Deliverable
An approved topic brief with evidenced examples.
Wider contribution / Speaking and convening
Put a worthwhile contribution in front of the right audience.
Develop relevant relationships with convenors, editorial teams and programme leaders around a contribution that deserves a place in their conversation.
How the outcome takes shape
- Audience
- The question worth examining
- Experience
- A decision you can explain
- Contribution
- A perspective useful to the programme
- Invitation
- Acceptance
- Completed participation
Start with what the audience should gain
Define the idea, experience or judgement you can contribute, the audience for whom it matters and the format that would serve them. Support proposed topics with real experience and approved examples. Agree whether the mandate represents the organisation, the executive personally or a clearly authorised combination.
Existing relationships may include conference hosts, editors, association leaders or fellow speakers. Missing relationships may include a programme curator, podcast producer, industry convenor or session chair. A first worthwhile conversation is: “Which unresolved question is your audience examining, and would experience from this particular decision add something useful?” The request concerns contribution before placement.
Conversion / Existing relationships
Develop an opportunity through existing relationships
Start with people who recognise the shared context or have had a genuine prior exchange with you.
Formal speaker selection, participation agreements and programme approval sit at C4, followed by the agreed preparation and delivery work. The organiser controls its programme. The executive owns the contribution and substantive participation; StepUp prepares materials and coordinates agreed follow-through with the executive office.
C1Prioritise existing relationships
Confirm relevant convenors, producers and editors, prior exchanges and permissions; prepare an audience-specific relationship brief.
C2Open the right conversation
Reconnect with a concrete contribution relevant to their audience and programme; prepare an approved topic note.
C3Establish mutual fit
Test subject, audience, format, editorial expectations, timing and decision route; document whether a specific participation opportunity fits.
C4Progress the opportunity
Coordinate selection, invitation terms, internal approvals, preparation and delivery arrangements with the organiser; track agreed commitments.
C5Sustain the relationship
Complete promised follow-through, share approved material where appropriate and maintain useful contact after participation or non-selection.
Building / Missing relationships
Build relationships with relevant convenors
Build the missing relationships through a relevant contribution, a legitimate introduction or an appropriate direct approach.
A new person introduced by an existing contact starts in Building. The relationship with the introducer remains in Conversion.
B1Map missing relationships
Identify programme leaders and convenors whose audiences match the proposed contribution; record the relevance of each.
B2Prepare a credible route
Find an authorised introduction or prepare a concise, evidenced contribution suited to the organiser's work.
B3Open contact
Make the agreed approach through the appropriate editorial or programme channel; record the response accurately.
B4Establish a two-way relationship
Exchange substantive views about audience needs and possible contribution; establish a welcomed way to continue.
Continue from the evidence you have
A trusted speaker introduction may satisfy B2 and B3 together. A first substantive discussion of a particular session may establish B4 and C3 in the same exchange. Otherwise continue at the first unmet Conversion step, with C5 appropriate when both welcome continuity without a present opening. A current agreed record and a live outcome-specific exchange can satisfy C1 and C2. Public contribution is an optional route, not a posting quota; no fixed familiarity period establishes readiness.
B4 establishes a two-way relationship. C3 tests a particular opportunity. Continue at the first unmet Conversion step with one relationship owner; there is no repeated onboarding.
Progress / Evidence
Distinguish invitation from completed participation
Reciprocal progress
An organiser engages on a specific programme opportunity or issues an invitation.
Final result
The agreed participation takes place. An invitation, acceptance, scheduled appearance and completed contribution are separate milestones. Audience response or later opportunities require their own evidence and should not be inferred from stage access.
One coordinated programme
Prepare one contribution and one coordinated approach
Corporate representation uses approved messages and reporting. Personal profile work has separate permissions, especially where company experience or information is involved. One relationship owner coordinates contact with each organiser across authorised outcomes, alongside communications teams and any existing representatives.
You
Set the priorities. Bring your judgement to the conversations and decisions that need your involvement.
Your office
Your chief of staff or nominated owner validates context, coordinates existing teams and exercises delegated approvals.
StepUp.One
Research, drafting, conversation preparation, coordination and agreed reporting around the relationships in scope.
Review one audience and one contribution
Discuss the question worth addressing, evidence you can share, relevant convenors, permissions and availability. Agree a useful first conversation and the owner of any subsequent approach.
- The audience question and contribution worth sharing
- Real experience and examples you can disclose
- Relevant convenors, formats and availability
- The first discussion and the owner of follow-through
Arrange an executive briefingFor you or your chief of staff.