Check out our most commonly asked questions about our individual Academy membership offerings.
What is the goal of the program?
The overarching goal for the program is to finish courses and build a full toolbox of thought leadership assets.
Our biggest hope for you? We hope you leave the Academy knowing how to communicate about your work in an unforgettable way. We hope you have awesome new connections. We hope you leave knowing your value when you’re invited to give speaking and writing opportunities. But ultimately, your FRESH Speakers Academy experience will be what you make of it.
What is the difference between Academy Essentials and Academy Pro?
Academy Essentials is our lower cost investment that provides our foundational offerings out of FRESH Speakers Academy. The 4-month program follows the arc of developing an impactful thought leadership practice with a weekly newsletter that directs you to our on-demand classes, where you’ll develop a suite of tools to use again and again, like an elevator pitch, online branding, op-ed, TED-style talk, and more.
Academy Pro is our high-touch, premium membership for leaders ready to invest in personalized coaching, strategic guidance, and expanded speaking opportunities. It provides all of the foundational elements of the Academy, plus individualized support, a personalized "coaching crew" with a dedicated coach, and the opportunity to be part of The FRESH Directory, our global platform of speakers.
I have other colleagues at my organization or company who want to take part in the Academy.
We offer group experiences for FRESH Speakers Academy participants through our Academy Partners program, an institutional membership that provides the Academy Pro experience for participants. Please reach out to academy@freshspeakers.com for more info.
What is the time commitment I have to make?
To get the full FRESH Speakers Academy experience, you'll be watching approximately 1 hour of class and asset development per week, combined. (Although our course on Crafting a Short Talk will require more time than that.)
Academy Pro members will also be meeting bi-weekly for 1 hour feedback sessions with their coach and coaching crews.
How do I know where I'm supposed to be in the curriculum?
Our weekly reFRESH newsletter sends you an email with your weekly assignment, which is typically one class per week. This is the best indicator of where you should be in the program. But if you're behind, remember that the curriculum is self-paced, and the classes are on-demand! So you can always catch up if you fall behind.
What is the difference between courses and classes?
Each course is an overarching unit of 3-4 on-demand classes. (Course examples include "Seed Your Thought Leadership" or "Elevate Your Practice.")
Classes are the bite-sized, 15-30-minute lectures that fall under the overarching courses (Class examples include "The Elevated Elevator Pitch" or "Your Internal Audit"). The program is designed so members complete one class each week.
You can get a better sense of the distinction between the two on our syllabus page.
What is the difference in coaching between Academy Essentials and Academy Pro?
Academy Essentials members will have the option to join Community Office Hours once per month, designed as a group feedback session with one of our expert coaches. Here, you'll join other members to ask the coach questions, receive live feedback on the assets you're developing, and get more tips on how to maximize the Academy experience.
Academy Pro members will be matched with a "coaching crew" of four members who will be your accountability partners and comrades during the experience. You will meet with your crew every two weeks with your assigned, dedicated expert coach, who will guide you through the program and provide direct feedback, comments, and edits on your materials. These sessions are mandatory.
What is The Greenroom?
The Greenroom is a bi-monthly virtual conversation, facilitated by FRESH co-founder Courtney Martin, where the member community reflects on the questions that come up in the greenroom of a conference. (Ex. “How do I tell my story without feeling exposed, especially in rooms where the audience is demographically unlike me? How do I deal with imposter syndrome?”). Greenrooms are optional but highly recommended, and you can register for them through our community hub.
I'm falling behind on my classes. How do I make the time??
Here are a few tips on how to create the time for the Academy:
1. Schedule a dedicated time each week for Academy work. This could be a time slot scheduled in your calendar as "personal development."
2. Attend our Live Sessions. (For Directory members only.) If you don't want to watch the classes on-demand but love learning along with others, you will be invited to a live 90-minute Zoom session where we stream an entire course in one sitting with other members. These sessions are highly rated by our members, so if you're interested in taking our classes this way, email us at academy@freshspeakers.com and we'll make sure you're invited!
3. Remind yourself that this is a worthwhile strategic and creative investment -- not just for you, individually, but for your whole organization. This is why you're here!
What happens when I'm done?
Academy Essentials members will receive a FRESH Speakers Academy Certification and FRESH-certified badge that you can add to your LinkedIn page and website to share with the world that you've been professionally trained by the Academy.
Academy Pro members will receive your certification, badge, and be inducted to the FRESH Directory, where we can refer you to event curators in our network.
If you haven't finished the classes by the end of the four months, you'll have the rest of your annual membership to access the classes and finish on your own time!
Our graduates have be asked to give TED talks, doubled their speaking fees, and much more.
What happens if I want a refund?
We believe in learning that feels aligned and supportive. If this course isn’t the right fit for you, you’re welcome to request a full refund within 14 days of purchase by contacting our team. After 14 days, all sales are final. If a refund is issued, access to the course will be removed. Please reach out to us if you would like a refund.