I Don’t Chase Stages — I Build Them (How I Keep Getting Booked to Speak)

If you’ve ever wondered how some entrepreneurs consistently land speaking opportunities, panels, and corporate invitations, this episode breaks it down. Spoiler: It’s not luck. In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares the strategy behind her recent speaking momentum — from Career Day and community events to corporate ERG panels, Power Table Live, and curated networking experiences like Coffee + ChatGPT. This isn’t about chasing stages. It’s about building them. With over 15 years of online experience as a blogger, influencer, agency owner, and marketing strategist, Michelle explains how speaking opportunities compound when you focus on ecosystem building, proximity, and infrastructure — not pitching. If you’re a solopreneur, coach, consultant, or creative looking to grow your authority and get booked without begging, this episode is your blueprint. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to get speaking engagements without cold pitching Why hosting your own events builds credibility faster The strategy behind panels and association capital How to warm up rooms before you enter them Why community speaking (like Career Day) strengthens authority How to build a speaking ecosystem instead of chasing invitations The difference between exposure and positioning The Speaking Strategy No One Talks About Most people wait to be picked. Michelle shares why convening — hosting events, creating conversations, and building rooms — positions you as a thought leader before you ever step on a stage. In this episode, she explains: • Why Coffee + ChatGPT is more than just an event — it’s authority architecture • How pre-networking builds familiarity before panel appearances • Why corporate ERG panels expand credibility beyond entrepreneurship • How stacking rooms across industries increases visibility and leverage If you want to be the “obvious one” in your space, you need more than a polished bio — you need proximity and infrastructure. Mentioned in This Episode Coffee + ChatGPT An intimate, strategy-focused gathering where solopreneurs learn how to leverage AI, visibility systems, and backend infrastructure without losing their voice. Join Here: https://www.beyondthebook.online/events-1/chatgpt-coffee-a-simple-guide-for-real-business-owners-guest-presenter-michelle-thames Key Takeaway You don’t need to chase stages. You need to build rooms. Authority compounds when you consistently convene, connect, and position yourself strategically across aligned spaces. About Michelle Thames Michelle Thames is a marketing strategist, podcast host of Social Media Decoded, and founder of Thames Media Solutions. She helps multi-passionate women entrepreneurs build visibility ecosystems that turn attention into revenue and opportunities. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.