Who do you speak to and what do you speak about?
I speak to leaders and aspiring leaders about escaping the trap of 100% perfectionism.
I call it a trap because that’s often where burnout begins. In my talks, I explore how being purpose-driven can help you not only avoid burnout, but also adopt healthier, more sustainable behaviors. I also invite people to reflect on their identity and how they define their personal brand.
Lately, I’ve been sharing this message with scaling and startup companies—an audience I really resonate with because of my own experiences, challenges, and growth in that space. It’s a group I understand well, and I’m intentionally focusing my efforts there.
What led you to seek out The Speaker Lab?
I’ve been speaking for a few years, but it was mostly within the industry I work in through my full-time role—and it was a great experience.
It gave me the chance to test material, tweak it, and continue evolving and building it. Over time, I started getting feedback from people telling me how impactful the content was, and I began to realize: this could actually be something people would pay for. So I decided to start putting it out there that I was available for paid speaking opportunities.
Pretty quickly, I realized that a casual, ad-hoc approach wasn’t going to get me the results I was hoping for. That’s when I came across The Speaker Lab and thought, If I’m really going to invest the time and effort, I want to do it the right way and actually build a speaking business.
Upon signing up, did you have any fears or apprehensions that you had to overcome?
Definitely. I remember looking at some of the other speakers who had been through the program—checking out their websites and demo videos—and thinking, Wow… can I really get myself to that level?
It wasn’t that I doubted my ability to speak—I’d already been doing that—but I saw how these speakers were truly capturing attention, delivering with energy, and inspiring their audiences. That challenged me to ask, What would it take to get to that next level?
And then, like a lot of people, I had questions around logistics: How do I build a speaking business while still working a full-time job? When will I know it’s the right time to transition out and go all in?
What were some of the ways that you overcame the comparison or found ways to manage your time and things like that?
From a time management perspective, one of the early recommendations I received was to block out time to focus and stay committed—so I did just that.
I love learning, so I dove into the course full force. I was constantly listening to the videos and engaging with the content—even during walks with my dogs. But it was in one of the live workshops with Erick that I had a wake-up call. I realized that while I was making great progress in the course, I wasn’t actually doing much outreach.
That was a turning point. I adjusted my schedule to create better balance—continuing the coursework and carving out a dedicated power hour for outreach. That change made a big difference.
I also started going back through content on The Art of Speaking and listening to podcasts about turning a talk into a full experience for the audience. That sparked a lot of new ideas, and I brought those into my coaching sessions to talk about how I could elevate the content that was already working.
As an athlete, it started to click for me in a different way. Just like I prepare before a game or a race—with a certain playlist or routine—I realized I need that same kind of intentional prep before I go on stage. That mindset shift has helped me show up with more energy and focus.
What were some other aha moments or key takeaways from the SPEAK Framework?
One of the biggest things I learned early on was that narrowing down is better. Getting clear on the audience and industry I wanted to focus on made a huge difference.
Interestingly, that niche has even evolved over time. At first, I picked a direction, but when I didn’t see much traction, I reconnected with a few warm leads, landed some unexpected gigs in a different space, and realized—maybe this is where I should focus. So while clarity is key, it’s also okay to pivot as you learn more.
Another big takeaway was how to leverage warm leads. I’ve used both the leads provided through the program and my own network. In one case, I reached out to someone just to catch up—no agenda—and it ended up turning into a speaking opportunity. That reminded me how much value can come from simply staying connected.
I’ve also learned that consistency with outreach really matters. You won’t always see immediate results, but the more consistent I am, the more responses I get. Sometimes I’m planting seeds for gigs that won’t happen until next year, and that’s okay—it’s part of the long game.
Sometimes it’s a long game and it’s about building those relationships. Well, what have been some of your results and standout moments as a speaker?
Before joining the program, I had already done my first bigger keynote. I’ll never forget it—after that talk, I started getting real feedback that made me think, This is something. I’m on stage. People are resonating. This could be a business.
Since then, getting my first three paid gigs was a major validation. It showed me this isn’t just a one-off—it’s actually working.
And honestly, one of my favorite parts isn’t even the talk itself—it’s the conversations afterward. When people come up and tell you how your message resonated, how they’re going to make a change, or how it applies to their own life—that’s what fuels me.
I also get so much inspiration from the community. I’m constantly listening to podcasts, hearing what other members are trying, and thinking, Oh, I could try that too. That’s how my second talk was born—just from hearing someone else’s idea and adapting it to fit my own message.
When you leave a full-time job, it can feel a little scary. You lose that built-in sense of community. So having this Speaker Lab community has really helped fill that gap.
That’s good that you’ve been embracing the community. I love hearing that. And I know you’ve mentioned a full-time thing. Are you still in that full-time position or are you transitioning out?
I’ve actually just started the transition process within the last week! It’s happening—and it feels good. I’m reading a book about the gig economy right now, and what’s great is that I now have a long-term plan in place, thanks to The Speaker Lab.
The program helped me define a clear three-year vision. I’m not jumping into full-time speaking immediately from a financial standpoint, but I’ll be doing some consulting in my current industry, which gives me more flexibility and time to focus on growing my speaking business.
There’s a lot I’m excited about—developing a book, building out workshops, even creating an online course. I’ve got a roadmap now, and I’m ready to scale.
That’s an exciting three year plan. You’ll have to talk to us in three years. I’d love to see where you’re at.
When you are on stage and connecting with those people after, how does it feel to be making the impact you’re making and see your message resonate with people?
There’s definitely those moments when you see the audience shaking their head, nodding their head or when you have them come up after and they talk about how they relate when you realize these things I’m speaking about I’m not just experiencing alone.
People are actually experiencing these things too and finding what I’m saying to be genuinely helpful. And honestly, it teaches me too. Depending on the size of the group, I like to incorporate certain types of engagement, and I end up learning a lot from the audience – what they’re doing, what they’ve been trying. That’s been really valuable.
I think about it this way: whether it’s a big audience or a small one, paid or unpaid, it still matters. There are other benefits beyond just the money. It’s that opportunity to make a real impact – one talk at a time. That’s how I see it.
One talk at a time. I love that. That’s a great phrase. So what does your new normal look like now, day to day? How has life changed from “Katie before The Speaker Lab” to “Katie now”?
I’ve gotten so much energy and passion back. For a while, I knew I wanted to do something with speaking, but I didn’t know exactly what it should look like. Now I have direction. I have a plan for where I want to take it.
I also have the confidence to actually go out and do it, and the tools and resources to make it happen.
I used to say, “Sales isn’t really my thing,” or feel hesitant about outreach because I didn’t want to bother people. But that’s completely shifted. I feel so strongly about the content I’m sharing, and hearing how others have responded throughout the process has helped too. It’s okay if someone doesn’t respond or if I get a rejection. No one’s ever told me, “Don’t bother me with this.” So I feel a lot better now about outreach.
I’ve also started looking at everything differently. I use LinkedIn a lot as my speaking is more on the corporate side, and now I’m constantly spotting opportunities. If someone posts that they attended a great event, I’m immediately curious: What was that event? What organization was it with? Could that be a good fit? It’s like my brain is always tuned in to look for leads and ideas to add to my outreach list.
I love that. When you stay open and curious, the opportunities really start to show up. It’s an abundance mindset.
Exactly.
So who would you recommend to The Speaker Lab, and why?
I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone in a similar situation to mine – people who have been doing some speaking here and there but are ready to take it seriously and build a business around it. The Speaker Lab gives you everything: information, structure, a push forward, the tools, the process; it’s exactly what someone like that needs.
Also, for anyone who feels passionate about a topic and wants to share it but doesn’t know how to turn that passion into a talk or a business, The Speaker Lab is so helpful. Especially in the early stages, they really walk you through how to take your idea and shape it into a presentation, then show you how to actually build from there.
That’s awesome. Everything you shared has been so encouraging. It’s been great to get to know you; I’ve seen your name around the community, but it’s fun to actually meet you.
Thank you! I’ve really loved the coaching sessions too. They’ve been such a value add—getting to go deeper, getting specific help. Like yesterday, we worked on my new abstract and talked about how to use ChatGPT to improve outreach emails and LinkedIn content. That kind of customization has been incredibly helpful.
I’m glad you’re embracing the coaching! How many calls do you have left?
I think I have 4 left. At one point I was moving along through the coursework and catching up with workshops, and then I had a call with Rick. He said, “Did you know you still have all these coaching calls left?” And I was like, “Wait, I do?!” So we got a bunch of them scheduled.
Perfect! I’m so glad you’re going to use them. That time is incredibly valuable. Use them all.
Definitely. Oh, and I submitted my demo video, so I’m waiting to get the first draft back. I’m excited to see it.
Amazing. So all this progress has happened before you even had a demo video?
Yep! I don’t even have a finished demo yet.
That’s incredible. You’re already doing such amazing things. I can only imagine what’s next once you have that demo in hand. It’s just the beginning.
Exactly. From here, it’s only up. We’re just getting started!