About Speakers Inc
About Speakers Inc
Speakers Inc is a boutique speakers bureau with more than 25 years of experience connecting event planners and organizations with the right talent for every stage. Founded in South Africa and now operating with a dedicated U.S. presence, we work with clients around the world to source and book keynote speakers, event emcees, facilitators, and entertainers who move audiences.
We are not a directory or a search engine. We are a team of specialists who listen to what your event needs and find the people who can actually deliver it.
Who we work with: Corporate event planners, conference organizers, associations, nonprofits, and any organization that wants its event to leave a lasting impression.
Find the Right Talent for Every Event
Every event has a different job to do. A leadership summit needs a keynote speaker who can challenge thinking and inspire action. An awards gala needs an emcee who can hold a room for three hours without losing the energy. A strategic offsite needs a facilitator who can guide a group to real decisions. An end-of-year celebration needs entertainment that lands with your specific crowd.
Speakers Inc represents and sources talent across all of these categories:
- Keynote speakers across industries including leadership, innovation, technology, resilience, diversity and inclusion, sales, and more
- Event emcees who can host, anchor, and elevate your program from opening to close
- Facilitators experienced in guiding workshops, strategy sessions, and group conversations
- Entertainers who bring energy, humor, and memorability to corporate and social events
- Industry experts and thought leaders who add credibility and depth to panel discussions and breakout sessions
- Motivational speakers who connect emotionally and give your audience something to carry home
Through our membership in the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB), we also have access to more than 30,000 speakers worldwide, which means if the right person for your event isn’t on our core roster, we can find them.
A Personalized Approach to Speaker Booking
Booking a speaker through Speakers Inc is not a transactional process. It starts with a conversation.
Before we recommend anyone, we take the time to understand your event in detail. That means asking about your audience, your objectives, your format, your budget, and the specific moments you want to create. A speaker who was brilliant at a tech conference last month may be entirely wrong for your company’s annual leadership forum.
How the process works
- Tell us about your event. Share the details: the date, format, audience size, industry, tone, and what you want attendees to walk away with.
- We build a shortlist. Based on your brief, we identify speakers who are genuinely suited to your event, not just available on your date.
- We present our recommendations. Each suggestion comes with context: why this person fits, what they typically deliver, and what to expect from them on stage.
- You choose. We handle the booking, contracts, briefing, and logistics from there.
The difference it makes: Personalized speaker recommendations mean your audience hears something relevant to them, not a generic keynote that could have been delivered anywhere. That specificity is what turns a good event into a memorable one.
We stay involved through event day, coordinating with speakers and handling any changes so you can focus on running the event.
Why Event Planners Choose Speakers Inc
We have built this business on four values that shape every interaction we have, with clients and with speakers.
| Value | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Honesty | We tell you when a speaker is not the right fit, even if they are available and on budget. You get our real assessment, not a sales pitch. |
| Integrity | We do what we say we will do. Timelines, recommendations, and commitments are taken seriously. |
| Loyalty | We invest in long-term relationships, not one-off transactions. Many of our clients have worked with us across multiple events and years. |
| Trust | Every recommendation we make is one we stand behind. Your confidence in us is something we earn with every booking. |
These are not aspirational values on a wall. They are the reason we choose to work only with clients and speakers who share the same standards. The speaker bureau industry runs on relationships, and relationships run on character.
Our standard: We represent speakers we believe in and recommend only those we would confidently put in front of our own audience.
Our Leadership Team
Duncan Hesketh, Bureau Principal
Duncan has spent more than two decades in the professional speakers bureau industry. As Bureau Principal of Speakers Inc, he leads the team’s talent strategy, client relationships, and speaker curation. His background gives him a sharp sense for which speakers deliver real impact and which ones simply give a polished presentation. Event planners who work with Duncan consistently describe him as a trusted advisor, someone who asks the right questions and brings back recommendations that actually fit.
Gustavo Macedo
Gustavo brings more than a decade of international experience in sports management and corporate business development to his role at Speakers Inc. Based in Latin America, he leads the bureau’s regional expansion, building relationships with clients and speakers across the market. His background managing high-level projects for global brands including Experian and Nissan gives him a practical, results-oriented approach to client service. Gustavo is the primary contact for organizations in Latin America looking to source speakers for events in the region.
Amy Johnson, Customer Advocate and Support Administrator
Amy is the person who keeps everything running smoothly once a booking is underway. As Customer Advocate and Support Administrator, she handles client communications, coordinates logistics with speakers, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks between contract and event day. Her attention to detail and genuine commitment to the client experience make her an essential part of every booking. If you have a question, Amy is usually the first person who picks up.
Global Reach, Personal Service
Speakers Inc has always operated across borders. With roots in South Africa, a dedicated U.S. office in Carlsbad, California, and regional coverage across Latin America, we are built to serve international clients and source talent for events anywhere in the world.
Our membership in the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) gives us access to a network of more than 30,000 speakers globally. That reach matters when you need a speaker with specific expertise, a particular cultural perspective, or the ability to present in a language other than English.
What global reach means for your event
- Source speakers from any country or region
- Book talent for events in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and beyond
- Access niche expertise that may not be available through a single-market bureau
- Coordinate international logistics with a team experienced in cross-border bookings
Despite that scale, the experience of working with Speakers Inc remains personal. You deal with a small, dedicated team who know your event, not a ticketing system or an automated shortlist. Every recommendation comes from a real conversation.
The combination of global access and boutique-level service is what sets us apart from both large agencies and local-only bureaus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a speaker through Speakers Inc?
Start by contacting us with a brief overview of your event: the date, location, audience size, and what you are hoping to achieve. From there, we will schedule a conversation to learn more and begin building a shortlist of speakers tailored to your needs. We handle the contracting, briefing, and logistics once you have made your selection.
Can Speakers Inc help me find an event emcee?
Yes. Finding the right event emcee is one of our core specialties. We represent a curated roster of professional emcees and can also source hosts from our broader network. We match emcees based on your event format, audience, tone, and program complexity, whether you need someone polished and formal, energetic and comedic, or somewhere in between. Browse our event emcees to see who is available.
How are speaker recommendations made?
Every recommendation is based on a direct conversation about your event. We ask about your audience demographics, the objectives you want to achieve, the tone you want to set, and any sensitivities or constraints to be aware of. We do not send generic lists. Each shortlisted speaker comes with a clear explanation of why they are a strong fit for your specific event.
Does Speakers Inc work with international events?
Yes. We book speakers for events across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and beyond. Our team has experience coordinating international logistics, and our IASB membership gives us access to talent from virtually any region. If your event is outside the U.S., we are well-equipped to help.
When should I start the process of booking a speaker?
As early as possible. For high-profile keynote speakers and event emcees, availability can fill up six to twelve months in advance, particularly around peak conference seasons. That said, we regularly handle shorter timelines when needed. If your event is coming up quickly, contact us and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Trusted by Leading Organizations
Speakers Inc has sourced and booked speakers for organizations including Bidvest, Amazon, Safra Bank, Cohera, A&O Hostels, LeSaffre, and colleges and universities across multiple regions. Event planners across industries and sectors trust us to deliver the right talent for their most important events.
Ready to Find Your Speaker?
Whether you are planning a flagship conference, an internal leadership summit, an awards ceremony, or anything in between, the right speaker or host can define how your audience remembers the day.
Speakers Inc is here to make that match. Tell us about your event and we will get to work.
Who are we?
As the Bureau Principal of Speakers Inc, Duncan Hesketh is the driving force behind our commitment to excellence in the speaker bureau industry. With a career spanning over two decades, Duncan has a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to connect exceptional speakers with audiences around the globe.
Duncan’s passion for forging meaningful connections and his unwavering dedication to providing exceptional service have earned him a reputation as a trusted partner and advisor to event planners and speakers alike. His keen eye for talent, coupled with his ability to understand the unique needs of each event, allows him to curate a roster of speakers that is both diverse and inspiring.
Under Duncan’s leadership, Speakers Inc has become synonymous with quality, professionalism, and innovation in the world of professional speaking. His vision and strategic guidance have propelled Speakers Inc to new heights, establishing the agency as a leader in the industry.
Duncan’s commitment to excellence extends beyond his role at Speakers Inc. He is deeply involved in various industry associations and is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in his own right. His insights and expertise have helped shape the landscape of the speaker bureau industry, and his dedication to raising the bar for excellence continues to inspire those around him.
When he’s not busy connecting speakers with audiences, Duncan can be found exploring new destinations, indulging in his love of food, and spending time with his family. His passion for life and his commitment to making a difference in the world are evident in everything he does, both professionally and personally.
As a seasoned Sports Management Professional with over a decade of international experience, Gustavo brings a strategic, client-focused mindset to his new role at Speakers Inc. Based in Latin America, he is dedicated to expanding our regional presence by identifying new client opportunities, nurturing key relationships, and building a robust speaker and event database tailored to this dynamic market.
From managing training facilities in Brazil to steering high-level projects at global brands like Experian and Nissan, Gustavo has consistently delivered growth through operational efficiency, strategic planning, and a passion for world-class service. His deep understanding of market dynamics, especially in the sports and corporate sectors, equips him to bridge cultural and commercial gaps, helping Speakers Inc. connect clients with impactful speakers across Latin America.
As the Customer Advocate and Support Administrator for Speakers Inc, Amy Johnson plays a crucial role in ensuring that every client receives exceptional service and support. With a passion for customer satisfaction and a keen attention to detail, Amy goes above and beyond to exceed the expectations of our clients and speakers alike.
Amy is the friendly voice on the other end of the phone, always ready to assist with any inquiries or requests. Whether you’re a seasoned event planner or organizing your first event, Amy is dedicated to making your experience with Speakers Inc seamless and enjoyable.
With a background in customer service and a deep understanding of the speaker industry, Amy is a valuable resource for our clients. She works closely with our speakers to ensure that they have everything they need to deliver a memorable and impactful presentation.
Amy’s commitment to excellence and her genuine care for our clients make her an invaluable member of the Speakers Inc team. When you work with Amy, you can trust that you’re in capable hands, and your event will be a success.