Is this about public speaking?

Yes, and more. What we've seen over the course of history is that the most impactful leaders are highly effective communicators, whether they're on a stage, in the op-ed pages, or in a meeting with potential collaborators. The academy is about giving you all the tools and knowledge we can to make you effective in all of these contexts with all kinds of audiences.


Good news is, it's not just about you.

The way we see it: it’s not about being a hero in a spotlight, but being as powerful as you can be at saying what only you can say as part of a chorus. If we’re going to build the world as we know it can and should be–with more justice, more equity, more beauty–than it’s going to take all of us. We believe in collaboration, narrative change, and collective thought leadership.   

What does the Academy do, exactly? 

FRESH Speakers Academy is a thought leadership training program that follows the arc of developing a successful communications practice through a mix of on-demand classes, live learning sessions, expert coaching, and community-building.

The program includes three core components:

  1. ONLINE CLASSES - Take one course per month, each designed for you to walk away with an asset, including a virtual TED-style talk, a soulful elevator pitch, a plan to leverage your public speaking for fundraising, and much more. 

  2. PERSONALIZED COACHING - You'll receive coaching from one of the nation's best experts along the way, providing feedback on your assets and helping you keep track of your goals.

  3. ACCESS TO SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES - Upon graduation, you'll be inducted into The FRESH Directory, a catalog of public speakers that channels members directly into the inboxes of event and media curators.

Other perks include the exclusive opportunity to learn from our faculty (which include some of the most impactful thought leaders in the world), live conversation series, office hours, and the many benefits of building a powerful community with our 300+ members from nearly two dozen countries across the globe.



Who are you, anyway?

We are FRESH Speakers, a speakers bureau with the mission of creating more inclusion and equity in thought leadership. We have curated and coached for over a dozen high profile institutions across the globe, like The Obama Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the Sundance Institute, and have coached many main stage TED speakers, with cumulative views exceeding 50 million. FRESH has a deep bench of experienced coaches and facilitators, the majority of them BIPOC+, who have vibrant careers communicating about everything from transgender rights to travel culture to land repatriation. Lucky us. Now lucky you. 




The Academy is not open to the public. Learn more about how to get involved.
A Black woman with short curly black hair, pink lipstick and blue beaded necklace, next to words that say, "The practical tools their training provided gave me the courage to amplify my voice, as well as techniques to propel me forward as a storyteller. Having them as crusaders has been not only career, but life changing. - Aisha Nyandoro, Executive Director of Sprinboard to Opportunities"