Community and #SpeakerFriends Matter

At Innovation Women, we’ve always believed in the power of community—and after years of witnessing the connections formed through our weekly Speaker Friend Friday calls and our online community, the Innovation Women Network, we know one thing for sure: community is critical. 

Since launching our online community, the Innovation Women Network in August 2024, and running our weekly free, open-to-all networking call, Speaker Friend Friday since March 2020, we’ve seen firsthand how game-changing it can be when speakers connect, support one another and grow together. 

Whether you’re new to speaking or preparing for your next big keynote, having a trusted group of speakers, what we call #SpeakerFriends, can take your career to the next level. And there’s no better Speaker Friend than someone who’s just a few steps ahead of you, offering guidance you didn’t even know you needed. 

Here Are Three Powerful Ways a Supportive Community Can Help You Succeed:

1. Seeking Opportunities: Your Network Is Your Secret Weapon

Referrals are often your best path to new speaking gigs—but don’t overlook the goldmine in your current circle. Tap into your existing community: 

• What events have you attended before? 
• What groups or associations do you belong to? 
• Who in your life might have connections to conferences or speaker programs? 

Community helps you turn casual conversations into real opportunities. A 2024 MBO Partners report found that 53% of independent professionals rely on word-of-mouth referrals to find work—yet many overlook the importance of actively nurturing their networks (MBO Partners, 2024). That’s a missed opportunity. The right introduction or warm lead can often come from the most unexpected place—your alumni group, a coworker’s cousin, or someone from Speaker Friend Friday or the Innovation Women Network.

2. Seeking Answers: Learn from the People Who’ve Been There

Let’s be honest: being a speaker involves so much more than just crafting a talk. You’re also dealing with tech setup, travel hacks, contracts, marketing tools and more. And Googling “best mic for public speaking” only gets you so far. 

That’s where a speaker community really shines. 

Need a recommendation for a sizzle reel editor? Wondering if you should start a podcast? Curious about pricing strategies? Our community–both the Innovation Women Network and Speaker Friend Friday– is filled with people who’ve tested it all and are more than happy to share what worked (and what didn’t). A Harvard Business Review study found that people who seek advice from experienced peers perform significantly better than those who rely solely on personal research or authority figures (HBR, 2018).

3. Seeking Feedback: Honest Feedback is a Gift

After your talk, someone will tell you, “That was great!”—even if it wasn’t. Most people want to be kind, not honest. But real growth comes from constructive feedback, and only other speakers truly get how essential that is. 

That’s why we encourage every speaker to find a feedback partner or join a community like ours. A place where you can swap stories, test ideas and (most importantly) get real feedback from people who understand the stakes. 

Professional speaker mastermind groups operate on the same principle: share openly, reflect honestly and hold each other to a higher standard. Whether it’s your pacing, your message clarity, or your visuals, feedback from fellow speakers helps you show up better next time. 

The Bottom Line 

At Innovation Women, we’ve built a thriving community because we’ve learned the same lesson over and over: speakers need #SpeakerFriends. 

You need people to bounce ideas off. People to celebrate with. People who can say, “I’ve been there,” and mean it. 

If you’re looking for your people, we’ve got space for you. Join the Innovation Women Network or stop by Speaker Friend Friday—we’d love to meet you. 

Let’s grow together. 

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