February marked a milestone for the KZN Chapter of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA), delivering a night filled with inspiration, breakthrough insights, and record-breaking attendance. With 35 attendees, including 8 first-time guests, this meeting saw the highest turnout in our chapter’s history – proof that our commitment to bringing high-value speakers is creating a real impact.
Speaker Factor Regional Entries
Adding to the excitement, February also marked the kickoff of the KZN Speaker Factor Regional entries, featuring three contenders delivering powerful speeches. Kwande Ntobela spoke on the thought-provoking socio-economic topic of “The Blue Oceans We Refuse to See,” Katy Mthethwa passionately presented her moving and contemplative speech on “The Future of Thriving Together,” and Kavesan Pillay inspired the room with “Chase the Dream, Not the Competition: Finding Your Unique Path to Success.” After a highly competitive and passionate contest, Katy emerged as the KZN regional winner, with Kavesan securing the regional runner-up spot, both advancing to the semi-finals on March 11th. The energy in the room was electric as members rallied behind the contenders, celebrating their growth as speakers and thought leaders.
3 Cs of Starting, Maintaining, and Scaling a Speaking Business – Insights
from Zanele Njapha
Our esteemed speaker for the evening, “The UnLearning Lady” herself – Zanele Njapha, delivered a powerhouse talk titled “The 3 Cs of Starting, Maintaining & Scaling a Speaking Business.” A former PSASA Speaker Factor Winner, Past Chapter President, and seasoned professional speaker, Zanele shared deep insights on what it takes to grow and sustain a thriving speaking career. Her core message? “The basics make it possible for the specifics to work.”
Her framework for success? Credibility, Community and Cash. Here’s what we learned:
1. Credibility – Becoming the Go-To Voice
Your speaking business flourishes when your name becomes synonymous with the solution you provide. Zanele emphasised that instead of touting yourself as an expert, position yourself as a contributor to the greater conversation. The key to building credibility is consistent visibility and value-sharing across different types of media:
●Paid Media: Leveraging advertising and paid placements.
●Shared Media: Engaging in podcasts, collaborations and partnerships.
●Earned Media: Becoming a trusted contributor through guest articles, interviews and industry features.
●Owned Media: Creating your direct engagement platform, such as a weekly newsletter or blog.
The bottom line? Consistency in content delivery solidifies credibility.
2. Community – Building a Tribe Around Your Brand
Great speakers don’t just have audiences – they have ‘communities’.
Zanele encouraged speakers to cultivate brand affinity by making their communities feel involved in their growth. Three ways to strengthen a community:
●Co-Creation: Involving your audience in shaping your brand journey fosters deeper engagement.
●Deeper Insights: Your audience’s feedback helps refine and tailor your messaging.
●Exclusivity: Time-sensitive offerings create urgency and increase engagement around key Calls to Action (CTAs).
3. Cash – Monetising Community & Credibility
After establishing credibility and building a loyal community, cash naturally follows.
Zanele highlighted three key monetisation strategies:
●Referrals: Leveraging happy clients and connections to expand your network and create new speaking opportunities.
●Tailored Offerings: Structuring unique, value-added services for different segments of your audience.
●Value Ladder: Creating multiple pricing tiers, offering various levels of engagement – ensuring that every prospect has an entry point into your brand ecosystem.
What’s Next?
The energy and insights from this event set an exciting precedent for what’s to come. March brings the PSASA AGM, where we’ll welcome a new leadership team and continue growing as a chapter. With Speaker Factor semi-finals around the corner, we look forward to seeing Katy and Kavesan carry the KZN banner proudly into the next stage of competition!
Stay tuned for more transformational events, expert insights and networking opportunities. If you missed this session, make sure you don’t miss the next – because the KZN Chapter is on an unstoppable growth trajectory and you’ll want to be part of it!
See you at the next meeting!
