Interview with Sudha Kheterpal (quick fix: now with working links).
When you’ve performed with The Spice Girls, Faithless, and at Madison Square Garden, and then helped leaders raise over £500M with their pitches, you know a thing or two about commanding attention.
I sat down with Sudha Kheterpal, pitch coach and former international performer, to talk about the big questions speakers face: pricing, pitching, presence, and positioning.
Sudha Kheterpal
First, a quick poll, 1-click answer
I’m curious about where you stand on this:
Do you manage the art of pitching for your keynote speaker business?
👉 Yes, I regularly train and refine my pitch
👉 No, not at this stage
👉 Not yet, but I’m eager to learn how
Just click the option that fits you best; no form, no fuss.
Thanks for sharing! I'll share the results in a follow-up LinkedIn post.
How do you figure out your speaker fee?
Sudha: “I always break it down into three things: value, positioning, and proof.
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Value —> What’s the real transformation you deliver? If your talk shifts thinking or accelerates results, that’s where the real worth lies.
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Positioning —> Where do you sit compared to speakers at your level? AI tools can make quick competitor research easier than ever.
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Proof —> Do you have validation for that fee? If not, start building it now with early testimonials or results.”
What’s the biggest credibility killer in a pitch?
Sudha: “Leading with yourself. Whether it’s 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden or one booker on Zoom, you only have seconds to grab attention. Start with the problem you solve for their audience, then bring in your credentials.”
What are your must-haves for a pitch that hooks in under 60 seconds?
Sudha: “Presence is everything.
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Earn attention fast —> Start with a stat or a question that makes them lean in.
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State the transformation —> Show them what changes for their audience after you speak.
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Drop quick proof —> A result, client, or stage that makes you credible instantly.”
How do you stand out without a book deal or celebrity name?
Sudha: “You need a signature idea people can only get from you. Mine was translating stage presence into a framework leaders could use. Once you’ve got it, back it up with proof: case studies, client wins, or media mentions. That’s what gets you booked again and again.”
Sudha’s advice is a reminder: it’s not just about speaking well, it’s about positioning yourself so bookers can’t forget you.
Connect with her:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudha-kheterpal/
- Website: https://www.pitchandgrowth.com/
Why are you reading this?
This newsletter is part of the Oratore Speakers ecosystem, a platform built to support public speakers, speaker coaches, and industry experts. It reaches over 2,000 speakers across Europe and the UK, and we have a database of over 11,000.
Each edition gives the spotlight to voices that bring genuine value to the speaking community. If you’ve got insights (not just promos) to share, let’s talk. You might be next.
Thanks for reading,
Steven, Founder Oratore Speakers
Let's connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenpiessens/
