Felicia Smith, MA, LPC-S, is an inspirational speaker, author, workshop facilitator, psychotherapist, woman of faith and Next Chapter Strategist™. Smith empowers women navigating heartbreak, loss and life’s unexpected transitions to rediscover themselves and confidently embrace what’s next. She is an Innovation Women Classic member who attends live events with Innovation Women members, collaborates with other members in our online community and uses resources from the Green Room to level up her speaking.
What challenges led you to us?
A lack of a speaker community, information and peer connections.
Tell us about your best speaking success story! How have you used the Innovation Women educational resources, network, database and/or services to help you drive business, book talks, make key connections, or land new opportunities?
Participating in the Innovation Women network expanded both my visibility and credibility as a speaker. The education resources helped me refine how I position my topics, so event planners clearly understand the transformation audiences receive, not just the information delivered. That shift alone made my pitches more effective. The platform also created meaningful connections with organizers and fellow speakers who serve similar audiences but in complementary ways. Those relationships have led to referrals, collaborative conversations and invitations to additional engagements I would not have accessed through traditional outreach alone.
Speaker Friends Live gives me valuable takeaways as well. Being in the room with my peers, receiving relevant feedback and challenging myself to face fears head-on in front of a live audience – especially within the Innovation Women community – strengthened my confidence and sharpened my delivery.
Most importantly, Innovation Women helped me move from hoping to be discovered to intentionally presenting myself as a solution to specific event needs.
I also want to acknowledge Bobbie – she has created a space where women like me who often feel unseen, are welcomed, supported and amplified. Because of this environment, I’ve had higher-quality conversations with planners and more aligned opportunities where my message on mental health, resilience and life transitions truly fits the audience.
Has Innovation Women helped you find speaking engagements, talks, events, conferences or networking opportunities?
Yes, Innovation Women has helped me find both speaking and networking opportunities. Through the platform, I’ve been able to identify events that align with my message and audience, rather than sending generic outreach. I now approach planners with a clearer value proposition based on what I learned through Innovation Women education and feedback.
I’ve applied those lessons by refining my speaker profile, strengthening my topic descriptions and intentionally following up with organizers. That shift has led to more meaningful conversations, invitations to connect and opportunities I likely would not have pursued before because I now understand how to position myself as a solution to an event’s needs rather than simply requesting a stage.
Beyond direct bookings, the networking opportunities, especially interacting with other speakers, have improved how I pitch, present and prepare for future events. I continue to use those strategies as I pursue additional conferences and speaking engagements.
Has your business grown through your affiliation with Innovation Women, our online community, Lioness Magazine events and services, Speaker Friend Fridays, BrightTALK webinars or any other resources shared by our community?
Yes, my speaking business has grown through my affiliation with Innovation Women and its extended community. The resources and trainings helped me shift from simply wanting to speak to running a more intentional speaking business. I refined my positioning, clarified the outcomes my talks provide and began approaching opportunities with a stronger strategy.
Speaker Friend Fridays and the broader community conversations provided me with practical insight into how planners think, how to follow up professionally and how to tailor my topics to meet real event needs. That changed the quality of my outreach and increased my confidence when introducing myself as a speaker.
The Lioness Magazine events and other shared opportunities also expanded my visibility and helped me connect with organizers and peers outside my immediate network. Those offerings have led to better-aligned conversations about future engagements.
What is the most significant impact that Innovation Women has had on your career or business?
Information and confidence building.
What is one thing you learned from Innovation Women that you will carry forward?
“I can do this!” I can build a successful speaker presence in time with consistency and practicality!
What specific results or achievements are you most proud of?
Attending Speaker Friends LIVE in Boston. That was invaluable!!!!
What do you like best about our approach/support?
The event exceeded my expectations! Bobbie and the team made me feel very welcomed, supported and showed that I am a part of this amazing community as a speaker, although I am early in building my career and business as a speaker.
What would you tell someone considering our services, but on the fence about joining?
Innovation Women is a difference maker and something they need to have as a resource to help with things they don’t even know they need.
