EXp Realty team leader Kendall Bonner has created a new professional development academy to help real estate professionals build public speaking skills that can be applied across a variety of platforms, Bonner has told Inman.
Industry Speaks Academy provides real estate professionals with structured training and feedback that will arm them with a set of professional standards and readiness when it comes to speaking opportunities, including at events, on panels, in podcasts and on other platforms.
The academy is currently in a soft launch phase as it onboards a first round of applicants and refines systems, Bonner told Inman. The company intends to transition to a full launch later this month.
Kendall Bonner
“Speaking is not about exposure,” Bonner, who is the founder of Industry Speaks Academy, said in a statement. “When someone is invited to speak, they are entrusted with time, attention and influence. This Academy exists to help professionals honor that responsibility and to help organizers confidently identify prepared voices.”
The live training program is group-based and will provide members with access to online, on-demand training and opportunities to practice speaking live.
Bonner is currently the primary trainer and designer of the academy’s curriculum, but future plans include growing with guest faculty and industry leaders incorporated into the instruction program.
Enrollment is determined first through a written application, which is followed by a conversation to determine the applicant’s alignment, preparation and fit for the program, Bonner told Inman.
Individuals who enroll in the standard program will participate in monthly live group sessions of 60-90 minutes in length, with a rotating group presenting live, according to the academy’s website. An accelerated, 12-week program includes weekly meetings, and a masterclass program includes twice-per-month meetings.
Tuition for the standard program is $10,000 for the first year, which can be paid in two installments of $5,000 each. Memberships may be canceled within 30 days if no live training has been attended.
The accelerated and masterclass programs are invite-only due to “a greater investment of time and tuition,” according to the academy’s website.
Although speaking engagements are not guaranteed through the program, the academy is already engaged in conversation with event organizers “who have expressed enthusiasm about sourcing prepared speakers through the program,” a press release said.
“Organizers are not just looking for talent,” Bonner said in a statement. “They are looking for reliability, clarity and professionalism. We are excited to help expand the pool of voices that are truly ready to contribute at a high level.”
More information can be found on the Industry Speaks Academy website.
