulting and Advisory Roles
- After a talk, companies often reach out for deeper help.
- Speakers turn this into consulting gigs, sometimes on retainer.

4. Affiliate Marketing and Sponsorships
- Promote edtech tools during your talk and earn commission.
- Some speakers partner with brands for sponsored sessions.

5. Courses and Digital Products
- Turn your talk into a course, ebook, or toolkit.
- Platforms like Teachable or Gumroad make this easy.

6. Lead Generation for Other Services
- Use speaking to attract clients for your agency, software, or coaching program.

Example: A speaker at a virtual edtech summit might not get paid upfront, but they could:
- Sell a $97 course to 50 attendees = $4,850.
- Land a $2,000/month consulting client.
- Get invited to a paid keynote next month.

So while not every talk pays cash, smart edtech marketing speakers monetize the long tail.

Earnings for edtech marketing speakers vary widely depending on experience, audience size, and business model. Here's a breakdown of typical income ranges:

Experience Level	Typical Fee per Talk	Annual Income Range (from speaking)
Beginner	$0 - $500	$0 - $5,000
Mid-Level	$500 - $2,500	$5,000 - $50,000
Expert/Keynote-Level	$3,000 - $15,000	$50,000 - $250,000+

Factors That Influence Earnings:
- Niche Authority: If you're known in K-12 or higher ed marketing, you can command more.
- Event Type: Corporate events pay more than community webinars.
- Location: US and UK events tend to pay more than those in emerging markets.
- Digital vs. In-Person: In-person talks often pay more but require travel.
Additional Income Streams:
As mentioned in 'How do edtech marketing speakers make money', many speakers supplement their income through consulting, courses, or affiliate deals. For some, speaking is a lead generator rather than the main income source.
Example:
A mid-level speaker doing 2 paid talks per month at $1,500 each could earn $36,000/year. Add a few workshops and a digital product, and that number could double.
So while not every edtech marketing speaker is making six figures, the potential is there-especially if you diversify your revenue.

Hiring an edtech marketing speaker can cost anywhere from free to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on several key variables. Here's a breakdown:
1. Speaker Experience Level
- New/Emerging Speakers: $0 - $500. Often speak for exposure or leads.
- Mid-Level Professionals: $500 - $2,500. These are folks with a few years of speaking and a growing reputation.
- Top-Tier Experts/Keynotes: $3,000 - $15,000+. These speakers have a strong brand, published work, or a large following.
2. Event Type
- Podcasts and Webinars: Usually free or low-cost.
- Virtual Summits: $500 - $2,000 depending on audience size.
- Corporate Conferences: $5,000 - $10,000+ for keynote speakers.
- Workshops and Trainings: $1,000 - $7,500 depending on duration and customization.
3. Add-On Costs
- Travel and accommodation (for in-person events).
- Custom content development.
- Licensing fees for recorded content reuse.
Comparison Table:

Event Type	Cost Range
Podcast Guest	Free - $200
Virtual Panel	$0 - $1,000
Keynote (Virtual)	$1,000 - $5,000
Keynote (In-Person)	$3,000 - $15,000
Workshop (Half-Day)	$2,000 - $7,500

If you're an organizer, platforms like Talks.co can help you find speakers within your budget. If you're a speaker, knowing these benchmarks helps you price yourself competitively.

Seth Godin: While not strictly edtech, his insights on permission marketing and education reform have influenced countless edtech leaders.

Angela Maiers: A long-time advocate for student-centered learning, Angela blends marketing savvy with powerful storytelling.

Sal Khan: Founder of Khan Academy, Sal's talks on education innovation and digital learning have reshaped how we think about edtech reach.

Guy Kawasaki: Former Apple evangelist, Guy has spoken at edtech events about branding and innovation in learning tools.

Anant Agarwal: CEO of edX, his talks on MOOCs and global access to education have been pivotal in the edtech space.

Esther Wojcicki: Known for her work in media literacy and digital education, she's a frequent speaker on edtech transformation.

Ken Robinson: Though he passed in 2020, his TED Talk on creativity in schools remains one of the most-watched and influential in education.

Eric Sheninger: A digital leadership expert, Eric speaks on how schools can use marketing strategies to engage communities.

Michael Horn: Co-author of 'Disrupting Class', he's a go-to voice on innovation in education and edtech marketing.

Julia Freeland Fisher: Director at the Christensen Institute, her work on networks and learning is often featured at edtech events.

Deborah Quazzo (US): Managing Partner at GSV Ventures, she's a powerhouse speaker at global edtech summits, blending investment insight with marketing trends.

Richard Culatta (US): CEO of ISTE, Richard speaks globally on digital learning and how edtech companies can better connect with educators.

Priyanka Sharma (India): A rising voice in APAC edtech, she speaks on mobile-first marketing strategies for emerging markets.

Tom Vander Ark (US): Former Gates Foundation director, Tom is a prolific speaker on personalized learning and edtech scalability.

Sophie Bailey (UK): Host of The Edtech Podcast, Sophie bridges the gap between marketing, policy, and innovation in education.

Fernando Valenzuela (Mexico): A Latin American edtech leader, Fernando speaks on bilingual marketing and regional edtech growth.

Lucie Renard (Belgium): Content strategist at BookWidgets, Lucie is known for her practical talks on content marketing for edtech tools.

Ben Whitaker (UK): Co-host of Edufuturists, Ben brings humor and depth to talks on digital transformation in schools.

Angela Duckworth (US): While known for 'grit', her talks often intersect with edtech and how to market behavioral science tools.

Kiran Sethi (India): Founder of Design for Change, Kiran speaks on marketing education as empowerment, especially in underserved communities.

Let's clear up some persistent misconceptions that often hold people back from stepping into the world of edtech marketing speaking. These myths can be subtle, but they're powerful enough to derail even the most passionate educators and marketers.

1. You need to be a tech genius to speak in edtech.
This one trips up a lot of people. Being an edtech marketing speaker doesn't require you to code in Python or build an LMS from scratch. What matters is your ability to communicate how technology supports learning outcomes and how marketing strategies can amplify that impact. Take someone like Jenny Herrera, who comes from a teaching background and now speaks globally about digital storytelling in classrooms. Her strength? She translates tech into teacher-speak.

2. Only executives or founders get invited to speak.
Not true. While C-suite folks often headline big conferences, there's a growing demand for practitioners, consultants, and even classroom educators who've implemented marketing strategies in real-world settings. Conferences like ISTE and EdMarketing Summit regularly feature mid-level marketers, instructional designers, and even student advocates.

3. You have to speak at massive conferences to be credible.
Some of the most impactful edtech marketing speakers start small: local meetups, webinars, or even niche podcasts. These platforms often have more engaged audiences. For example, a guest appearance on a targeted podcast like 'EdSurge On Air' can reach decision-makers in a way that a 10-minute keynote at a mega-event might not.

4. Marketing in edtech is just about selling software.
That's a narrow view. Edtech marketing speakers often talk about adoption, user engagement, ethical data use, and storytelling. It's not just about the sale, it's about sustainable impact. Speakers like Alvin Irby, founder of Barbershop Books, blend marketing with mission-driven messaging to show how edtech can support equity.

5. You need a massive social following to get booked.
While having an audience helps, it's not the only path. If you bring a unique perspective or case study, event organizers will notice. In fact, platforms like Talks.co help match speakers with hosts based on topic fit, not follower count.

Bottom line: if you've got insights, experience, and a clear message, there's space for you in the edtech marketing speaker world-regardless of your title, tech skills, or Twitter following.

In 2019, a former public school teacher named Rachel Ford stood on a small stage at a regional edtech meetup in Austin, Texas. She wasn't a CEO. She didn't have a book deal. But she had something else: a compelling story about how she used TikTok to engage high school students with a new learning app. Her talk was raw, practical, and full of real classroom data. That 15-minute session led to invitations to speak at SXSW EDU and eventually a consulting role with a major edtech startup.

Then there's Daniel Cho, a marketing strategist from Seoul who helped a local LMS platform scale across Southeast Asia. He didn't start with speaking gigs. He started by publishing case studies on LinkedIn about how they localized their messaging for different school systems. His posts caught the attention of conference organizers in Singapore and Malaysia. Today, he's a regular speaker at EduTECH Asia and contributes to marketing panels across the region.

Another standout is Priya Natarajan, a digital learning consultant based in the UK. She carved her niche by focusing on accessibility in edtech marketing-how to make campaigns inclusive for neurodiverse learners. Her breakout moment came during a virtual panel hosted by BETT, where she shared a campaign that used audio-first storytelling to reach visually impaired students. The response was overwhelming. She now runs workshops for edtech companies on inclusive marketing and speaks globally.

What ties these stories together? None of these speakers waited for permission. They didn't start with big stages. They started with a story, a strategy, or a unique lens-and they shared it. Whether through blog posts, webinars, or small events, they built credibility by showing up and delivering value.

If you're wondering how to break in, look at what these speakers did: they found a niche, shared real results, and kept showing up. That's the formula, no matter where you're starting from.

The landscape for edtech marketing speakers is evolving in some fascinating ways. As education systems adapt to hybrid models, and as learners become more digitally fluent, the expectations for speakers in this space are shifting. Here's what's on the horizon:

- Hyper-local storytelling will gain traction. Global platforms are great, but audiences are craving speakers who understand their specific context. Whether it's rural schools in Kenya or community colleges in the Midwest US, speakers who can localize their message will stand out.

- Data ethics and privacy will dominate panels. With AI tools like ChatGPT entering classrooms, the conversation around student data, consent, and algorithmic bias is heating up. Speakers who can address these issues from a marketing lens-how to communicate transparency and build trust-will be in demand.

- Short-form content will shape speaker credibility. Organizers are scouting talent on platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, and even Instagram Reels. If you can distill a big idea into 60 seconds, you're more likely to get noticed.

- Cross-industry fluency will be a differentiator. Speakers who can connect edtech marketing to trends in healthcare, gaming, or fintech will offer fresh perspectives. For example, gamification strategies from the mobile gaming world are now being applied to student engagement campaigns.

- Virtual-first events will prioritize interactivity. It's not enough to deliver a polished keynote. Speakers will need to master breakout rooms, live polls, and asynchronous follow-ups. The best edtech marketing speakers will treat virtual stages like live classrooms-dynamic, responsive, and participatory.

In short, the future belongs to those who can blend strategy with empathy, tech with storytelling, and big ideas with local relevance. If you're preparing to step into this space, think beyond slides. Think ecosystems, ethics, and engagement.

If you're looking to break into the edtech marketing speaking circuit, the right tools can make all the difference. Whether you're refining your pitch, finding gigs, or building authority, here's a curated list to help you level up:

1. Talks.co
A smart platform that matches speakers with podcast hosts based on topic fit. Great for building your speaking resume and getting in front of niche audiences. Tip: Use their filters to find edtech-specific shows or marketing-focused episodes.

2. SpeakerHub
A directory where you can list your speaker profile and browse open calls for speakers. It's especially useful for finding virtual summits and webinars in the education and tech sectors.

3. Canva
Not just for social posts-Canva's presentation templates are perfect for crafting visually engaging slide decks. Pro tip: Use their 'Education' templates to align with classroom-friendly aesthetics.

4. Otter.ai
Record and transcribe your talks or practice sessions. Reviewing your own transcripts can help you tighten your messaging and identify filler words or jargon.

5. LinkedIn Creator Mode
Turn on Creator Mode to showcase your speaking topics, publish thought leadership posts, and attract event organizers. Tip: Post short video clips of your talks or share behind-the-scenes prep to build engagement.

6. Slidebean
If you're not a designer, Slidebean helps you create professional-grade presentations by focusing on content while it handles the layout. Great for pitch decks and conference proposals.

7. Calendly
Once you start booking gigs, make it easy for organizers to schedule prep calls or tech checks. A clean, branded Calendly page signals professionalism.

These tools won't do the work for you, but they'll make the path smoother. Combine them with a clear message, a niche you care about, and a willingness to show up consistently, and you'll be on your way to becoming a sought-after edtech marketing speaker.