CULTIVATE YOUR PRACTICE

Anyone can be an “expert,” but it’s great communicators who lead on the issues in the public arena.

Our last course helped you build out a thought leadership profile and plan, this one shows you how to execute on it. We’ll teach you a few core skills to become a leading expert in your field, and considerations to make along the way.

What You Will Learn    Mastering a panel conversation. Compared to delivering a great keynote, panels are a whole different ball game. We’ll let you in on a few handy techniques to make sure your voice stands out.   Op-ed writing. Learn how to craft a powerful op-ed that gets your name out there and shifts the narrative on the issues you care about most.    Considerations for writing a book. “Author” remains one of the most sought-after titles of a public leader out there, but should it be yours? We’ll help you consider the pros and cons of writing a book, and demystify the path to the book deal.
Headshot of instructor Sarika Bansal.
Sarika Bansal

Sarika Bansal is an editor and storyteller. She is the editor of "Tread Brightly: Notes on Ethical Travel," a book of essays. She is also a mentor with the Aspen New Voices Program, a media and advocacy fellowship for global development leaders. Her byline has appeared in the New York Times, Al Jazeera America, Guardian, VICE, Forbes, FastCompany, and other publications. 

Headshot of instructor Amanda Machado.
Amanda Machado

Amanda E. Machado is a writer and facilitator who explores how race, gender, sexuality, and power affect the way we travel and experience the outdoors. Her work has been published in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Slate, Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, Vox, and many others. In addition to her essay writing, she also facilitates workshops on anti-oppression and inclusive storytelling for organizations around the world including REI, Patagonia, HipCamp, Kampgrounds of America (KOA), University of California Berkeley, and many others.

Headshot of instructor Courtney Martin.
Courtney Martin

FRESH Speakers co-founder and chief talent officer Courtney Martin was born and raised in Colorado Springs, and has been called “one of our most insightful culture critics and one of our finest young writers” by Parker Palmer. Her writing has been described as “varied, transformational, and necessary for us all” by Jane Fonda. A two-time TED speaker, she is the author of multiple books, an advisor to the Obama Foundation and The Aspen Institute, co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network, co-founder of Valenti Martin Media, and a proud momma.