Who do you speak to and what do you speak about?
Right now I mostly speak with corporations and lead workshops. I’ve also spoken at different universities; I love working with students. The student events aren’t paid, I just do those for the love of it, but the corporate work is paid.
I speak a lot about AI – helping companies understand how to explore it and implement it into their businesses and lives. I go way beyond prompts and ChatGPT. I cover things like video generation, image creation, and automation. I show how to use these tools in marketing and task management. It gets really advanced, but we keep it fun and light. I’ve been doing this for just a few months now, and it’s been going really well.
What led you to seek out The Speaker Lab? What were you looking for help with?
I’d seen the ads a long time ago while I was still working a corporate job, so I didn’t pursue it then. After a layoff, I decided to try speaking on my own. I did some workshops and then got booked to speak at the company I was just laid off from. They paid me $5,000 for an hour-long breakout session. That’s when I thought, “Oh, this is interesting.”
I literally started Googling “speaker engagement” because I couldn’t remember the name of The Speaker Lab, but I knew the algorithm would show me the ad again. It did, I booked a call, and I joined immediately.
Did you have any fears or hesitations when signing up?
Not once I talked to the team and signed up. Before that, I wasn’t sure what the program would entail or if I had time. Fortunately, I do have the time to focus on my speaking business now. I’ll admit I need to get back on track with everything I’m supposed to be doing—it’s a lot of moving parts—but things have been going really well. I’ve been booking engagements almost back-to-back.
What were some of your major “aha” moments or takeaways from the SPEAK Framework?
The coaching calls have been amazing—both the one-on-one and VIP calls. They go deeper into the lessons, and the biggest takeaway for me has been about networking and follow-ups.
I’d been tapping my network already, but I learned strategies for getting repeat bookings—like doing pre- and post-event interviews with clients. Updating my LinkedIn profile as recommended has also been big for me. Those marketing and networking strategies were huge “aha” moments, and they’ve paid off.
What results have you seen since implementing what you’ve learned?
I’ve rebooked with contacts I started with before The Speaker Lab, and those led to more gigs. A lot of my opportunities have come through training companies that want AI workshops for their clients.
I’ve spoken for banks, including my former employer and the World Bank. I have ongoing workshops with a large PR firm and I’m in talks with a couple of other big clients right now. I’ve also been able to increase my fees as I gain confidence and name recognition.
Speaking of fees, are you comfortable sharing your current speaking rates?
Yes. My biggest one right now is a two-day workshop priced at about $16,500 total—around $8,000 per day, plus travel. I started much lower, around $1,500 a day, and my biggest single-day fee so far was $5,000 for an hour with US Bank.
Right now, I’m testing what the market will bear, and things are trending upward. That $16,500 workshop will be my biggest so far if it closes.
Amazing. How does it feel to be making the kind of impact you’re making?
I love it. This is my passion. I want people to be prepared for what’s coming with AI. If you’re not learning it, you’ll get left behind. That’s why I speak for free at universities, but those have actually led to paid gigs too.
When people leave my workshops, there’s always an “aha” moment. They’ll say, “Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen it this way before.” That’s the best part—seeing those lightbulb moments.
I even automated the process of finding speaking opportunities online with AI, which blew my coach away. I’ve shown some of my peers how to do it too. AI is powerful, and I want to help people use it to make life easier.
I love it. It sounds like you’re really engaged with your coach and the community.
Definitely. A group of us in Atlanta met up in person to practice and record reels. There were about six or seven of us, and it was great. We stay connected, tag each other in opportunities, and share resources. Meeting in person takes it beyond just being names in a chat—it’s been really valuable.
What’s your “new normal” like now that you’re a speaker?
Life’s so much easier. I do some consulting in addition with US Bank, one of my clients. I do workshops for them, as well as consulting. And it’s funny – they said, “Hey, we might have this new role coming open that would be a great fit for you.” And I don’t know…The freedom that I get now is just amazing.
I get up, I’m homeschooling my daughter this year with AI. And so it’s been really cool being able to connect with her more and have more free time. And I own a coffee shop, too. So I hang out at my shop. And life is just really free and open.
I’m doing the stuff that I just love to do, right? I just nerd out, have a great time, and try to make some impact. It’s great. I don’t know if I’d trade this for a 9-5 anymore. It’d have to be really, really significant, because freedom is addictive, right?
You own a coffee shop, too?
Yes, in Norcross, Georgia—45 South Café. My wife and I have run it for about three years. I work there sometimes, meet clients, and just enjoy the vibe.
I get to work out of there. I meet clients there.
You’re a busy guy!
Yeah, but it doesn’t feel like work–I swear my day seems so light. I live by my calendar, though, because if it’s not on my calendar, it doesn’t happen.
But my days are pretty free. I do my marketing. I do my Power Hour. And my biggest thing is LinkedIn–that has been my biggest source of traction.
I get DMs all the time, because I’m always posting AI things I’ve done, AI breakthroughs and insights and things like that. That’s really where I get most of my leads from.
Who would you recommend The Speaker Lab to, and why?
I’ve already recommended it to several people. Anytime I meet someone who wants to get into speaking, I tell them about The Speaker Lab. The framework gives you structure and organization.
Honestly, I haven’t even done everything I’m supposed to do, and I’m still getting lots of business—mostly from LinkedIn updates and content. That alone has been huge. Once I get all the pieces of the puzzle in place, I know things will really take off.
Thanks so much for sharing, Ralph, and congrats on all your success!
Thank you. I appreciate it. Even if someone only does part of the program, they can see real success. But once you put the whole system together, the floodgates open.