A new speaker training school is revolutionizing how entrepreneurs and business leaders prepare for the professional speaking circuit, combining entertainment industry techniques with business strategy to create confident, monetizable speakers.
Center Stage Speaker School offers a comprehensive certification program that transforms business owners from improvising their presentations to commanding stages with polished, professional talks. The academy’s signature 10-week hybrid program culminates in a three-day live immersion experience and professional showcase, with every graduate receiving a guaranteed speaking engagement.
The program addresses a critical gap in the professional development market where many entrepreneurs struggle to transition from business expertise to stage presence. Unlike traditional public speaking courses that focus solely on presentation mechanics, the school integrates performance techniques, business strategy, and somatic practices to create speakers who can both captivate audiences and convert attention into revenue.
Founded by Leslie Jespersen, who began performing at age nine and built her career in the entertainment industry, the school draws on decades of stage experience to prepare speakers for professional success. “My mission is to pull back the curtain on the speaking industry and use my entertainment background to put women where they belong — center stage,” Jespersen said.
The Center Stage Portal certification provides graduates with more than presentation skills. Participants develop a signature talk, create a stage-exclusive offer, master embodied performance techniques, and receive professional media assets. Select graduates also gain access to exclusive agency representation opportunities.
Program alumni report significant results beyond improved speaking abilities. Holly Allen, a recent graduate, described her post-presentation experience: “After I stepped off stage, my DMs were blowing up with podcast invites, collaboration requests, and messages like, ‘You spoke directly to me.’ This was the most powerful and embodied I’ve ever felt—and it’s because I had Leslie by my side.”
The curriculum covers technical aspects often overlooked in traditional speaker training, including microphone selection, stage movement, and audience engagement techniques. Graduate Shawna Poliziani noted, “From the movement on stage to mic choice to building a talk that actually resonates—this program covered things I didn’t even know I needed. Leslie’s brilliance, energy, and depth of knowledge made me feel completely prepared and proud to call myself a speaker.”
The academy’s approach reflects broader changes in the professional speaking industry, where audiences increasingly value authentic connection over polished but impersonal presentations. By combining entertainment industry performance techniques with business acumen and energetic practices, the program creates speakers who can maintain authenticity while delivering professional-caliber presentations.
Another graduate, Shari Masker, emphasized the transformational aspect of the training: “Leslie doesn’t just teach you how to be a better speaker. She creates spaces where you become more of who you are. I left more confident, more connected, and more aligned than ever.”
The speaker certification program represents a shift from traditional gatekeeping models in the speaking industry toward more accessible pathways for entrepreneurs and thought leaders to share their expertise on professional stages. With its guarantee of a live speaking engagement for every graduate and focus on monetization strategies, the school positions itself as a practical investment for business owners seeking to expand their influence and revenue streams through professional speaking.
