A pattern I’ve recently encountered twice in different contexts is that I would recommend a more junior (but with relevant expertise) staff for a talk and I’ve been asked if I could not recommend a more “senior” profile instead.
I thought it was with the best of intentions, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. First, this diminishes the expertise of my staff, who have demonstrated mastery over their subject matter. Second, this systematically denies young people of valuable experience and exposure. You cannot become a “senior” profile without access to these speaking opportunities!
Please give speaking opportunities to less experienced professionals too!
A clarification question: when you recommend a someone for a talk, is this in the context of recommending that person A speak with person B (as in building a network), or more in the context of giving a presentation (like a TEDx conference)?
A pattern I’ve recently encountered twice in different contexts is that I would recommend a more junior (but with relevant expertise) staff for a talk and I’ve been asked if I could not recommend a more “senior” profile instead.
I thought it was with the best of intentions, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. First, this diminishes the expertise of my staff, who have demonstrated mastery over their subject matter. Second, this systematically denies young people of valuable experience and exposure. You cannot become a “senior” profile without access to these speaking opportunities!
Please give speaking opportunities to less experienced professionals too!
A clarification question: when you recommend a someone for a talk, is this in the context of recommending that person A speak with person B (as in building a network), or more in the context of giving a presentation (like a TEDx conference)?
When people do this, do you think they mostly want someone with more skills or knowledge or someone with better, more prestigious credentials?
What’s your rate of success after pushback? Do organisations usually take the more junior person as a speaker?