The Mandate:
What Is A Speaker at The Brief?
The world doesn’t need more information. It needs action. At The Brief, our speakers are not here to motivate you, give an academic lecture, or pitch a product. They are here to arm the room.
Every speaker selected for The Brief is given one non-negotiable directive: Bring something the audience can use as soon as they leave this room. Something that impacts their life. Something that — through them — impacts the world.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, an artist, a community leader, or a professional, if you have a framework, tool, strategy, or shift in thinking that the Charlotte community can apply immediately, the stage is yours.
How It Works:
The Format: 7 minutes. Auto-advancing slides (21 seconds per slide). No filler.
The Selection: All applications are reviewed by our Selection Committee to ensure a diverse slate of 7 voices representing different pillars of the city.
The Outcome: You walk off the stage leaving the community equipped to make their next move.
Speaker FAQ
What is the format of a Brief talk?
Every talk is strictly 7 minutes
We use auto-advancing slides that transition every 21 seconds
There are no clickers, no overtime, and no Q&A panels
The precision is the point—you have to know your idea inside and out to deliver it in this format
What kind of talks are you looking for?
We are looking for actionable intelligence
Your talk must provide a framework, tool, strategy, or shift in thinking that the audience can use the moment they leave the room
What kind of talks do you NOT accept?
We do not accept product pitches, promotional presentations, academic lectures, or personal stories that lack a transferable takeaway for the audience
We also strictly forbid motivational speeches that offer inspiration without application
Do I need to be a business owner to speak?
No! While our room is filled with entrepreneurs and builders, the stage is wide open to anyone making a community impact. We are looking for diverse perspectives, whether you are an artist, an educator, a ministry leader, or a corporate professional
How does the selection process work?
Once you submit your application, our Selection Committee will review it
We evaluate submissions based on the clarity and originality of your idea, how well it aligns with our mandate of “immediate impact,” and your ability to deliver it concisely in 7 minutes
We are curating a highly diverse slate of exactly 7 voices per volume
Will my talk be recorded?
Yes. The Brief is fully produced by 4th & Pine Productions
Your 7-minute talk will be professionally captured with high-quality audio and video.
Your talk will become a standalone video distributed across our media network and will live permanently in our content library
Are speakers compensated or given tickets?
While speakers are not paid a speaking fee, all selected speakers receive complimentary reserved tickets to the event
You will also walk away with professionally produced video and photography of your talk, which you can use for your own platform and portfolio.
“The Speaker Application Portal officially opens on August 14th. Join the waitlist to get the alert the minute it goes live.”
