Heather Ryan looks like an elementary school teacher, but for 14 years she served as a Special Agent with NCIS (no wonder she was so effective under cover and as an interrogator!). Now, she teaches effective safety techniques for women and offers innovative prevention education for men, from college campuses to organizations and corporations. Heather has a book called “Special Agent Mom” coming out soon, with stories from her days as an agent plus safety tips. I first met Heather in a mastermind we were in together in the fall of 2015 and we have been business BFF’s ever since. Heather worked with me to create her signature talk on safety and intuition and she was in my Stand-Out Speakers group coaching program in the fall of 2016. In this episode, Heather and I strategize ways for her to reach out to organizations, universities, and companies to hire her as an expert speaker and trainer. We talk about: The eye-opening experience that led Heather to join NCIS What it was like to be a manager in a male-dominated work environment The qualities that made her a good leader and interrogator The work Heather does now in her business My recommendations for what to include in pitch letters What works better than sending emails to get booked as a speaker Putting together speaking packages How to get momentum and buzz for you as a speaker, especially when you’re starting out Whether to contact conference organizers after submitting a speaking proposal Links: You can connect with Heather on her website at http://www.specialagentheather.me. Be sure to download her free PDF with safety tips for you and your family. Twitter = https://twitter.com/SpclAgntHeather Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/SpecialAgentHeather/ Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Sign up for a strategy session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/strategy-session/. Say hi to me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/carolmorgancox/. Be sure to click subscribe on the podcast, so you don’t miss out on future episodes! Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/1/ JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.