
How to Get Selected to Speak—When Nobody Knows Who You Are
Aug 11, 2025You’re doing meaningful work. You’ve got the ideas, the data, and maybe even the draft of a talk you can’t wait to give. But when it comes time to submit for that national meeting you've targeted, there’s one hurdle:
Nobody knows who you are… yet.
Early in your academic path, visibility can feel like a catch-22. You need exposure to build credibility—but you need credibility to get exposure.
The good news? You don’t need to be famous. You just need to be thoughtful, strategic, and consistent. Here's how to get selected to speak—even when you're still building your reputation.
Step 1: Don’t Wait for the Invite—Build the Panel
If you remember nothing else from this blog, remember this:
One of the fastest ways to land a podium talk—especially as an early-career physician—is to organize a panel and invite the people everyone else already knows.
Here’s how it works:
- Identify a timely, relevant topic that’s not overdone.
- Invite 3–4 well-known voices in your field.
- Serve as the moderator.
Why this works:
- Your name appears on the program alongside established experts.
- You impress senior colleagues by making their lives easier.
- You unify the session with clarity and purpose.
- Most importantly: you get to ask your most pressing questions—on the record.
Take the lead on logistics: draft session descriptions, organize slides, submit paperwork. Make it effortless for them to participate.
Tip: At the end of the session, you’re the name people remember. AND if you have done it right, you have impressed all the leaders in your field who were on the panel with you. That’s the cornerstone of reputation.
Step 2: Pick the Right Stage
Not every meeting is ideal. You don’t need the biggest stage. You need the right one.
Start with conferences where your mentors, collaborators, or co-authors are already presenting. Their presence gives context and credibility, even for early-career speakers. And, they often know people on the program committee.
You may also ask senior colleagues to be collaborators on your early career items so that you can get selected for a talk or poster more quickly.
Example: If you are a laryngologist and your mentor is submitting to Fall Voice or COSM, join their panel or offer a complementary talk. Ask if they’re organizing one.
Example: The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) offers early-career pediatric surgeons focused pre-meeting workshops and invites junior faculty and trainees to participate in coaching sessions, literature reviews, and interactive sessions that are designed to help them contribute and grow within the field.
Step 3: Play the Long Game With Abstracts
Submitting abstracts year after year can feel like throwing darts into the dark. But over time, you start to see what lands—and why.
Early in my career, I noticed that evidence-based “Best of the Year” or literature review sessions attracted strong attendance—and didn’t require original data. So I proposed one. It was accepted. And now, more than a decade later, it is still being presented each year (although I have passed this down to other colleagues since that time).
When I look back, the abstracts that were accepted weren’t always the ones with the most data or even the biggest findings. They were the ones that were:
- Clearly written
- Framed around a timely clinical or research question
- Easy to review and easy to say yes to
The strongest abstracts don’t just summarize—they build trust that the speaker will show up, stay on time, and deliver something valuable.
Here’s what helps:
- Lead with clarity. A confusing first sentence is a red flag for a reviewer.
- Use language that aligns with the meeting. If the theme is innovation, use phrases like “a novel approach to…” or “emerging evidence in…” If the meeting focuses on clinical relevance, say “practice-changing findings” or “applicability in real-world settings.”
- Include one sentence on why this work matters now. Don’t assume it’s obvious.
- Avoid jargon and overloaded stats. Reviewers often read abstracts quickly and may not be in your exact subspecialty.
Tip: Have someone outside your field read your abstract title and first paragraph. If they don’t understand it—or aren’t intrigued—revise.
Trick: Review past programs. What format got accepted? What themes were highlighted? Mirror their structure and language in your submission. Look at the last couple of programs to see what language is used in accepted abstracts.
Tip: Some organizations will solicit abstracts on hot topics - consider submitting those!
You don’t need to overthink or over-edit—but you do need to submit consistently, and reflect on what works. Over time, your name becomes familiar. That’s when invitations become easier.
Step 4: Use Posters as Stepping Stones
Posters are often where visibility begins.
They give you:
- One-on-one time with the people who review abstracts and plan sessions
- A chance to practice your message and engage with new colleagues
- A visible track record of consistent contribution
What I didn’t realize until much later in my career:
The people who always go to the poster session are the program committee and society leadership.
As an introvert, I found it easier to connect with people in this more casual setting than during the main sessions. It gave me a chance to ask questions, share appreciation, and build genuine connections—without the pressure of a big stage.
And if the session includes a glass of wine? Even better.
Strategy: Don’t just stand by your poster—start conversations. Ask attendees about their work. Offer a clear, brief summary of yours. Then follow up with a short message or connection request.
Tip: Include a QR code linking to your recent publication, a plain-language explainer, or even a professional website. It shows you’re organized, accessible, and professional.
Step 5: Ask for the Opportunity
Some of the best talks you’ll ever give come because you asked.
If you’ve presented a poster three years in a row, published a few solid papers, and are showing up consistently—you’re not “unknown.” You’re a contributor.
So ask a mentor:
“Would you be willing to include me on your next panel?”
Or email the conference coordinator:
“I’d love to be considered for a podium spot this year—especially on topics related to [insert your focus area]. I’ve included a few of my recent abstracts below for context.”
This is how networks grow.
This is how you move from the hallway to the microphone.
This is how you go from “Who’s that?” to “Oh—she’s doing great work.”
Tip: If you’re nervous about asking directly, start by offering to help.
“If there’s anything you need for next year’s panel—moderating, reviewing slides, coordinating logistics—I’d love to contribute.”
People remember team players—and the next invite often follows.
Trick: Have a topic or two ready to suggest, especially something you find genuinely fascinating and could meaningfully contribute to. It shows initiative and makes it easy for someone to envision you on a future panel.
Final Thoughts: Getting Selected Isn’t About Being Known. It’s About Being Clear.
If your work adds value, people deserve to hear it.
The podium isn’t about prestige—it’s about contribution.
So …
- Organize the panel.
- Write the abstract.
- Present the poster.
- Start the conversation.
The goal isn’t to be everywhere—it’s to show up in the spaces where your work can make a difference. That’s how reputations are built—quietly, steadily, and with purpose
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