Speakeasy

What Speakeasy does

Speakeasy Inc. is a privately held executive communication development firm founded in 1973 in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently owned by a notable family office following a 2023 sale by long-time owner Scott Weiss. The company delivers experiential, small-group training programs to corporate leaders, executives, individual contributors, and sales professionals across five physical learning centers in Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and Amsterdam (Speakeasy BV), with services having been delivered in 176 countries and reaching roughly 150,000 executives from nearly 5,000 client companies.

The core product portfolio is built around an experiential learning methodology delivered by a full-time, credentialed faculty of more than a dozen instructors — including speech-language pathologists, JDs, MBAs, and former executives — rather than contracted trainers. Programs are organized across three delivery modalities: Speakeasy IN-PERSON (multi-day workshops such as The Leader's Edge at $9,000/individual, Communicate to Drive Results at $6,500, and Talk So People Listen at $3,500), SpeakeasyVIRTUAL (live expert-led virtual sessions), and SpeakeasyDIGITAL (asynchronous SaaS tools including SlideQUEST, MessageQUEST, and First Impressions Count). Supporting offerings include SpeakeasyCONNECT alumni community access ($125/year), private 1:1 executive coaching, and customized corporate programs. The firm also sells proprietary assessments such as the 25-item Listen for PEAK Impact listening skills tool.

Commercially, Speakeasy operates a professional-services model with a high-touch enterprise field-sales motion targeting C-suite buyers and HR/L&D leaders at Fortune 500 organizations, supplemented by direct enrollment through its website and inside sales for virtual programs. Enterprise engagement is priced per individual ($2,150-$9,000) or per team ($8,500-$17,000) under multi-year contracts, while digital microlearning products operate on subscription or pay-as-you-go terms, extending the funnel to individuals and SMBs. Named enterprise customers include Accenture, Cisco, Microsoft, United Airlines, The Home Depot, Verizon, Viacom, Nielsen, Ernst & Young, and Volkswagen Canada. The company operates a wholly-owned European subsidiary (Speakeasy BV) and runs in-person and virtual delivery in additional regions including the Middle and Far East.

Name

Speakeasy

Legal name

Speakeasy Communications Consulting

Website

https://speakeasyinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Speakeasy Inc. is a 50-year-old private executive communication development firm, owned by a family office since 2023, that delivers experiential training programs through full-time faculty across in-person learning centers in the US and Europe, live virtual sessions, and a digital SaaS platform for Fortune 500 enterprise and individual buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Communication Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Presence & Communication Coaching (EDABANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate/Professional Public Speaking Training (Presentation Skills) (EDAMAOAJ), Online Public Speaking & Debate Programs (Live/Recorded) (EDAMAOAD)

Keywords

• Executive communication training
• Leadership development programs
• Executive presentation coaching
• Sales enablement training
• Business communication consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-Person Group Programs: Multi-day intensive programs delivered at company offices or Speakeasy learning centers. Programs range from 1-3 days for groups from different companies. Includes The Leader's Edge ($9,000), Communicate to Drive Results ($6,500), Talk So People Listen ($3,500).
2. Virtual Live Programs: Live, expert-led communication development delivered virtually by the same faculty as in-person programs. Offers similar curriculum to in-person with 4-8 programs available.
3. Digital Self-Administered Programs: Scalable, asynchronous learning including First Impressions Count ($30 individual), SpeakeasyCONNECT ($125 individual), MessageQUEST ($250 individual), and SlideQUEST. Team pricing available.
4. Private Coaching: Individual and group coaching sessions including Critical Presentation Preparation for high-stakes situations. Customized to specific organizational needs.
5. Customized Corporate Programs: Tailored communication training programs designed for specific organizational objectives, delivered in-person, virtual, or hybrid formats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Speakeasy sells executive communication development programs for business leaders, delivered through three formats: immersive in-person training at its five learning centers, live expert-led virtual sessions, and scalable self-administered digital learning. Signature offerings include multi-day programs such as The Leader's Edge, Communicate to Drive Results, Talk So People Listen, and specialized sales enablement, listening, and presentation skills programs. The company also delivers customized private workshops, 1:1 executive coaching, and an ongoing alumni community (SpeakeasyCONNECT).

Product overview

Speakeasy offers a comprehensive portfolio of executive communication development programs delivered through three primary formats: Speakeasy IN-PERSON (live face-to-face training at world-class learning centers), SpeakeasyVIRTUAL (live expert-led virtual sessions), and SpeakeasyDIGITAL (scalable self-administered online programs). The core offerings include multi-day programs such as The Leader's Edge®, Communicate To Drive Results SM, Talk So People Listen SM, and Develop Your Speaking Style SM. Specialized programs cover sales enablement, presentation skills, executive presence, public speaking, and listening skills (Listen for PEAK Impact). The digital platform includes products like First Impressions Count, MessageQUEST, and SlideQUEST. Additional support is provided through SpeakeasyCONNECT, an alumni community offering ongoing practice and learning opportunities. The portfolio is unified by Speakeasy's experiential learning methodology emphasizing authentic communication development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Leader's Edge: Three-day program for corporate leaders and senior executives dealing with high impact, high stakes communication situations.
• Communicate to Drive Results
• Talk So People Listen
• SlideQUEST
• MessageQUEST
• First Impressions Count

Products and services

• Speakeasy IN-PERSON

Quantifiable outcome

• 57% improved business outcomes in companies adopting gender diversity initiatives including women in leadership programs
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wilson Learning: Global sales and leadership development company offering communication, influence, and interpersonal skills training. Both firms target enterprise sales and leadership audiences with structured communication methodologies.
• Dale Carnegie & Associates: Long-established direct competitor in executive communication, presentation skills, and leadership training. Speakeasy and Dale Carnegie both serve Fortune 500 executives with multi-day immersive programs focused on communication and influence.
• Toastmasters International: Global public speaking and communication development organization. Both Speakeasy and Toastmasters focus on communication confidence and presentation skills, though Toastmasters is membership-driven while Speakeasy is enterprise-paid.
• VitalSmarts (People Skills / Crucial Conversations): Corporate training provider specializing in communication, influence, and leadership conversations. VitalSmarts' Crucial Conversations and Crucial Influence curricula overlap with Speakeasy's listening, persuasion, and executive presence programs.
• Brian Tracy International: Provider of business, sales, and personal development training programs. Brian Tracy's leadership and communication curricula address similar executive and high-potential audiences as Speakeasy's programs.

Emerging players

• ExecOnline: Digital-first executive education platform partnering with top business schools. Competes with SpeakeasyDIGITAL and SpeakeasyVIRTUAL in the enterprise virtual cohort-based learning segment, particularly for high-potential manager development.

Broad incumbents

• FranklinCovey: Large-scale enterprise leadership and execution training provider serving Fortune 500 clients. Overlaps with Speakeasy on leadership communication training but operates a much broader portfolio (The 7 Habits, execution, productivity).
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with executive coaching, leadership development, and talent management offerings. Korn Ferry's executive coaching practice addresses similar buyers (C-suite communication and presence) as Speakeasy but at a much larger scale.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Globally recognized leadership development provider offering executive education, coaching, and assessment. CCL's leadership communication and executive presence programs serve a similar enterprise buyer to Speakeasy but with a research-institution positioning.
• Harvard Business Publishing (Corporate Learning): Enterprise learning arm of Harvard Business School offering leadership, communication, and management development content. Competes with Speakeasy in the executive and high-potential leadership development market, with stronger brand reach but less experiential in-person focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpeakeasyInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speakeasy-inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpeakeasyInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Speakeasy