Worried that giving the same talk more than once would box you in - or worse, bore you to tears?

I’ve been there. And if you’re a builder-of-slides-at-heart like me, the idea of sticking to one signature talk can feel a little… constraining.

But here’s the truth: the talk you give again (and again and again) is the one that becomes unforgettable - for you and your audience.

In this episode, I’m joined by Thought Leader Academy graduate Kelly Mallery, who proves exactly that. Kelly works in the continuous improvement and lean space, and she discovered that honing one powerful talk didn’t limit her creativity, it amplified it. And it opened doors.

We talk about how she’s evolved her talk, why a transformer toy has become part of her on-stage brand (yes, really), and how she learned to adapt the same content for both 20-minute and 60-minute speaking slots without losing impact.

Whether you’re speaking to industry peers, corporate audiences, or groups who’ve never heard of your topic before, what Kelly shares will help you rethink how reusable and scalable your signature talk can be.

Kelly and I talk about:

• Why one signature talk can actually increase your impact, confidence, and clarity
• How Kelly transformed her message by introducing her “Resistobots” (inspired by her love of Transformers)
• The power of refining the same talk through multiple deliveries
• What changes—and what stays the same—when adapting a talk from 20 minutes to 60 minutes
• How your ideal audience and your buyer can be two different people, and why it matters
• The importance of opening strong and closing with purpose (no rushing just to “get to the content”!)
• Why props, stories, and frameworks make your message stick—and lead to more speaking invites

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/453/

Kelly’s website: https://www.kellymallery.com/

Watch Kelly deliver a 10-minute version of her signature talk = https://www.youtube.com/live/4ytvyFXfGU0?si=BH8Z-8qt8Npt2XWu

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
• Kelly Mallery (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-mallery-coaching/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 345: Elevate Your Audience Engagement Skills with These Proven Strategies with Katie Anderson
• Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You
• Episode 354: Finding and Developing Your Big I.D.E.A.
• Episode 440: No Need to Start from Scratch: Repurpose Your Signature Talk for Different Topics and Audiences

Whether you’re in corporate aiming for your next big role or an entrepreneur looking to attract higher-value opportunities, this episode gives you the clarity and strategy to move forward.

I’m joined by my friend and career strategist Kate Wade, founder of Get Her Hired, who brings her signature mix of humor, candor, and deeply practical insight.

Together, we unpack why talented women get stuck, how to craft a powerful career narrative, and what it really takes to position yourself for bigger stages, promotions, clients, and visibility.

Kate and I talk about:

• Why being “good at everything” keeps women from advancing
• The difference between features and benefits in your career story
• How to find the throughline in your background and experiences
• The hidden ways women make themselves indispensable — and how it backfires
• What recruiters say is actually happening in the job market
• How to have career-advancing and opportunity-advancing conversations
• What AI can help you with in résumé writing — and what it definitely can’t
• The problem with AI-written speaker applications (and why they all sound the same)
• Kate’s new résumé course Hit Send — with a generous discount for listeners

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/452/

Kate’s website: https://getherhired.com/

Get Kate’s new course “Hit Send”: https://getherhired.com/hitsend/

• Save 60% with the coupon code “SpeakingYourBrand”

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

Apply for our Thought Leader Academy = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Attend our 1-day in-person Speaking Accelerator workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Kate Wade = https://www.linkedin.com/in/katewade-getherhired/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 424: Evolving Your Brand is a Must: How to Align Who You Are, Even the Messy Parts
• Episode 436: Turn Your Stories Into Impactful Messages: Live Signature Talks from TLA Grads
• Episode 439: From Engineer to Inspiring Speaker: Finding Your Authentic Speaking Style

We all know that facts tell, but stories sell. And when you add a touch of humor, your audience doesn’t just listen… they lean in.

In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand LinkedIn Live, we’re joined by two recent clients of our Thought Leader Academy, Angela Gillis and Crystal Daye.

They each present a 10-minute version of their signature talk that they developed with us during their VIP Day and refined throughout the program.

You get to see how they weave together story, humor, and heart to connect with their audiences and how that connection builds trust and relatability, the key ingredients for turning a talk into leads (and leads into clients!).

You’ll learn:

• How to choose and tell stories that make your audience feel seen and understood
• Ways to naturally infuse humor without forcing it or losing credibility
• The secret to transitioning from inspiration to invitation (a.k.a. your call to action)
• Behind-the-scenes insights from our speakers on what they learned while crafting their talks

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your lead generation talks less “salesy” and more human, this is your chance to see exactly how it’s done.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/451/

Watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/GcZsw9UEWAA

Angela's website: https://www.sorticulturesystems.com/

Crystal’s website: https://crystaldaye.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
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/
• Angela Gillis = https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-gillis/
• Crystal Gaye = https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalsdaye/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 426: Every Talk Needs Humor: Here are 5 Ways to Make Your Audience Laugh
• Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You