National Speakers Association Southern California · Elite Chapter 2024 · 2025
100% Virtual
Speakers Academy
2026 – 27
Become a better speaker.
Build a better business.
A virtual program for speakers ready to turn their expertise into a paid practice. Live Zoom sessions, and direct access to working speakers with successful businesses, many of them CSPs. Attend from anywhere.
Academy 101
Allow the experts to help you shape a killer speech.
Whether you're creating your first piece of content for the stage, or putting together a new keynote, Academy 101 guest speakers will show you the ropes — and more.
Academy 201
The shortcut every speaker wishes they'd taken sooner.
Most speakers are gifted on stage but stuck in business. They have the talk, but not the system. They get traction, but never reach the rooms that pay.
Speakers Academy 201 is the program that closes that gap. Built by NSA Southern California, inside the largest professional speaking market in the world. Live on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere.
Two cohorts, structured around the two halves of a speaking career. The talk you give. The business you build around it.
Two Cohorts · Take One or Both
Become a better speaker. Build a better business.
Sessions meet every other Tuesday live on Zoom, 4–6 PM Pacific, with additional monthly implementation labs. All sessions are recorded. NSA SoCal Chapter membership is included for the duration of the program. Enroll in a single semester cohort or sign up for the full year.
101
Become a Better Speaker
Fall 2026 · Virtual
Find your voice. Build your signature talk. Develop the foundation of a professional speaking practice over six classes, three labs, and an intro session.
For: Speakers and aspiring speakers looking to create or hone their signature speech.
| Intro | Sept 15, 2026 |
| Class | Sept 29 |
| Class | Oct 13 |
| Lab | Oct 20 |
| Class | Oct 27 |
| Class | Nov 10 |
| Lab | Nov 17 |
| Class | Nov 24 |
| Class | Dec 8 |
| Lab | Dec 15 |
201
Build a Better Business
Winter — Spring 2027 · Virtual
Build the business. Marketing, positioning, packaging, and pipeline — across nine classes and four labs designed for speakers who are ready to get paid.
For: Anyone with a well-crafted speech (including graduates of Academy 101) who wants to master the business side of building a speaking career.
| Class | Jan 26, 2027 |
| Class | Feb 9 |
| Class | Feb 23 |
| Lab | Mar 2 |
| Class | Mar 9 |
| Class | Mar 23 |
| Lab | Mar 30 |
| Class | Apr 6 |
| Class | Apr 20 |
| Lab | Apr 27 |
| Class | May 4 |
| Class | May 18 |
| Lab | May 25 |
What You Leave With
A working talk. A real business.
Five things you'll have at the end of nine months that you don't have today.
01
A working signature talk.
Built and refined over nine months with peer and facilitator feedback. Not a draft. A talk you can take to stage.
Three months dedicated to building a speech that moves audiences and inspires action — with professional guidance and assistance on crafting a compelling speech, including instruction, input, and advice from CSPs and other communications professionals.
02
A repeatable speaking business model.
Pricing, positioning, packaging, and pipeline. Not theory. The actual system working speakers use to get booked, paid, and re-booked.
03
Direct access to working speakers and CSPs.
Faculty drawn from the NSA SoCal community and the broader speaking industry. The room you're trying to reach. Already in the room with you.
04
Peer accountability across two cohorts.
Monthly mastermind groups. The same committed peers throughout the semester, across nine months. Past participants consistently name this as one of the most valuable parts of the program.
05
A path into NSA SoCal.
Academy graduates are warmly welcomed into the chapter. Membership is included during the program. Many graduates stay for the rest of their careers.
Voices from the Academy
The proof is on the other side.
Graduates who built the foundations of their speaking careers inside this program — in their own words.
"There was a framework I learned that helped me build my confidence and gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and build a business as a speaker."
Diana Jennings — Personal Brand & Image Strategist · Academy Graduate
Academy Graduate
On finding voice, framework, and audience
Academy Graduate
On building a paid speaking practice
Academy Graduate
On the community and cohort experience
What's Included
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
23 bi-weekly virtual sessions
Every other Tuesday, 4–6 PM Pacific. Live on Zoom. All sessions recorded and shared.
Monthly mastermind cohort
Small peer groups for ongoing feedback, accountability, and partnership across both cohorts.
NSA SoCal chapter membership
Included for the duration of the Academy. Attend all chapter meetings, summits, and special events.
Discounted Demo Reel Day
Academy participants get priority access to professional video and photography production at the chapter's annual event.
Investment
Take one cohort. Or take both.
Early bird pricing runs through summer. NSA SoCal Chapter members save on every tier.
Early Bird · Single Cohort
Academy 101
Foundations · Fall 2026
NSA SoCal Member
Save $75 vs. standard
$1,275
Non-Member
Includes SoCal chapter membership
$1,350
Early Bird · Single Cohort
Academy 201
Acceleration · Winter–Spring 2027
NSA SoCal Member
Save $75 vs. standard
$1,275
Non-Member
Includes SoCal chapter membership
$1,350
Early Bird
Full Year
Academy 101 + 201 · Sept 2026 — May 2027
NSA SoCal Member
Save $100 vs. standard
$2,150
Non-Member
Includes SoCal chapter membership
$2,250
Prices shown are early-bird rates and increase after summer. All tiers include NSA SoCal Chapter membership for the duration of the program. Special partner and affiliate-chapter rates may be available — contact us to learn more.
Scholarships Available
Cost shouldn't keep you off the stage.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available for the 2026–27 Academy. If the investment is a barrier, we'd still love to hear from you — apply and our team will be in touch.
For NSA Chapters Outside SoCal
Co-promote and earn.
NSA Chapter Affiliates
Bring the Academy to your chapter
Other NSA chapters can co-promote the Academy to their members. Affiliate chapters receive a 30% commission on every referred enrollment — a meaningful revenue stream for your chapter, and a powerful development opportunity for your members. Reach out to coordinate.
Ready to begin?
Limited spaces. Spots are filling up fast. Academy 101 begins September 15, 2026. Registration is open.
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