BUSINESS CASUAL
That excitement evolved into NSA Next, a social-busi-ness networking group dedicated to speakers who are 45
and younger. The group’s primary communication vehicle is the Internet (think MySpace and LinkedIn with a
speaker twist) where members can post profiles, blog,
provide career advice and participate in discussions on
the group’s Web site at www.nsanext.com. (The Web site
is not a forum to sell wares, list dating qualifications or a
launching pad to help speakers get started.)
NSA Next is a friendly online community reminiscent
of other popular social media formats, according to
Payn-Knoper. Its intent is to create common ground for
young, but experienced, speakers to share and learn
what’s relevant to the specific demographic and market
needs of their age group. “In NSA Next, we don’t share
a niche but we appreciate the depth and breadth of our
generation,” she explains.
Though NSA Next isn’t directly affiliated with NSA
and its resources, like the Professional Expert Groups
(PEGs) whose agendas focus on a specific expertise, it is
a social network the association supports, according to
Stacy Tetschner, CAE, executive vice president and
CEO of NSA. “We view NSA Next as we do any of our
social groups and are committed to supporting the
development of a professional community of speakers
throughout the entire profession. This particular group
represents a certain age group within NSA, which is the
next generation of speakers that we want to learn more
about. We recognize their needs and expectations of
NSA may be different than that of the majority of
speakers, so we have committed to learning from and
serving this unique and exciting group.”
I CAN RELATE
Overcoming age bias and credibility issues, as well as
adapting to changing communication styles, are significant challenges for younger speakers. NSA Next provides Generation X and Y speakers a forum to
exchange “war” stories and business models that work
despite industry misperceptions and barriers. “I have
great respect for those who’ve been speaking for 20
years, but I’ve found my home within NSA through
NSA Next. I work in an unusual field and it can be
overwhelming to be in a room of 1,000 successful
speakers who’ve been doing this a long time,” Payn-Kooper says. “NSA Next is a welcoming place where
the needs and interests of the group resonate with each
other. I’ve finally found people within NSA who are at
similar points in business and life.”
The evolution of this sub-culture within NSA signifies
an emerging shift in speaker demographics and needs,
particularly those entering the profession at a younger
age than those who have historically defined NSA
membership, according to Tetschner.
“The majority of our members in the past entered the
field as a third or fourth career. They gained expertise
and established themselves in an area and were then
sought out as speakers to share their knowledge,”
Tetschner says. “Today, people are established in so
many more fashions; for example, authors who write
books sooner and bloggers who gain instant credibility
as subject-matter experts or seek a speaking career
much earlier. We want to attract these dynamic younger
speakers so NSA can remain relevant to the entire profession, not just a segment of it.”
THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Tim O’Shea, age 38, a humorist and corporate comedian from Denver, feels NSA Next is a reality check on
what is—and isn’t—working for his generation of
speakers. “The market has changed. What has worked
for others isn’t necessarily working for us. Older business models are going away and NSA Next offers a specific focus on the markets emerging needs.” Plus, he
believes it’s a place where younger speakers can find a
sense of cultural identity. “Generation X, particularly,
has been overlooked. We were called ‘slackers’ in the
80s and a perception existed that we didn’t care about
anything. With NSA Next, we feel welcomed and get
some much-needed support. There’s just a camaraderie
you share with people in your own age group that you
don’t share with others.”
From a networking standpoint, NSA Next has provided O’Shea and his wife, Kris, with new approaches
to business strategies and marketing their unique humor
brand. One NSA Next take-away: a simple tip on how
to be more efficient at collecting e-mail addresses from
audience members who want to subscribe to their
O’Shea Report, the couple’s electronic newsletter.
Ariel Coro, age 31, a Los Angeles-based technology
expert, manages the NSA Next Web site and thinks the
group’s online platform gives him access to members of
his generation that traditional networking methods in the
industry don’t fulfill. “It’s an opportunity to stay in contact with and meet other young speakers that I wouldn’t
