What Event Planners Need to Know Before Hiring Black Women as Speakers
As an event moderator and speaker I have seen what happens when events do not take the time to really assess why their selecting speakers for their events. Booking speakers who reflect the breadth of lived experiences is no longer a progressive perk or a “nice thing to do” it’s a necessity. Black women are among the most dynamic, insightful, and influential voices on stages across industries; from tech and business to wellness, education and social justice. Yet, when event planners look to include Black women as speakers, the process needs more than a checkbox approach. If you want your event to be genuinely inclusive, impactful and relevant there are some things that I believe you need to understand and factor in.
Far too often, Black women are only approached to speak on topics like diversity, racism, or “Black issues”, this is important and valuable but event planners limit the scope of inclusion if they don’t look beyond these topics. While those are important subjects, Black women are leaders in finance, STEM, entrepreneurship, sustainability, mental health, and beyond. Challenge your own bias and prejudices; if you’re hiring a Black woman to speak at your event, ask yourself: Are you hiring her to tick a diversity box or because her voice truly adds value to your schedule? When planning your line-up, ensure Black women are represented across topics not siloed into panels about inclusion unless that’s their area of expertise.
You have to show Black women the same level of respect that you would show all speakers; approaching a Black woman speaker with “We’d love your perspective as a strong Black woman” (see my video below) or vague language like “We want to be more inclusive” isn’t just lazy, it’s disrespectful. Show that you’ve researched her work, taken the time to review her digital footprint, understood her niche and are inviting her based on her unique insights and who she is not simply to make you look good.
If you're unsure about something for example the pronunciation of her name, cultural references or accessibility needs just ask. The goal is partnership, not tokenism.
This cannot be stressed enough: exposure doesn’t pay bills. Black women, particularly in the UK and US, are disproportionately underpaid even when their qualifications and experience match or surpass their peers. If your budget is tight, be transparent but don’t assume someone will speak for free “for the cause.” That is not to say that they won’t speak for free but you have to present a good case as to why your event matters and what’s in it for them. Also, avoid negotiating down their fees while paying others their full rate, people talk and true equity includes financial equity.
Events especially in predominantly white or male-dominated sectors can sometimes feel unwelcoming or even hostile to Black women speakers. I have personally been in spaces where I didn’t feel like I was being given the space to truly be seen for who I was and part of that was because I was “the only” in the room. You can help mitigate this by:
Ensuring they’re not the only non-white person on the stage or the programme.
Briefing event moderators and panellists on respectful engagement.
Avoiding microaggressions or inappropriate questions (e.g., “Where are you really from?” or remarks about hair or appearance).
If you can involve Black women in the planning process or speaker selection committee to create an authentically inclusive environment from the outset.
If a Black woman shares something powerful or original, give her credit in any materials online and offline. Too often, event content ends up repackaged or quoted without attribution, make sure that when you share her talk on social media, tag her and highlight her work in post-event content. Inclusion is more than a moment on stage, so if her talk sparks ideas or change, acknowledge her contribution publicly.
While this advice is grounded in the UK event landscape, these principles apply globally. Whether you’re planning an event in London, Lagos, or Los Angeles, the experiences of Black women deserve to be honoured with equity, curiosity and care.
Black women speakers bring more than their identity they bring excellence, experience and insight. But hiring them responsibly requires more than good intentions; it requires informed action. Get it right and your event won’t just be diverse it will be genuinely transformative.
Need help curating a speaker lineup that reflects diverse brilliance? I’m an experienced event moderator, speaker and personal branding training facilitator based in the UK, helping global events elevate their speaker curation with intention and integrity. Get in touch to collaborate.