Content Marketing Institute is hosting a webinar, ‘Event Speaking as Strategy: How Brands Build Authority on the Stage’ on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 10.00 am EST.

The CMI team says, “In this candid conversation, Robert Rose moderates Jay Acunzo, Omar Akhtar of UserTesting, and Liz Lathan of Club Ichi to unpack what separates forgettable sponsored talks from genuine authority-building moments. Together, they’ll explore how brands can treat event speaking as a strategic platform — choosing the right voices, developing a defensible point of view, and designing sessions that move the conversation forward instead of protecting the product. If you’re investing in event sponsorships, this discussion may challenge how you think about what the stage is really for.

You’ll learn:

  • Why audiences disengage from sponsored sessions — even when the content seems “fine”

  • What actually defines a brand thought leader (and how to identify the right speaker internally)

  • How to turn product expertise into industry insight without turning your session into a pitch

  • How to use a speaking opportunity to build authority that lasts beyond the event“.

Event Speaking as Strategy: How Brands Build Authority on the Stage

Content Marketing Institute