Welcome, my fellow voyagers, to a journey of exploration and enlightenment in a deep dive into the speaker bureau industry’s post-COVID world. On board with us are three renowned navigators — Koby Fleck, EVP, Crown Speakers Bureau; Bernie Swain, Founder, Washington Speakers Bureau; and David Stollman, President, EVERGREEN Speakers. Their combined expertise sheds light on the opportunities, challenges, and future trends reshaping the speaking world in the post-COVID era. As a highly experienced speaker who partners with speaker bureaus frequently, I found my interviews with them enlightening and revealing.
As our journey begins, Fleck paints a panorama of emerging opportunities post-pandemic. New areas of expertise have developed from the accelerated change in our society and economy. These areas bring a tidal wave of demand, with companies needing speaker bureaus to bridge the gap between them and the right speakers.
The landscape has also been reshaped by virtual and hybrid presentations, removing geographical barriers and providing global access to renowned speakers. Notably, the pandemic has accentuated the significance of the human connection. With a renewed sense of empathy and engagement,speakers can add more value by better equipping people at the interpersonal level.
Swain adds depth to our understanding, offering a beacon of hope with the steady resurgence of in-person meetings, a timeless tradition now breathing with renewed life.
Adding another dimension, Stollman emphasizes the critical role of speaker bureaus in educating the market about the nuances of hybrid presentations. By helping clients design meaningful experiences for both in-person and virtual audiences, speaker bureaus can lead the way in unlocking the full potential of this nascent format.
Venturing further, our guides highlight the key challenges dotting the post-COVID landscape. Fleck and Swain identify the rising speaking fees, the fast-evolving topic relevance, and the necessity for future-readiness as significant obstacles. Swain also highlights…
