And then I spoke...
LaTonya Davis
Award Winning Founder??The Autism Academy~We change outcomes for kids and moms ? 2025 Summit Speaker?Executive Coach and Keynote Speaker? Global DEI Amazon Marketing + 2025 Top HR Provider?300 Million in Tech and Talent
The first time I ever spoke in public was in church, delivering the morning announcements to the congregation. I remember feeling nervous, which is funny because nerves don't even cross my mind when I speak today.
When I became a teacher, I was in charge of morning announcements at school. Mrs. Singh, my principal, had no idea that it was the HIGHLIGHT of my day. I would write scripts, rehearse with the students, and do it all over again the next day. It was pure joy. Little did I know, those moments would eventually lead to me standing on stages as a keynote speaker.
?? Being a speaker isn’t just about being on a stage—it’s about telling impactful stories that shift people from good intent to exceptional action. For me, it’s about using my LEAD Framework:
?? Learn: I start by understanding the unique needs and challenges of my audience, whether it’s Global Executives or Black women from underrepresented communities.
?? Explore: I share perspectives that challenge current beliefs and inspire new possibilities for leadership and workplace culture. One time I shared that Maslow didn’t even create the hierarchy of needs. He lifted it from Native Americans.
?? Apply: I give actionable, real-world examples so audiences can take new ideas and immediately apply them in their work and lives.
?? Do: I leave every audience ready to take action, empowered to create meaningful change.
But here’s the thing—how many Black women can you name who are paid high figures to speak? How many get the chance to stand in rooms with multimillion-dollar executives, in any industry? Too often, we’re asked to take lower fees or speak for free, while others on the same stage command $50k+ for an hour giving the same speeches they gave 10 years ago.
I once had a billion-dollar company expect me to speak for free. My response? A hard NO. Instead, I used it as an opportunity to educate their Black ERG on how we, too, deserve equitable compensation and recognition. It was a moment of clarity: inequity is everywhere, even in spaces meant to promote diversity. It’s up to us to demand better. It's why I set the rate for Black women speakers at 5 figures at Amazon.
? My advice for Black women speakers: host your own events and set your own fees. Create your own TEDx. Reach out to your former employers or educational institutions, and find opportunities that are for us, by us.
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Speaking is my gift, and every time I take the mic, it’s with the knowledge that I’m shifting people from good intent to exceptional impact. Every yes is intentional.
What advice would you give to Black women speakers? Let’s share the gems and lift each other up!
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List of Speaking Events
Organizational and Business development consultant who ROCKS THE HOUSE!!
4 周You have improved and mastered your skills You have worked at pursuing your ambitions and this is what I would say to any women who was interested in pursuing a career as a speaker to always make an effort to be better at your profession.