Speakers vie for top-performing stages, like TED and TEDx. There is something magical about stepping onto the red dot. And with more than 43 million YouTube subscribers, TEDx has a big reach, lasting long after you step down from the stage. I experienced firsthand what a stage like TEDx—and its YouTube following—can do for your business. My calendar was fully booked with a waiting list after delivering my first talk at TEDxLeidenUniversity, which now has 9.5 million views. A well-delivered talk on a high-stakes stage can elevate a personal brand, shift a narrative, or spark a movement.
Now, let’s dive into how to get picked for high-stakes stages.
Curate Your Idea
Event organizers are interested in the idea you’re bringing to their audience. High-stakes stages are idea-driven platforms. They seek someone who can bring a fresh perspective to a timely issue or a longstanding challenge.
To stand out, your idea must do one or more of the following:
- Challenge conventional wisdom
- Introduce a new way of thinking
- Illuminate a personal truth with broader relevance
- Connect the dots others haven’t yet seen
This is the difference between “talking about leadership” and offering a provocative lens, such as “How the biggest leadership wins come from saying ‘I don’t know.’”
Your idea must be clear, well-defined, and specific.
Your Idea Is the Product
Event curators are flooded with applications from capable speakers. Ideas that cut through the noise are clear, timely, and compelling. High-stakes stages are thought leadership platforms.
Your talk must create some type of transformation that is supported by your personal narrative. The TED brand shares this: An idea is not a theme or a general truth. It’s a specific insight that changes how we see the world.
If you don’t yet have a crystallized idea, rework what you have until your idea is strong enough to be pitched in one sentence. Then you’re ready to apply.
We spend time with out clients to refine their big idea. We use the latest AI technology to capture your words and your best thinking during our Zoom calls. We’ve refined our creative framework, resulting in a nearly 100% success rate in booking our clients on big stages.
Be Visible in the Right Places
You should be able to demonstrate that your idea has traction. This could look like thought leadership articles on LinkedIn, local talks, or interviews on topic-relevant podcasts. It shows organizers you’re committed, and it provides social proof that you can hold attention and communicate value.
This also applies to your digital footprint. A quick Google search should reveal a polished website, professional headshot, and past work that aligns with your topic. Curators are risk-averse. If they can’t find you, they will move on.
Visibility means being strategic about where and how you show up. The first step in boosting your visibility is performing a social media audit. Here’s an article I wrote for Forbes on personal branding, which includes guidance on conducting a social media audit and continuing the story after the audit.
Pitch Yourself to High-Stakes Stages
Once your idea is clear and your digital presence reflects your credibility, it’s time to pitch.
Research each event carefully. Understand its theme, target audience, and past speakers. Write a tailored pitch that demonstrates why your talk aligns with their event’s purpose and why now is the right time for your idea. Include a one-sentence summary of your talk, a short bio, and a link to a speaking reel or sample clip if you have one. (Here’s how to create a simple speaking reel.)
It can take multiple pitches to land the right stage. Be clear. Be brief. And most importantly, be compelling.
Your Idea Earns the Stage
High-stakes stages don’t reward volume. They reward clarity. Your idea should be sharp, your presence visible, and your pitch tailored. Position yourself as someone worth listening to.
Before you submit another application, ask yourself: Do I truly have a unique idea and message worth sharing? If the answer is yes, the right stage will also say yes.
