From Free Gigs to Paid Speaking with Dr. Yvette E. Pearson

Dec 2, 2025

Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, a seasoned engineer and higher education executive, shares her journey from giving free talks to becoming a paid speaker. She highlights the challenges of balancing her busy career with speaking commitments and the importance of carving out time for prospecting. Yvette explores strategies for transforming free gigs into paid opportunities and the nuances of setting fees. With practical advice on negotiating and establishing consistent habits, she encourages listeners to build momentum in their speaking pursuits.

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ADVICE

Chunk Your Power Hour

Break your power hour into short chunks you can actually find in a busy day.
Do 15 minutes daily to build momentum and habit before scaling to longer sessions.

ADVICE

Schedule Sprints Around Peak Energy

Schedule short prospecting sprints around peak energy times like before leaving work or after a routine.
Gamify consistency with streaks and small rewards to sustain the habit.

INSIGHT

Industry Credibility Can Trap You

Industry credibility helps you get stages but often brands you as an unpaid industry speaker.
To earn fees you must intentionally reposition from colleague to professional speaker.

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“Everything [The Speaker Lab] does is very intentional drive, step driven, process driven, and it can fit whatever time that you can give it…So time is less relevant. Consistency is more relevant.”

Welcome back to The Speaker Lab podcast! In this episode, we’re diving deep into the realities of building a thriving speaking business while balancing a busy professional life. Our host, Erick Rheam, brings on Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, an engineer, executive in higher education, and passionate advocate for people-centered STEM organizations.

Dr. Pearson opens up about the unique challenges she faces as she transitions from speaking for free at conferences within her industry to establishing herself as a paid, professional speaker. She discusses the struggle of carving out time for business-building activities—like prospecting for speaking gigs—while balancing the demands of a full-time job and a consulting business.

Throughout the conversation, Erick offers practical advice on how to break out of the “industry speaker” mold, set and negotiate fees with confidence, and implement consistent power hours. You’ll hear actionable strategies for navigating awkward money conversations, leveraging free speaking gigs for future opportunities, and building momentum that can transform your speaking business. Whether you’re just starting, looking to move from free to paid gigs, or searching for ways to fit speaking into an already busy life, the insights and encouragement in this episode are for you!

You’ll learn:

How to break the cycle of free speaking gigs
What defines an industry versus a professional speaker
Strategies for handling payment conversations
How to utilize contracts and exit interviews to set expectations
When to refer other colleagues for a gig
Following up with free clients for testimonials, referrals, etc.
Tracking daily prospecting as a motivational tool
And much, much more!

“...that’s your walkaway price. That’s number one. You have to have that in your mind, and you have to be prepared to actually walk away.”

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