Professional athletes train for the spotlight. But when the spotlight shifts to a stage — a corporate keynote, a leadership summit or a board meeting — instinct isn't always a strategy.
The mic is live, the audience is waiting and the transition from "playing the game" to "explaining the game" requires a new set of mechanics. That’s why many professional athletes are now seeking structured public speaking training tailored to their transition from sport to stage.
To meet this need, Arizona State University’s Sports Media: Pro Athlete Speaker Experience offers an in-person intensive hosted at the ASU California Center Broadway (the historic Herald Examiner Building) in downtown Los Angeles.
Led by veteran media coach Barbara Lash, PhD, this program is designed to help you turn a lifetime of high-performance habits into a scalable public speaking practice.
As demand grows for leadership keynote speakers with authentic high-performance experience, many professional athletes are seeking structured public speaking training tailored to their transition from sport to stage.
Why are more professional athletes investing in structured speaker development?
For many athletes, public speaking begins informally: an invitation to share lessons on leadership, a request to speak about resilience or panel discussion about transition.
What often follows is uncertainty:
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How should I structure a keynote?
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How do I determine an appropriate fee?
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How do I translate my experience beyond my sport?
Public speaking can become a meaningful extension of an athletic career — whether as a primary focus or alongside other professional pursuits.
Approached intentionally, it offers athletes a way to shape their narrative, extend their influence and contribute beyond competition.
This immersive was created for athletes who want to approach that opportunity with clarity and preparation.
What makes this immersive distinct?
The Sports Media: Pro Athlete Speaker Experience was designed specifically for professional athletes and reflects the realities of competing, transitioning and building a platform beyond sport.
Over three days in downtown Los Angeles, participants focus on three areas:
1. Crafting a signature talk
Athletes refine an adaptable keynote grounded in their own journey — translating high-performance lessons into language that resonates with corporate, nonprofit and academic audiences. Participants are coached, rehearse on stage and receive direct feedback.
2. Understanding the business of speaking
The program addresses how speaking engagements are structured, how fees are typically determined and how athletes can position themselves with intention. The goal is informed decision-making and professional readiness.
3. Developing professional assets
Participants leave with:
- A professionally recorded speaker highlight reel
- Professional photography
- Updated LinkedIn positioning
- One-on-one and group coaching
Athletes leave with tools they can use immediately. The emphasis is practical.
Why host this in downtown Los Angeles?
Hosting the immersive at ASU California Center Broadway — the meticulously restored Herald Examiner Building — places athletes in the heart of Los Angeles’ media legacy.
Located in the South Park district, the center sits at the intersection of sports, media and business. We are steps away from Crypto.com Arena and L.A. Live, situated within the same professional ecosystem where many athletes already compete, train and conduct business. This proximity to major talent agencies and global media organizations underscores the professional context of the program, providing a three-day "home base" in one of the world’s most vibrant hub for storytelling and leadership.
Who is this program designed for?
The immersive serves:
- The active pro who wants to monetize their story while still competing
- The recently retired athlete ready to redefine identity and income
- The Olympian translating elite discipline into boardroom leadership
- The coach or executive stepping into a larger public platform
It is particularly relevant for athletes who are already receiving speaking invitations and want greater clarity around positioning, preparation and next steps.
How does this align with ASU’s broader learning model?
This immersive reflects more than a single event, it reflects ASU’s broader approach to workforce-connected learning.
The Sports Media: Pro Athlete Speaker Experience is offered through ASU CareerCatalyst, part of ASU’s Learning Enterprise, which expands access to opportunity for learners at every stage of life.
Across its learning offerings, ASU has served more than 1.2 million learners globally.
This immersive reflects that approach:
- Focused and applied
- Connected to workforce realities
- Designed around a specific professional moment
Non-degree credentials in this model stand on their own. They are built to respond to real-world transitions and evolving career paths.
For many athletes, the shift from competition to communication represents such a moment.
Program overview
Format: In-person immersive
Duration: Three days
Location: Downtown Los Angeles
Cost: $3,500
Credential: Certificate of Completion
Includes:
- One-on-one and group coaching
- Professional recording of your talk
- Professional photography
- Course materials
- Daily continental breakfast and lunch
Cohort size is intentionally limited to support focused coaching and rehearsal time.
FAQs
Is this public speaking program worth traveling to Los Angeles for?
Yes. The immersive is designed as a focused, in-person experience where athletes rehearse on stage, receive direct coaching and leave with professional-grade materials, including a recorded highlight reel. The Los Angeles setting reflects the broader sports and media ecosystem many athletes already operate within.
How is this different from general public speaking workshops?
This immersive was built specifically for professional athletes. It combines keynote development, insight into how the speaking industry works and professional asset production in a three-day format. Participants leave with a structured keynote, professional-grade assets and greater clarity around how to position and price their work. That preparation allows athletes to approach speaking engagements as professionals, not simply guests.
Do I need prior speaking experience to participate?
No. The immersive is designed for athletes who want structured preparation, whether they are new to public speaking or looking to refine and formalize their approach.
From performance to leadership: Next steps
Athletes understand preparation. Public speaking is another arena — one that requires clarity, structure, and rehearsal. For those ready to translate competition into communication and experience into long-term impact, this immersive offers a focused place to prepare.
