Suggestions for Securing Speakers

You will be most successful in confirming a speaker with whom you (or someone you know well) has a solid contact.  For example, we were able to secure the CEO of a large multinational company as a recent Wharton Leadership Lectures speaker because a second-year MBA student knew this individual well.  This is a typical situation.

Our experience has been that "cold calls" and "cold letters" are not at all a good use of one's time.  And, if you have a good contact with the speaker or inside the speaker's office, a written letter of invitation is rarely necessary.  Simply call the contact and ask if the potential speaker is willing speak.  Once the speaker has agreed to come to Wharton, most of the details can be worked out over the phone or via e-mail.  To help you make sure you've covered everything, we suggest that you use the "Speaker Checklist" (.pdf) that we've developed for this purpose.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Wharton's policy is not to pay speakers any fee or honorarium.  If you would like to give the speaker a small gift as a token of your appreciation you may do so.  The gift should be tasteful but it need not cost more than $25.
• Please let the MBA Program Office and Wharton Corporate and Foundation Relations know about any speakers you are inviting to campus.  Members of both offices often have developed relationships with the companies these speakers work for and they want to keep abreast of any related activity.  This allows Wharton to steward each relationship as carefully as possible, thereby protecting the Wharton brand.
• If it is possible or likely that there will be press in attendance at your event, make sure to inform your speaker.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the MBA Program Office by e-mail or phone (215-898-7604).