The Bankable Speaker Newsletter Issue #13: Hope Is Not a Strategy: Build Your 2026 Speaking Plan Now

A NOTE FROM ME

First—congratulations to everyone who attended the Bankable Speaker Roundtable this past weekend and walked away with an actual speaking plan for 2026.
Not ideas.
Not inspiration.
A plan.

And if you weren’t in the room, or you were but haven’t finalized things yet, here’s the good news:

You still have two weeks to get started.

But I need to be clear about something.

You must be intentional.

Speaking doesn’t work on hope, vibes, or “someone will find me.”
This is a business, and every speaking opportunity has about a 90-day runway from pitch to paycheck.

That means what you do now determines what shows up in Q1 and Q2.

LET THE MATH TELL THE TRUTH

Let’s remove emotion and look at reality.

If you want:

• 1 paid talk per month

• 3 talks per quarter

Here’s what the numbers typically look like:

• You send 100 pitches per month

• About 10% respond → ~10 responses

• About 10–20% of those book a call → 1–2 calls

• You close one paid engagement

This isn’t failure.
This is the funnel.

So the question isn’t:

“Why am I not getting booked?”

The real question is:
👉 Are you sending enough aligned pitches consistently?

Your plan should be built backward from what you want to see happen.

Not:

• “I hope something lands.”

• “I’ll wait until I feel ready.”

• “I’ll just post more and see.”

Hope and wish are not business strategies.

A QUICK 10X SHIFT (FROM 10x IS EASIER THAN 2x)

Most speakers try to do a little more of what isn’t working.

10x thinking says:

• Stop dabbling

• Narrow the focus

• Eliminate distractions

• Protect your energy

Instead of:

• Random pitching

• Endless talk revisions

• Overthinking platforms

You choose:

• One core talk

• One clear audience

• One system

• Focused execution

Less noise.
More momentum.

🔔 THIS WEEK’S SPEAKING LEADS (START HERE)

As promised, here are five speaking leads you can research, align with, and pitch.
(Do not spray and pray—read the guidelines and customize.)

BE Women of Power Summit by Black Enterprise

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Date: March 11-15, 2026

Audience: The Women of Power Summit is an unparalleled professional development opportunity for women of all backgrounds. We are focused on providing women with the tools to advance their careers and deliver positive impact at every level of leadership.

Looking for: We curate executive development panels, in-demand skills workshops, work-life strategy sessions, meaningful networking, and in-depth conversations with high-level industry leaders—all to equip attendees to excel in their careers and bring maximum value to their companies.

Deadline to submit: Not given so ASAP

More info

Apply to speak

Suny Corning Community College Women's Empowerment Conference 

Location: Corning, New York

Date: May 20, 2026

Audience: The Women's Empowerment Conference aims to uplift women in the Southern Tier of New York and the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania by offering workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities
focused on personal, professional, and financial growth. The conference recognizes and celebrates women's leadership and strives to create a supportive environment where they can thrive.

Deadline to submit: Not given so ASAP

More info

Apply to speak

National School Leaders Conference

Location: Orlando, FL

Date: July 13-15, 2026

Audience: School leaders, administrators, teachers. etc.

Looking for: The NAESP 2026 National School Leaders Conference is organized around eight key strands that reflect the real challenges and opportunities school leaders face today, with a focus on both content-specific leadership and academic level expertise—from early childhood through secondary education. 

Pillars: Whole School Wellness, Building Leadership Capacity, Instructional Leadership, School climate, culture, and inclusivity, Leveragng studet voice and agency

Deadline to submit: Dec 31, 2025 11:59 PM EST

More info

Apply to speak

TEDx Carlsbad

Location: Carlsbad, New Mexico

Date: Spring 2026

Theme: Reimagining Our Future: Innovating in the Age of AI

Deadline to submit: Not given so ASAP

Apply to speak

Entre FEST 

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Date: June 11-12, 2026

Audience:  400+ entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders

Looking for: 

Deadline to submit: Dec 31, 2025

More info

Apply to speak

👉 GO!!

WHAT I’M BUILDING (AND YOU’RE HEARING IT HERE FIRST)

Before I open this publicly, I’m sharing it with you first.

In January, I’m launching a 3-week accountability and implementation experience called:

Belief. Build. Bank.

It starts January 7 and runs for 21 days—because habits aren’t built by knowing; they’re built by doing.

This is not another course.
This is not theory.

This is:

• Daily prompts

• Clear weekly outcomes

• Accountability

• Access to me for Q & A

You’ll build the habits required to:

• Pitch consistently

• Follow up confidently

• Speak from belief, not hesitation

• Move from intention to income

More details coming soon, but as a newsletter reader, you’ll get first access before this goes public. Doors open later this week so reply 21 DAYS if you want in for only $97. This is the accountability you've been needing to move you from thinking about it to actually doing it. A community of highly motivated speakers building together is the perfect setup for your 2026 success. 

YOUR NEXT MOVE

If you don’t yet have your 2026 speaking plan:

• Use the next two weeks wisely

• Decide how many talks you want per quarter

• Reverse-engineer the activity required

• Remove hope from the equation

Money loves speed. So get moving. Join the 21 day challenge or go it alone but do not sit by and let Q1 sneak up on you without being prepared. 

Here for your success,
Dr. Shana

The Bankable Speaker Coach/Founder