How to plan a theme for your event

How to plan a theme for your business event

Penny HaslamBlog, How to book a motivational speaker

How to plan a theme for your business event. This comes up a lot in my work. Over the past few years I’ve become a bit of a sounding board for clients who are puzzling over event themes, often while deciding whether I should speak at their event or not. I love those conversations — they’re creative, energising and full of possibility. But I’ve also spotted a few common missteps. The same pitfalls crop up again and again, and they can take the shine off what should be a brilliant experience.

So I thought it was time to share my take on how to get it right. I’ve worked at hundreds of events and met thousands of people — from organisers to audiences — so I’ve seen what makes them buzz and what leaves them feeling flat. You know the kind: one event has everyone punching the air on the way out, while another feels a bit wishy washy and forgettable. What makes the difference?

In this episode we’ll look at three things:

1. How to define your event purpose — the baseline that everything else depends on.
2. The factors that can influence your theme (I’ll explain what I mean by that in a moment).
3. How to elevate your theme so it sticks in people’s minds long after the goodie bag is forgotten.

By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to shape a theme that feels meaningful, relevant and memorable. I’m Penny, I’m a speaker, and this gives me a front-row view of how events are built. So, let’s get into it.

How I became one of the UK’s most in-demand female motivational speakers

Penny HaslamBlog

Hi, I’m Penny Haslam, one of the UK’s most in-demand female motivational speakers.

In this talk, recorded live at PSA Impact 2025 (the Professional Speaker Association UK.) I lift the lid on how I’ve built a speaking business that’s not just successful but sustainable. I share the lessons I wish I’d had at the start, the missteps I made and the simple tools I use to stay focused, booked and sane.

You’ll hear how I went from a best-kept secret to one of the UK’s leading female motivational speakers – without burning out.

If you’re just starting out as a speaker, levelling up or just wondering why the bookings aren’t flowing, you’ll find clarity, ideas and a few laughs along the way.

There’s no magic formula, just practical strategies, delivered with honesty, a bit of daftness, and the odd shimmy.

Grab a pen and enjoy.

Work on your personal brand

27 Ways to work on your personal brand

Penny HaslamBlog

27 Ways to power up your personal brand
How to squeeze the juice out of every opportunity and work hard once (not all the time)
Let’s start with why this matters.
If you’ve ever done a thing – a talk, a panel, a podcast appearance, a guest article – and then… just moved on with your life, you’re not alone.

Most of us do it. We put in all the effort, show up, say the thing, smile for the camera, and then poof – it’s gone.

But what if that moment could work harder for you? What if you could take the visibility you’ve just earned and stretch it – across platforms, audiences and even time?

Drawing on advice from my book Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous and the keynote of the same title, Find a speaker on personal brand and raising your profile as an expert, here’s my best advice.

It’s packed with practical ways to:
Maximise visibility without shouting or spamming
Repurpose what you’ve already created so you’re not reinventing the wheel every time
Build credibility over time, one small, visible step at a time
Position yourself as someone worth listening to, without feeling like a show-off
This isn’t about chasing fame for fame’s sake. It’s about being known just enough – by the right people, for the right reasons.

And the trick is this: when you do something good, don’t let it end there. Ask yourself, how else can I use this? What more can I get from it?

Welcome to the WHO club (that’s Work Hard Once, not the band). Let’s get started.

What are the steps to confidence?

What are the steps to self-confidence?

Penny HaslamBlog, Confidence

What are the steps to self-confidence? There are many ways to build self-confidence. I’ve identified three core steps that can help build self-confidence. I’m going to share them with you today.

What is most powerful way to build your confidence?

Penny HaslamBlog, Confidence

The first step towards feeling genuine self-assurance is accepting a simple fact: No one feels 100% confident all the time. People who seem invincible have their moments of uncertainty too, and people who tell you otherwise are living in some sort of fantasy.

Penny’s confidence download

Penny HaslamBlog, Confidence

Penny Haslam’s confidence downloadMy best advice on how to build your workplace confidence. Here’s a re-cap of some of the ideas I share in my sessions, plus some more for …

Set your work and personal goals for the year ahead - Penny Haslam

Set your work and personal goals for the year ahead

Penny HaslamBlog

Episode 37: Penny Haslam Podcast – Set your work and personal goals for the year aheadIt’s not succeeding (or failing) at the goal that is of importance. It’s more about …

Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous - By Penny Haslam

10 ways to Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous right now

Penny HaslamBlog

1. Ask to have a coffee with someone who’s already a little bit famous You might have seen someone in your sector speaking, on the media or using social media …

Dust off your old dreams

Penny HaslamBlog, Confidence, Penny Haslam Podcast

Book Penny to speakArrange a no-obligation discovery callDo you have a dream or ambition that you’ve almost forgotten about? This time on the Penny Haslam Podcast, I discuss why it’s …