AT this point in my life, I have been fortunate enough to have the pleasure for the past 4 years in becoming an international speaker, gracing stages and virtual events across the Caribbean, United States, Canada and United Kingdom and let me tell you, landing these gigs is extremely competitive.

I have had to dial in on building my brand, creating a tonne of content in my area of expertise and continuously learn how to market myself and get my content in front of the right eyes to get booked as a speaker.

The Caribbean is chock-full of talent and amazing minds in their respective spaces, but they may not be the best at marketing themselves. As I continue to travel and get on stages, I am always thinking about how we lack representation at many of these conferences and that we have lots of insights from our region that we can share, that will provide value in these rooms. The challenge always comes down to our experts aren’t doing enough to get themselves noticed, to be put on these stages around the world.

In the landscape of global public speaking and personal branding, few stand out like Dr Terri-Karelle Reid from Jamaica. Her path highlights the impact of individual effort and vision in reaching international acclaim. Alex V Sterling serves as executive liaison to Dr Reid.

Alex’s collaboration with Dr Terri-Karelle Reid and the international events he’s been exposed to has been a pivotal learning experience, showcasing the potential and the gaps in representation for Caribbean speakers on the world stage. Through this venture, Alex is not just leveraging his experiences; he’s creating a launchpad for Caribbean voices, aiming to fill the void in events.

Due to the work that these two have done, they essentially live on a plane, speaking and hosting some of the biggest events around the world. It made Alex see for himself that there is a major gap, the lack of Caribbean representation at these events.

This is the genesis in which Alex has decided a new service called “The Sterling Speaker Hub”.

Alex’s aim with the new Sterling Speaker Hub is to revolutionise the speaker management industry by creating a platform that connects Caribbean speakers with global opportunities. This initiative seeks to make it easier for event organisers to find and book speakers who can deliver impactful and resonant messages, thus promoting the voices and expertise of the Caribbean on a worldwide stage.

Event planners often grapple with the challenge of finding speakers who not only resonate with their audience but also bring authenticity and impactful insights to their events. Alex Sterling is addressing this issue head-on with the Sterling Speaker Hub. By curating a diverse roster of Caribbean speakers, he’s providing a streamlined solution for event organisers to connect with seasoned professionals. This initiative not only simplifies the search process but also ensures events are enriched with meaningful, engaging content from the Caribbean’s finest voices.

The launch date of the Sterling Speaker Hub is strategically chosen to mark a new beginning in the speaker management industry. It symbolises a significant shift towards recognising and elevating Caribbean voices on a global stage. This initiative is set to transform how speakers from the region are discovered, promoted, and integrated into international events, offering a fresh, diverse perspective, and fostering a more inclusive dialogue across global platforms.

The agency launches with an initial cohort of eight thought leaders and experts from across the Caribbean with representation from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and Grenada.

“I love the idea of exposing all the fantastic speakers we have in the region to a wider audience and I’m happy and honoured to be a part of something so new and exciting,” says Dionne Jackson Miller, Jamaican journalist and attorney-at-law.

“Though we originate from island nations, our gifts can have global impact. Therefore, I cannot think of a partnership with greater alignment than locking arms with a Caribbean agency, dedicated to developing the professional landscape for speakers from the region. I also cannot think of a better professional to lead the charge than Alex V Sterling, who has built a reputation for excellence in his professional exploits” adds Raphael Saul, speaker & consultant from Barbados.

Now here is the thing, we have needed people who were able to break into these rooms first, get comfortable and then open the door for the rest of us coming after and I believe that Alex has been able to do that.

The average paid speaker in the US market gets paid anywhere between US$1,500-$50,000. Now might be a great time to really think about becoming a public speaker for your niche. You can learn more about the Sterling Speaker Hub at Sterlingspeakerhub.com.

Keron Rose is a digital strategist who works with entrepreneurs in building their digital presence and monetising. Learn more at KeronRose.com or listen to the Digipreneur FM Podcast on Apple Podcast/Spotify/Google Podcast.