Stop Public Speaking for Free and Learn How To Get Paid | Saana Azzam - Founder of MENA Speakers

Public speaking is something we all do, but for Saana Azzam, it became a business, a career, and a way to reshape how an entire region finds its voice. She built a platform that turns people’s stories, ideas, and expertise into paid opportunities and meaningful impact. In this episode of The Brand of You, Saana Azzam, Founder of MENA Speakers, joins us to uncover the craft behind speaking, and how to build a career from it. We chat about: ↳ How Saana went from economist to one of the Middle East’s most in-demand speaker coaches. ↳ What separates a good speaker from an impactful one. ↳ Why so many people still speak for free and how to start charging for your voice. ↳ The inner critic, stage anxiety, and the surprising mindset shift that changed her approach to confidence. ↳ How personal branding shapes every opportunity on and off the stage. If you want to learn how to step onto any stage with clarity, own your message, and get paid for the value you bring, tune into this episode now! Chapters 00:00:00 Opening: The $100,000 Speaking Fee Reality 00:01:00 From Finance to Founding MENA Speakers 00:02:06 Why Events Need Great Speakers 00:02:59 The Speaker Pyramid: From Educational to Transformational 00:04:49 The Three Pillars: Narrative, Delivery, and Personal Brand 00:07:33 Stop Speaking for Free: Understanding Speaker Rates 00:09:36 The First Paid Gig: From Student to Paid Speaker at 20 00:13:05 Battling the Inner Critic: Finding Your Power on Stage 00:17:31 Stage Presence: Why Standing Changes Everything 00:26:49 First Impressions and What You Wear Matters Listen on: Spotify: Apple:  Connect with Saana:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saanaazzam/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saanaazzam/  MENA Speakers:  Website: https://mena-speakers.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menaspeakers/  Follow Our Host - Robyn Abou Chedid:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynabouchedid/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlnamedrobyn/