The Business of Speaking: Negotiating Fees, Building Relationships, and Getting Referrals with Teri DeLucca, PhD

In this episode, I sit down with Teri DeLucca for a candid conversation about what really happens behind the scenes in the speaking industry, from getting your first speaking engagements to negotiating fees, navigating “pay-to-play” conferences, and building the confidence to take bigger stages.

Teri shares how she went from feeling intimidated and unsure if she belonged on stage to becoming an in-demand speaker traveling across the country.

We talk openly about the realities many speakers face but few discuss publicly: speaking for free, undercharging, the gender pay gap in speaking fees, networking with other speakers, and learning to see speaking not as performance — but as service.

We also dive into Teri’s new AI platform, Luma, a human-centered AI “thinking partner” designed to support educators and leaders with communication, stress management, organizational culture, and decision-making. Plus, she shares exciting news about becoming a finalist for a grant funded through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on women and AI innovation.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How speakers actually get booked
• When to speak for free (and when not to)
• How to raise your speaking fees with confidence
• What event organizers don’t tell speakers
• How AI is changing leadership and work
• Or whether you really have what it takes to speak…

…this conversation is for you.

About Our Guest: Dr. Teri DeLucca is a developmental psychologist and the founder of Impact Early Education, which equips leaders with strategies that improve outcomes for children, teams, and businesses. She holds a dual PhD and previously worked as a research scientist specializing in teacher-child interactions and early intervention in neurocognitive and social-emotional development. Dr. DeLucca has successfully operated schools, reducing staff turnover, strengthening school culture, and driving sustainable growth. In addition to her work in education, she speaks nationally to corporate organizations and women’s groups on personal leadership, communication, resilience, and coaching strategies. She is a published author, award-winning researcher, speaker, and recognized leader in the industry.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/474/

Teri’s website: https://impactearlyed.com/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Teri DeLucca (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-teri-delucca-46b296200/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 338: Escaping the Expert Trap: From Academic Presenter to Sought-After Speaker with Teri DeLucca