What should be included in a professional speaking portfolio?

Here are some of the key things that I think one should include in their portfolio: - List of top events they’ve been a part of [To establish confidence] - Key problems they solve with their skills [To create demand] - Testimonials of their clients/audience [To establish trust] - Video bytes/snippets of them addressing the audience [To showcase their skills & talent] - Contact Details [Social Media Handles/Email…]

I have found that sharing real world experiences of entrepreneurship leveraging AI for social justice applications has been the most effective way to help people to come along on the data literacy journey that will be required for all people in the future of work. A catchy title that helps them connect to the art of the possible helps as well.

While I can't speak for the corporate world, I've noticed an unfortunate trend of testimonials being misused in the public event arena. At times, these testimonials appear to be fabricated or exaggerated, compromising their authenticity. . Some trainers go to great lengths to showcase testimonials, such as featuring a woman with her child on her lap or ensuring participants are visibly moved to tears when providing feedback. . Obtaining testimonials can be done in various ways, but the key is to seek out genuine and impactful ones for your speaking engagements. Experimenting with different approaches to attract people to your events can yield valuable results.

As humans we all want to ensure that we get what we pay for. By having relevant and diverse testimonials it helps event organizers ensure fit for their audience and goals.

Testimonials play a crucial role in developing trust towards the program you are presenting but at some instances the lack of demographic information generates ambiguous scenarios in questioning the validity of the testimonial. (It’s tolerable that adding an image violates the privacy and ethical considerations in some fields yet some sort of personification adds more sense)

It's often recommended to include your speaking rates in your profile. This is particularly relevant for newcomers to the speaking world who commonly struggle with self-worth. For instance, question whether they should charge $5,000 for a gig. This is a personal development matter that requires individuals to address their inner doubts. . There's nothing wrong with starting by charging a smaller fee or even speaking for free initially. However, it's important to remember the value you provide. Sooner or later, the issue of self-worth and what you truly deserve will arise. It's crucial to be prepared to work on silencing those self-doubts.