What It Really Means to Be a Hall of Fame Speaker: Inspiration from My Peers
In the world of professional speaking, there is a select group of individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their craft. They are the elite, the cream of the crop, the true masters of the stage. And to this esteemed group, I have recently been added: Sylvie di Giusto, CSP, CPAE, a Hall of Fame Speaker, and yours truly.
While this induction had to remain a secret for months, some of my closest friends were invited into it just a little early, hours before the actual ceremony. I cannot thank them enough for lending their voices and opinions about this honor. Their words remind me that my journey to the coveted CPAE (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) Hall of Fame is not one of mere accolades or fleeting fame. It reflects years of dedication, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. And most importantly, it reminded me that while this industry can sometimes feel isolating, it is truly the community of speakers, friends, supporters, and mentors that makes the journey worthwhile and possible.
This video is more than a tribute. It’s the voices of my fellow Hall of Fame Speakers, captured just hours before my own induction, sharing their perspectives on what true excellence looks like. Their reflections are both humbling and inspiring, reminding me (and hopefully you) that this profession is about much more than the stage. It’s about the community, the responsibility, and the legacy we build together.
And here’s the more important part: why I am writing this post in the first place. Not simply to share an honor, but to inspire others. To learn from those who have walked the path before me and to pass forward lessons for those who will come after. What fellow speakers and professionals can take away from this moment matters even more than the recognition itself. To uncover that, learn from my peers: the world’s best keynote speakers who have been inducted into this prestigious Hall of Fame before me.
Key Takeaways
- Excellence in speaking is earned through consistency, not shortcuts.
- Innovation works only when it deepens audience impact.
- Authenticity builds trust faster than any script.
- Generosity strengthens both your influence and the profession.
- Community matters: mentors, peers, and friends make the journey worthwhile.
- Recognition is not the finish line. It’s a responsibility to elevate others.
- Hall of Fame status reflects decades of growth, resilience, and service.
The Hallmark of a CPAE Speaker
Captured during my induction on July 29th, 2025, this moment is not only a celebration of my achievement but also a tribute to the many Hall of Fame Speakers who have supported me along the way. Behind every step on this journey were friends, mentors, and peers who inspired me, challenged me, and believed in me when it mattered most. This photo is less about the award I’m about to receive and more about the community that lifted me to this stage.
The CPAE Hall of Fame is not a title that is easily earned. In fact, it is the highest lifetime honor awarded by the National Speakers Association (NSA), recognizing speakers who have reached the pinnacle of professional excellence through their message, delivery, experience, professionalism, and influence.
As David Horsager, CSP CPAE explains, “CPAE and CSP are the gold standard of speaking. They’ve been voted on by their peers as being excellent and the best to work with, providing the greatest transformation in this industry.” With only around 170 individuals worldwide holding the CPAE designation, it is truly a rare and prestigious achievement.
For aspiring speakers, this highlights an important truth: a Hall of Fame Speaker is not defined by a single performance or stage trick. The recognition comes from consistency, professionalism, and the ability to influence both audiences and the industry over time. It is about the discipline of showing up with excellence even when no one is watching, the integrity of honoring commitments to clients and colleagues, and the humility to learn from every stage, large or small. It’s also about recognizing that the journey is not just upward, but outward: expanding your impact on peers, inspiring others, constantly pushing the boundaries, and contributing to the broader speaking community.
A Benchmark of Excellence
One of the most meaningful moments of this night was congratulating my dear friend Brian Walter. Brian has been a Hall of Fame Speaker for years, and on this evening, he received the Cavett Award—the highest recognition the National Speakers Association bestows. This award honors not just excellence on stage, but an extraordinary dedication to serving our association and industry beyond it.
What excellence in the speaking world truly means is not just applause or recognition; it is being seen by your peers as someone who raises the standard for everyone.
In fact, what struck me most was that every single person in this video inspired me with their own version of excellence, reminding me to strive for higher standards, to stretch beyond what feels comfortable, and to keep contributing to the profession in meaningful ways. Their perspectives show that excellence is never about one person alone; it is about a collective of voices, each raising the bar in their own way, and together elevating the entire industry.
Marilyn Sherman, CSP CPAE, generously captures the essence of my impact, stating, “I don’t know anybody who does so much to elevate the art of a keynote speech, and I don’t know how she does it, but she has definitely raised the bar.” For David Horsager, CSP CPAE, my ability to connect with and engage an audience is what sets me apart. He shares, “I have hired her for our elite Trusted Leader Summit, and I put her on the stage right away the first day because I knew she would connect with them, engage with them, and give them an experience.” And Phil M. Jones, CSP CPAE, notes, “There are lots of people who are like someone else. There is nobody like Sylvie, and that is a true, true gift.”
For speakers seeking to follow this path, the takeaway is clear: originality matters. In a crowded marketplace, it’s not enough to be polished; you must also be unmistakably yourself. Excellence in the speaking world is measured not only by what you deliver on stage but by how much of yourself you are willing to bring forward: your values, your perspective, your quirks, and your truth. Audiences can sense when someone is merely performing versus when someone is genuinely present, and it is the latter that creates lasting influence. The advice for fellow speakers is to resist the temptation of imitation, invest deeply in discovering and refining your own voice, and have the courage to share it unapologetically. True excellence is about contributing something only you can offer, leaving audiences with the sense that they experienced something rare and irreplaceable.
Pushing the Boundaries of the Keynote Experience
Mike Staver is more than just a colleague. He’s a friend, a supporter, a truth-teller, and a champion of possibilities. When he served as Chairman of the Board for NSA, he gave me the opportunity to launch my immersive experience, without fully knowing what it would be. For that belief and friendship, I will always be grateful.
One of the hallmarks of my speaking style that my peers consistently highlight is my innovative and groundbreaking approach to keynote presentations.
As Mike Staver, CSP CPAE, describes, “The moment we all knew was when the lights went down and she popped up on the stage in magenta and fish and elephants and things started flying around the stage, and we were like, ‘I use a flip chart. This is awesome.'”
What a gift he has given me back then, as the Chairman of NSA, to bring this new and unknown magic to this community!
As Jonathan Wee, CSP CPAE even notes, “How beautifully it comes across on stage, it’s just a remarkable piece of work. So even that speech alone should put her in the CPAE Hall of Fame.” or as Lenora Billing-Harris, CSP CPAE added: “Because she helped us know what we could do if we applied ourselves and really pushed our imagination.”
You see, my innovative approach to keynote presentations is not just about flashy visuals or gimmicks. It’s about stretching the boundaries. Every single time. As Steve Spangler, CSP CPAE explains, “She is innovation. And so we get to see it in action from her standing on stage and creating this amazing experience.”
For fellow speakers, this offers a powerful lesson: innovation isn’t about technology for its own sake. It’s about utilizing tools and creativity to engage the audience, create lasting memories, and make ideas unforgettable. That means being intentional, asking what problem you are solving for your audience, how you want them to feel, and what you want them to carry with them long after they’ve left the room. True innovation is also about balance: pairing the timeless art of storytelling with the timely tools of technology, so that neither overshadows the other. Speakers can experiment boldly, but they should also evaluate carefully: did the innovation support or distract from the message? Did it help participants engage more deeply, or just entertain them for the moment? The advice here is to focus on creating relevance and resonance first, then add creative tools as amplifiers, not substitutes. When done well, innovation transforms a keynote from information into an unforgettable shared experience.
The Essence: Authenticity, Generosity, and Presence
Mike Staver is more than just a colleague. He’s a friend, a supporter, a truth-teller, and a champion of possibilities. When he served as Chairman of the Board for NSA, he gave me the opportunity to launch my immersive experience, without fully knowing what it would be. For that belief and friendship, I will always be grateful.
While I’m thankful my technical prowess and innovative approach to keynote presentations have been recognized, my peers also highlight the deeper qualities that make one a true Hall of Fame Speaker: authenticity, generosity, and presence.
Mark Scharenbroich, CSP CPAE, one of my biggest role models and the Hall of Fame Speaker who introduced me during the induction ceremony, captures the essence of my impact, saying, “She just brings a light of love to every room she walks into.” This sentiment is echoed by Steve Spangler, CSP CPAE, who notes, “Sylvie is more interested than interesting.”
For these CPAE speakers, the true value lies not just in my ability to captivate an audience, but in my genuine desire to connect with and uplift those around me. As David Horsager, CSP CPAE shares, “I trust Sylvie di Giusto, not just to deliver, but who she is as a person.”
For anyone striving to become a Hall of Fame Speaker, this serves as a reminder that authenticity is not optional. It is the core ingredient that transforms a presentation into an experience and a transaction into a relationship. Authenticity means aligning what you say with who you are, so that your values, tone, and delivery are congruent and trustworthy. It also means being willing to share stories of vulnerability, admit mistakes, and let audiences see the human behind the expertise. For speakers, this is more than a stylistic choice. It’s a strategy that builds lasting credibility, emotional resonance, and loyalty. A practical tip: evaluate each story, slide, or stage decision by asking yourself, “Does this reflect my true self and serve my audience?” If the answer is yes, you are on the path to the kind of authenticity that earns both applause in the moment and respect over a lifetime.
The Impact: Elevating the Profession and Inspiring Others
Patience is one of the most important qualities when it comes to the Hall of Fame. If you wait for it, try to play politics, or force the timing, you’ll be disappointed. My path was pure serendipity: on the evening Phil M. Jones, this year’s show host and one of my dearest friends, called me with the news of my induction, I happened to be sitting in the very restaurant where we first met years ago. Beyond the hard work, the dedication, and the planning, moments like this remind me you cannot script everything. You simply have to trust the process, and the moment.
My journey to the CPAE Hall of Fame is not just a personal achievement; it is a testament to my unwavering commitment to elevating the profession of speaking as a whole. As my peers attest, my influence extends far beyond my own stage presence, inspiring others to push the boundaries of what is possible. And I think, that’s what I’m most proud of. To have learned along the journey, it’s not about being beter than someone else. It’s about being different. So different, that the world has to watch and notice.
Lenora Billing-Harris, CSP CPAE captures this sentiment, “She helped us know what we could do if we applied ourselves and really pushed our imagination.” And Mark Scharenborich, CSP CPAE, added, “We’re all sitting back going, ‘Oh my god.’ It was like that is excellence times a billion.” Steve Spangler, CSP CPAE highlighted: “Just benchmark after benchmark after benchmark.”
For other speakers, there is an important takeaway here: the Hall of Fame is not a finish line, but a responsibility. Each new inductee carries the task of advancing the profession by thinking outside the box, pushing boundaries, and daring to attempt what has never been done before. It is about setting bold new standards that may sound wild at first but eventually become the benchmarks others will follow. For anyone on this journey, the reminder is clear: greatness isn’t measured only by the spotlight you stand in, but by the boundaries you break and the new standards you set for the industry.
Lessons for Aspiring Hall of Fame Speakers
So you want to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as well? Great! But here’s the truth: there’s no shortcut, no application form, no secret check you can write. Instead, it requires decades of practice, discipline, growth, and the willingness to be judged by those who know this profession best. While the tribute video highlights my unique contributions, it also reveals timeless lessons for anyone on the speaking journey:
Consistency beats charisma.
One great keynote doesn’t make a career. Sustained excellence and professionalism do. For emerging speakers, this means showing up the same way for a room of 30 as for a stadium of 3,000. It means developing habits of preparation, rehearsal, and delivery that are reliable under pressure. Consistency also builds trust with event planners, who know exactly what to expect every time they hand you a microphone.
Innovation has purpose.
New tools and formats are valuable only if they deepen audience impact. A Hall of Fame Speaker doesn’t chase the latest gimmick; they integrate technology, stories, and experiences in ways that serve the message. Fellow speakers can learn to ask: “Does this choice clarify or distract? Does it add value for the audience, or just add noise?” When innovation is guided by intention, it turns into transformation.
Authenticity is magnetic.
Being real resonates longer than any script. The most memorable speakers aren’t the ones who perform perfectly, but rather the ones who bring their whole selves to the stage: flaws, humor, vulnerability, and all. Audiences crave human connection, and authenticity allows trust to form instantly. To become a Hall of Fame Speaker, embrace what makes you distinct rather than trying to imitate others.
Generosity multiplies influence.
A Hall of Fame Speaker elevates not just themselves, but their peers and the profession. This generosity can show up in mentoring younger speakers, sharing insights, crediting collaborators, or simply being approachable backstage. The more you give, the more your influence grows, not because of self-promotion, but because of the genuine impact you leave on others.
Excellence is a long game.
Many see the applause, but few see the decades of work behind it. Hall of Fame Speakers didn’t arrive overnight. They built reputations over years of learning, adapting, failing, and trying again. For those on the journey, the lesson is patience: play the long game, honor the process, and understand that recognition is the byproduct, not the goal.
As one of just over a hundred CPAE Hall of Fame speakers, I’ve learned that the impact of a keynote doesn’t start at the microphone and doesn’t end when the clapping fades. I design my programs with a blend of immersive storytelling, sharp insights into emotional intelligence, and forward-thinking stagecraft—all with the goal of motivating people to take action. Every keynote is carefully crafted with intention: not just to present concepts, but to shift perspectives in lasting ways. Because in the end, the true measure of speaking is not what the speaker delivers, but what the audience takes with them.
Ready to learn more about my work. Please check out my keynotes here.
