The Power of Community in the Speaking Industry

I just returned from the annual gathering of the International Association of Speaker Bureaus, agents and managers, and the energy from that experience is still sitting in my chest. This industry is unlike any other I have ever been part of. It has its own heartbeat. Its own rhythm. Its own quiet understanding that words can change people and people can change the world.

During the gathering, I had a short moment on stage to share a story and give the room a real sense of who I am as a speaker. With so many agents and managers in the audience, it felt important to let them see my presence, my tone and the intention behind my work. It was not about impressing anyone. It was about showing the truth of how I hold a room and why I do this work in the first place.

These are the people who shape our industry from behind the scenes. They guide speakers toward the right audiences. They open pathways that allow our messages to travel far beyond where we could reach alone. They walk with us through seasons of growth, risk, reinvention and possibility. Many of them know my full arc. They know the moments that tested me and the moments that rebuilt me.

I also had the chance to meet people I had admired from a distance. Some conversations were short but meaningful. Others carried depth, humor and shared purpose. I barely touched my phone until the final night when we all celebrated in the way this community knows so well. Real warmth. Real joy. Real connection.

What struck me most is how deeply this industry values intention. People here believe that a single story told with honesty can move someone out of fear. They believe that clarity comes when we stop hiding. They believe that leadership grows when truth is spoken without apology. Every conversation last week held that belief. Every moment reflected that purpose.

Community is not an accessory in this profession. It is the core. It is the fuel. It is the reason so many of us keep doing this work even when the travel is exhausting or the schedule is heavy. We do it because we want to lift people. We want to support leaders who carry weight on their shoulders. We want to help teams rise through pressure and uncertainty with more clarity than they had before.

As I left the gathering, I felt the fullness of what this industry offers. New friendships. Stronger roots with old ones. A renewed commitment to serve with intention and heart. We speak to move people forward. We speak to steady them when life feels unsteady. We speak so others can rise with courage and conviction.

To every speaker, agent, manager and partner who continues to build this world with integrity and purpose, thank you. This community is rare. This work is meaningful. And together, we rise.