The Laylee Emadi Podcast — For Speakers, Coaches, and Course Creators · Laylee Emadi

220: What Conference & Event Hosts are Looking for in Speaker Pitches

September 22, 2025·38 min·2 clips

Christina Olivares asks whether a speaker is coming for clients, networking, or experience.

1. The Laylee Emadi Podcast episode about what conference and event hosts want from speaker pitches focuses on how hosts choose speakers. 2. Laylee Emadi speaks with Elizabeth Henson, Jordan Gill, Christina Olivares, Amber Housley, Christina Bartold, and Joanna Waterfall, each of whom hosts events or selects speakers. 3. The episode asks what makes a pitch say yes, what sends it to the no pile, and how speakers can get on a host's radar. 4. Elizabeth Henson says finding great speakers is not a pain point, so she looks for people who are already in her community or membership. 5. Elizabeth Henson also says she often has a speaker on her podcast first to check energy and speaking style before putting them on stage. 6. Elizabeth Henson says outside speakers usually come through referrals and need to fit the vibe of the room. 7. Jordan Gill says her process is heavy on applications because she wants to give overlooked people a way to be seen. 8. Jordan Gill says her team deep-dives the applications and sends her the top 16 based on criteria her team understands. 9. Jordan Gill says she does not want the first time she hears about someone to be their speaker application. 10. Jordan Gill says she prefers applicants who would actually attend the event and who are honest about their intentions. 11. Christina Olivares says she uses a point system and may get more than 75 pitches for Hustle and Socialize Conference. 12. Christina Olivares says applicants must send a video so she can see body language and real-time presence. 13. Christina Olivares says she asks about years of business and speaking experience, mission fit, and whether someone wants clients, networking, or experience. 14. Christina Olivares says she filters out sessions that sound like a podcast, YouTube video, or a common mindset topic. 15. Christina Olivares says she wants beginner, intermediate, and advanced sessions in the mix, plus topics that create something tangible in the room. 16. Amber Housley says she has used both applications and invitations, often in a pretty even split when she built lineups. 17. Amber Housley says she wants speakers who are an extension of her brand and who can later be a trusted next step for attendees. 18. Amber Housley says audience size can be nice, but it is not everything, and she cares more about fit and value. 19. Listeners who pitch stages, build conferences, or choose speakers for business events will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners looking for storytelling, entertainment, or a non-business topic will probably skip it.

As heard by us

A clear look at what event hosts reward, reject, and remember in a speaker pitch.

This episode looks at the pitch process from the host side of the inbox, using event hosts' own guidance to explain why some speaker applications move quickly and others get dropped.

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Why you'd press play

See your speaker pitch through the eyes of the hosts deciding yes or no.

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