Does the thought of public speaking make you want to throw up? Same. Three years ago, I was the person who used to avoid even introducing myself in a crowded room, and yet this year, I spoke on stage at CCR, one of the biggest events in medical aesthetics. And, unexpectedly, it changed my confidence and approach to public speaking completely.

If you’ve ever talked yourself out of applying for a panel, putting yourself forward for an industry event or even sharing your expertise beyond your clinic walls, this is the sign you needed. Speaking opportunities are one of the fastest and most effective ways to increase your reach, grow your authority and build a brand that people genuinely trust. This isn’t just about being brave or pushing yourself for the sake of it. It’s about strategically positioning yourself where the right people can actually see you. It could be in front of decision-makers, future patients, journalists, brand leaders or even just peers who shape the conversations happening across aesthetics.

Public speaking is like PR with a microphone. When you speak at an event, you’re presenting yourself as someone worth listening to, building trust in real time and reaching a completely new audience without relying on algorithms or timing. One speaking slot does the heavy lifting of months of online content because simply being chosen to speak signals credibility. Events like CCR, ACE and Aesthetic Medicine Live don’t hand out spots for fun, they choose people who have something valuable to say. When your name appears on an agenda, you borrow authority from the event itself, which instantly elevates your reputation both in the room and online afterwards.

Stepping on stage also changes how you see yourself. If you are able to push yourself out of your comfort zone and do something you’re so scared about, believe me, the endorphins you get from the back of that will be worth it. That’s genuinely the truth. The confidence that comes from doing something terrifying transforms far more than your professional profile. It shifts how you show up in consultations, how you communicate your expertise, and how you behave as a leader. Once you’ve done it once, it stops feeling out of reach. Speaking becomes something you’re capable of, then something you’re good at, and then something that grows your entire career.

Speaking is also one of the clearest paths to positioning yourself as an industry leader. If you want to become the go-to practitioner for a specific treatment, stand out in a saturated area or be top-of-mind for journalists, speaking is one of the most efficient ways to get there. Industry events bring together exactly the people you need to be visible to: journalists looking for experts, brand teams searching for educators or KOLs, conference organisers searching for fresh perspectives and practitioners you may later collaborate with. When you show up consistently, you stop chasing opportunities and they start coming to you; invitations to contribute to panels, requests for expert comment, podcast interviews, brand partnerships and features across industry publications.

What people often forget is that speaking expands your reach far beyond social media. Not everyone discovers their next clinician on Instagram. Some people trust events more than feeds; some prefer in-person learning; others follow education calendars closely, especially when they’re deciding where to invest in training, mentorship or treatment. Speaking places you directly in front of those people. And because events often backlink speakers on their websites, you gain SEO benefits that continue even after you’ve stepped off stage. This creates long-term digital visibility, which is something that directly supports your rankings, visibility and enquiries over time.

The relationship-building potential is just as powerful. One conversation at an event can open doors that months of online content can’t. Conferences bring together a targeted audience under one roof. You meet people you would never naturally cross paths with online, and the connections you make at these events often become some of the most valuable relationships in your career. They lead to collaboration, referrals, cross-promotion, education roles, product testing opportunities and deeper PR openings that help position you as an established voice in the wider industry.

The impact doesn’t end once the talk is finished. A single speaking slot creates a ripple effect that can feed your marketing and PR for months. Clips from your talk become reels. Your insights become a carousel. Your presence becomes a blog. Your quotes become a press hook. Journalists reference your contribution. Event organisers remember you when planning next year’s agenda. The visibility multiplies, and because it’s rooted in real authority, the results feel far more sustainable than relying solely on daily content creation.

If you’re wondering where to begin, the simplest way to start is by putting yourself forward and being visible in the content you already share. Talk about what you know. Share your opinions and speak from experience. The more you articulate your expertise publicly, whether online, in articles or conversations, the easier it becomes for event organisers to understand where you fit. At Quirky Frog we often pair speaking strategy and PR strategy together because they naturally elevate each other. Speaking boosts credibility, PR boosts visibility, and the two create a reinforcing cycle that strengthens your position in the industry.

One of the easiest ways to start getting speaking slots is by partnering with brands you already know, trust and genuinely use. Brands love working with practitioners who can speak authentically about their products, because nothing is more compelling than a real case study from a real clinic achieving real results. If there’s a device, injectable or skincare line you swear by, start sharing that story publicly. Talk about the outcomes you’ve achieved, the patients you’ve supported, the way the product integrates into your clinical approach. Send it over to your local brand representative to see if they have any opportunity for you to share it. When a brand sees you proactively and currently championing their work and doing it well, it becomes far more natural for them to elevate you into education roles, panel discussions or regional events. Many brands run small, local training days or intimate educational evenings long before they bring speakers onto the big national stages. These are the perfect stepping stones with supportive rooms, familiar faces and the chance to practice articulating your expertise in a low-pressure environment.

You could also create your own speaking opportunities even before anyone invites you onto a panel. Hosting an event in your own clinic, whether it’s an educational evening, an open day, a treatment showcase or even a small “lunch and learn”, is one of the safest and most effective ways to build confidence. You’re on your own turf, speaking to people who already trust you, and you have full control over the structure, tone and atmosphere. It also demonstrates initiative and leadership, which event organisers notice. And if you’re someone who freezes at the thought of approaching brands or organisers directly, working with a marketing or PR agency can help you bridge that gap. Agencies like ours know what conference teams look for, how to structure a pitch, how to position your expertise and how to build the kind of profile that makes speaking opportunities come to you. The path to speaking doesn’t start with CCR, AMWC or ACE. It starts with small, smart, strategic steps that build your visibility until the bigger stages feel like a natural next move.

Stepping into the speaking world also comes with its own mental noise, and it’s easy to slip into comparing yourself to people who’ve been doing it for years. Try not to. The goal isn’t to sound like anyone else on the stage. It’s to show up as the version of you that already resonates with your patients, your peers and the people who follow your work. When you stop performing and start speaking as yourself, a lot of the nerves ease off. Authenticity lands far better than perfection ever will, and audiences connect most with the speaker who is comfortable in their own lane.

Public speaking will always feel a little scary, even seasoned speakers get nervous, but the growth that sits on the other side is worth it. You don’t become an industry leader by staying comfortable. You become one by being visible, by sharing what you know, and by stepping into the rooms where real opportunities live. My experience at CCR this year reminded me that the magic sits inside the discomfort. And when you embrace it, doors open that you didn’t even know existed.
If you want to start securing speaking opportunities, position yourself as a thought leader or build a PR strategy that elevates your authority for 2026, we’re here to help you do it confidently, strategically and in a way that actually grows your brand. Get in touch to start your journey to the stage and success today!