Program
Speaker School
Train new technical speakers and accompany them all the way to their first talk on stage.
Biweekly mentorship sessions, monthly cohort kickoffs.
Speaker School is the path that turns curious community members into confident technical speakers. We coach storytelling, slide design, demo discipline, body language, and Q&A handling — so anyone with something to share can step on stage. Free, cohort-based, mentored by speakers who have lived it.
Why it exists
Pereira has world-class technical talent. What it lacks — and this is the honest version — are stages and a system that prepares people to step onto them. The Speaker School was created in 2023 inside Pereira Tech Talks to solve exactly that: not only inviting people to speak, but preparing them to do it well.
The bet: if Pereira has world-class engineers (and it does), they deserve world-class stages — and the path from “I should talk about this” to “I can stand up and do it” needs to be teachable.
Methodology
Four operating rules that hold session after session:
- One-hour sessions, every two weeks, focused on a single skill. Short, concentrated blocks. No inflated theory.
- Five-minute presentations applying that session’s skill. Everyone presents on their real topic, not artificial exercises.
- Cross-feedback from mentors and the cohort. Immediate, specific, actionable feedback.
- Small cohorts. Seats are limited so each person gets individual attention and meaningful feedback.
The program — four modules
Module 1 · Body language and expression
How the body speaks before you open your mouth: posture, gestures, eye contact, use of space. Why the webcam changes the game in hybrid formats.
Module 2 · Narrative thread and eloquence
How to structure a talk around a clear thread. Anecdotes that ground technical ideas. Pacing, pauses, transitions. The arc that keeps an audience awake.
Module 3 · Handling questions
How to answer when you do not know the answer. How to redirect hostile questions. How to use the Q&A to reinforce your main message instead of derailing it.
Module 4 · Preparation and audiovisual support
Slides that do not compete with the speaker. Live demos that do not fail. A plan B for when the internet drops. How to actually rehearse.
The outcome
Graduates of the School have presented at:
- Pereira Tech Talks monthly meetups
- Pereira Tech Day (multiple editions)
- Regional conferences in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali
- International events (JSConf, conferences across the region)
- Internal workshops at their companies
The goal is not just “give a talk at PerTT”. The goal is to build a speaker who can take the craft to any stage.
FAQs
Does it cost anything? — No. It is completely free. We sustain it with volunteer time and support from community sponsors.
Can I apply to prepare a talk that is NOT for PerTT? — Yes. The sessions are designed around the PerTT format, but the skills transfer to any stage.
If I take part, am I guaranteed a slot at PerTT? — No. The School prepares you; the meetup agenda depends on the calendar and each edition’s curation.
Are seats limited? — Yes. The quality of the feedback depends on small cohorts. We recommend applying early.
What if I am not ready to present at the end of the cycle? — That is fine. The recommendation may be to repeat, adjust the angle, or work on a specific skill. When you present, you present solidly.
Can I change topic mid-cycle? — Technically yes, pragmatically not ideal. Changing topic usually sets progress back.
What happens if I cannot attend a session? — Let us know ahead of time. Missing without notice can move your seat to the waiting list. You can pick things up at the next session or the next cycle, subject to availability.
How to apply
Use the Speaker School application form on this page (also at /verticals/speaker-school/#speaker-school-form). Tell us:
- The topic or talk you have in mind
- Your level of public-speaking experience
- Your availability for the next cohort
We reply with the date of the next start and the logistical details.
Apply