396: Creating a Signature Talk that Attracts Paid Speaking Opportunities with Cherlette McCullough

Are you ready to elevate your speaking game and attract lucrative speaking engagements?

Diane Diaz, our lead speaking coach, sits down with one of our clients, Cherlette McCullough, a licensed marriage and family therapist, to delve into the keys to crafting a compelling signature talk that not only resonates with audiences but also leads to paid speaking opportunities.

Key Highlights:

• Cherlette’s Journey: Discover how Cherlette transitioned from community speaking to landing high-paying gigs by refining her presentations and focusing on impactful delivery.
• Signature Talk Breakdown: Learn the components of Cherlette’s successful signature talk, “From Selfie to Self-Reflection,” and how her engaging approach and relatable content captivated her audience.
• Audience Engagement Tips: Get inspired by Cherlette’s innovative strategies to involve the audience, making her talks memorable and actionable.
• Visibility and Media Appearances: Understand the importance of visibility in the speaking world and how Cherlette leveraged media opportunities to expand her reach.
• Coaching and Growth: Hear firsthand how working with a speaking coach can transform your presentations and boost your confidence, leading to more significant opportunities.

You’ll learn:

• How a single talk led to multiple paid engagements for Cherlette
• The unique activity Cherlette used to captivate her audience and make her leadership talk unforgettable
• Why it’s essential to think outside the box when choosing your speaking topics and audiences
• How Cherlette’s consistent visibility and media presence has contributed to her speaking success

We know you’ll be inspired to get out there on the speaking circuit!

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/396/

Cherlette’s website: https://www.cherlettemccullough.com/

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

Work with us in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/
• Cherlette McCullough (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherlette-mccullough-22ab0b18/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 373: From Free to Fee: How to Get an ROI from Speaking
• Episode 367: Steps for Creating Your Speaking and Visibility Plan

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable