The $100M Speaker Agent & Partner of Gary Vee on the ROI of Great Speakers | #251 with Zach Nadler

🎙️ Productivity Mastery #251 What makes a keynote speaker worth $10,000, $50,000, or even $100,000? And how can event organizers ensure they're getting a real return on their investment? In this episode, our host Stoyan Yankov welcomes back Zach Nadler, Co-Founder and CEO of VaynerSpeakers, and longtime business partner of Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee), for an insightful conversation about the business of professional speaking, event planning, leadership, and what separates good speakers from truly exceptional ones. Get in touch with Zach: https://vaynerspeakers.com/   / zach-nadler   Over the course of his career, Zach has generated nearly $100 million in speaker sales and booked keynote speakers for almost 4,000 events. Before co-founding VaynerSpeakers with Gary Vee in 2018, Zach worked at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), representing some of the world's most recognizable personalities, including Al Pacino, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Joe Biden. Today, VaynerSpeakers exclusively represents more than 20 high-profile speakers, including Gary Vaynerchuk, Ryan Holiday, Jesse Itzler, Will Guidara, and Robert Greene. But what really goes on behind the scenes of this fascinating industry? In this episode, Stoyan and Zach pull back the curtain on the multi-billion-dollar speaking and events industry, exploring how top speakers prepare for the stage, how speaker fees are determined, and why choosing the right keynote speaker can make or break an event. They discuss some of the biggest mistakes event organizers make, the importance of storytelling and authenticity, and what companies should consider before investing thousands of dollars in a speaker. Zach also shares practical advice for aspiring professional speakers, including how to land paid speaking engagements, position themselves in a competitive market, negotiate fees, and build a sustainable speaking business. The conversation goes beyond the stage, exploring Zach's 17+ year relationship with Gary Vee, lessons from building VaynerSpeakers, and his personal approach to productivity, leadership, and creating a high-performing team. Listen to this episode and learn: • What Zach has learned from working with world-class personalities like Al Pacino, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Viola Davis, and Gary Vaynerchuk, and how they prepare for the stage • The biggest mistakes companies and event organizers make when booking keynote speakers, and the questions they should ask before choosing one • Why some speakers charge $10,000 while others command $50,000 or $100,000+, and how to evaluate the real ROI of a great speaker • What separates exceptional speakers from average ones, from authentic storytelling and practical insights to professionalism and delivering value beyond the stage • How VaynerSpeakers selects its exclusive talent, and what aspiring speakers can do to start getting paid, grow their fees, and build a sustainable speaking business • The latest trends in the speaking and events industry, including the growing demand for audience engagement, interactive experiences, and unique perspectives • What it's really like working with Gary Vaynerchuk, and how Zach approaches leadership, productivity, delegation, and building a high-performing team Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Zach Nadler and Vayner Speakers 02:02 Insights from Working with High-Profile Speakers 06:25 The Process of Booking Speakers for Events 14:06 Common Mistakes in Event Planning 20:42 Understanding the ROI of Speaker Fees 30:05 Qualities of Effective Speakers 39:29 Trends in the Speaking Industry 41:42 Advice for Aspiring Speakers 58:18 Working with Gary Vaynerchuk 01:01:19 Leadership and Team Dynamics at Vayner Speakers ____ Enjoy listening and #KeepPERFORMing! Subscribe to Productivity Mastery Podcast 👇 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DHrGKv... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Website: https://stoyanyankov.com/podcast/