For the (wonder) women who love to talk--and have important things to say

Yesterday I asked for your views as to why females aren't better represented at events in the roles of speakers and panel members. It has me perplexed and your feedback is ultra helpful in a piece I'm writing on the subject. I also reached out to event producers to query them--and some asked me a darn good question in return, namely:

"CK, can you provide us with some contacts for female marketers to consider for speaking opportunities?"

While I can name several savvy female speakers off the top of my head, I thought, "Wouldn't it be more advancing and fair to open it up to the community?" And then that little voice in my head said, "Why yes!...Plus, this way I can always point event coordinators who ask me in the future to this nifty little post." Ah, the efficiency that blogging affords us. Is this a (wonder)ful medium or what?

So here's what to do if you're (1) female + (2) interested in speaking at events + (3) a marketer. Just leave a comment with:

• Your name: (e.g. Jane Doe, Wonder Woman)
• Your link: A link to the page on your website or blog that entails your speaking offerings and experience (just leave a hyperlink and ensure you add in the "http://" as that way Typepad will hyperlink it)
• Where you are: Cite if you will travel (for some "free" speaking engagements you may not travel far, so include that and include where you're based out of and the surrounding cities you can run/walk/drive to). You need not be U.S.-based.
• A quick line of info.: Leave a couple sentences--not a couple paragraphs--as to your subject matter(s) marketing expertise. Ya know, the areas you can speak to and about. Remember, the URL you include will have all the rest of the details as to how truly great you are, so keep this brief, ok? Thanks.

I hope this gets you guys...er, uh, girls...some speaking gigs. Really I just want to do my part to be fair and respond to those who've asked this info. of me. That said, I also love (!) hearing you men speak at events, please trust in me and in that.

And hey, if you're a guy and want to suggest a female that these organizations should be considering for their speaking opportunities then feel free to leave the suggestion in the comments below.

I've also updated my about page to link to this post, so it's easily accessed when this post leaves my blog's homepage.

P.S.: Why did I put Wonder Woman on this post? Because she was my idol as a kid and I've always wanted her here ;-).

Comments

[Clo Willaerts]

OK I'm game :-) Especially since I'm a big fan of Wonder Woman too.
Clo Willaerts
http://www.bnox.be (my blog)
http://www.linkedin.com/in/clowillaerts (profile)
Specialties: streaming media, viral marketing, online communities, new media, mobile technologies, youth marketing, social software, blogging, podcasts,...

[Susan Getgood]

I've written about this more than once over the past few years, as have many others, women and men, to the point that I almost don't want to any more.

Almost I said :-)

I'll share a piece of advice with your readers that I suggested on my own blog a month or so ago. If you are interested, really interested in a better gender balance on your speaker roster, take a look at the BlogHer speakers for the past 3 years. You will find some pretty dynamic speakers on the list.

[Jill Konrath]

Jill Konrath, author of Selling to Big Companies
Website: http://www.sellingtobigcompanies.com
Blog: http://sellingtobigcompanies.blogs.com

Specialities:
- Helping sellers crack into corporate accounts
- What sales really needs from marketing
- Developing powerful value propositions

Frequent speaker at national sales meetings & industry events.

[Lewis Green]

Just call me Louise. I want to play, too. Okay but let me just say, Way to go, CK! Good work.

[Lori Magno]

CK - What an angel you are. Gathering up all the smart women. You, my dear - are Wonder Woman.

xoxo

[Bob Glaza]

Rock on, CK -

[Nedra Weinreich]

Hey CK, thanks for rounding us all up. Just yesterday my husband called me "Superwoman," and I said, "No, I prefer to be Wonder Woman." So, very apropos. Here's the info:

Nedra Weinreich

Spare Change Blog: http://www.social-marketing.com/blog/
Website: http://www.social-marketing.com

Location: Los Angeles, but will travel if it's worth my while

Specialties: Social marketing, as in using marketing to bring about health and social change, working with nonprofits and public agencies to promote their health and social issues; using social media for health and social campaigns.

[David Reich]

CK, how about our online friends Valeria at Conversation Agent and Toby at Diva Marketing? They should be on the list. And did anyone include Ann Handley?

[Drew McLellan]

CK,

You want to know something odd. I was chuckling to myself as I read your post and was preparing to comment something like "Lewis will put on a dress to speak" and lo and behold, he beat me to it!

Drew

[C.B. Whittemore]

Count me in!

[communicatrix]

Colleen Wainwright, communicatrix

blog :: http://communicatrix.com
work :: http://communicatrix-designs.com
bio. :: http://www.linkedin.com/in/communicatrix

I like talking about...

... the communications gap b/w "suits" and "creatives"
... how to connect in a meaningful way with just about anyone
... getting to the heart of the truth (a.k.a. "real" communication)

Thanks!