What Speechworks does

Speechworks is an Atlanta-based communication and selling skills coaching company founded in 1986 that delivers in-person, virtual, and on-site training programs to executives, sales teams, and cross-functional business units. Its portfolio includes six core offerings: The Executive Speaker Workshop (2-day intensive, $2,000/person), The Executive Speaker Workshop for Women (2-day, capped at 8 participants), The Persuasive Speaker Workshop (1-day, $1,200/person), The Impromptu Speaker Workshop (1-day, $1,200/person), How to Win a Pitch (targeting AEC firms), and Private Executive Coaching (individualized 1-hour sessions). All workshops use digital video recording paired with individualized coach feedback and follow the proprietary Speechworks Formula, a structured methodology for creating concise, listener-focused content developed and refined since 1986. The company maintains a 1:5 coach-to-participant ratio versus an industry standard of 1:10-1:12 or higher.

The business is organized around three go-to-market channels: open-enrollment individual workshops at the Atlanta facility, customized team workshops delivered on-site at client locations or at the Atlanta development facility, and virtual delivery nationally and globally. Pricing is premium per-seat with enterprise private coaching typically sold in bundles of four 1-hour sessions. Speechworks claims an enterprise client roster spanning Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Bank of America, Cox Communications, Wells Fargo, Georgia Power, Southern Company, Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta Falcons, and Georgia Tech, indicating durable penetration of Fortune 500 and major regional employers across multiple verticals.

Speechworks is privately held, bootstrapped, and founder-led under President Lauren Marlow, JD, LL.M., with no disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or institutional investors. The coaching team includes 13 named professionals with an average tenure of 10 years, drawing on prior careers at CNN, BBC, ITN, Reuters, The Coca-Cola Company, The Weather Channel, and various law firms. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the firm operates from a single headquarters and training facility at 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite W307, Atlanta, GA 30338. Content marketing is supported by a 60+ article blog, 'The Persuasive Post' newsletter, and five published books by Joey Asher.

Name

Speechworks

Legal name

Speechworks

Website

https://speechworks.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Speechworks is an Atlanta-based communication and selling skills coaching firm, founded in 1986, that delivers workshops and private coaching to executives and enterprise teams using a proprietary methodology and a 1:5 coach-to-participant ratio.

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

Corporate/Professional Public Speaking Training (Presentation Skills) (EDAMAOAJ)

Keywords

• Executive communication training
• Public speaking workshops
• Executive presence coaching
• Presentation skills training
• Sales pitch coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Open Enrollment Workshops: Individual participants pay per-person workshop fees to attend scheduled workshops in Atlanta. Pricing varies by workshop type.
2. Team Workshops: Customized workshops for groups of 10, 15, or 20+ delivered either at Speechworks' Atlanta facility or on-site at the client's location.
3. Private Executive Coaching: One-on-one coaching sessions for senior executives preparing for high-consequence communication situations. Often purchased in bundles of four 1-hour sessions. Includes one complimentary session with workshop registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Speechworks delivers communication and selling skills coaching through in-person workshops, virtual workshops, customized team trainings, and private one-on-one executive coaching. All programs apply the proprietary Speechworks Formula for message organization, are reinforced with digital video recording and individualized feedback from professional coaches, and are delivered with a 1:5 coach-to-participant ratio at its Atlanta facility, on-site at client locations, or virtually for clients nationally and globally.

Product overview

Speechworks is a communication and selling skills coaching firm founded in 1986 that provides in-person, virtual, and team-based training programs. The company offers a portfolio of workshop products including The Executive Speaker Workshop (2-day intensive for mid-to-senior executives), The Executive Speaker Workshop for Women (2-day women-focused program), The Persuasive Speaker Workshop (1-day fundamentals), The Impromptu Speaker Workshop (1-day informal communication), How to Win a Pitch (pitch skills for AEC firms), and Private Executive Coaching (individualized 1-hour sessions). All programs utilize digital video recording with individualized feedback from professional communication coaches and follow the proprietary Speechworks Formula for message organization. The company operates with a 1:5 coach-to-participant ratio and offers programs in Atlanta or at client locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Executive Speaker Workshop An intensive 2-day development experience designed for mid- to senior-level executives who need to communicate persuasively with diverse audiences. Participants acquire self-awareness of how they are perceived by others and are coached on using a more effective communication style unique to them. Priced at $2,000 per person and includes one 1-hour private coaching session.
• The Executive Speaker Workshop for Women An intensive 2-day workshop specifically for women executives, taught by women coaches and limited to 8 participants for an intimate setting. It addresses communication challenges while developing executive presence to speak with confidence, authority, and influence in all types of scenarios. Includes one 1-hour private coaching session.
• The Persuasive Speaker Workshop A one-day workshop focusing on the fundamentals of creating and delivering simple, persuasive business presentations. Participants gain skills to pitch to potential clients, provide project updates, and obtain stakeholder buy-in. Priced at $1,200 per person.
• The Impromptu Speaker Workshop A one-day workshop to help with informal communication situations when thinking on your feet and effectively responding in the moment is essential. Participants learn strategies for quickly developing concise messages and answering follow-up questions. Priced at $1,200 per person and available in-person or virtually.
• How to Win a Pitch Pitch presentation skills development for architectural, construction, and engineering (AEC) firms. Speechworks teaches the process and then coaches teams on how to effectively apply it in real new business opportunities. Offered as customized team workshops and one- or two-day Pursuit Coaching sessions depending on team needs.
• Private Executive Coaching Individualized executive speaking coaching for busy senior executives preparing for high-consequence communication situations. One-hour sessions focus on specific needs such as Board prep, keynote addresses, panel discussions, town hall meetings, conference prep, and virtual executive presence. Often purchased in bundles of four 1-hour sessions, and one complimentary session is included with workshop registration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants acquire self-awareness of how they are perceived by others
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mind Gym: London-listed performance and behavior change consultancy delivering corporate training programs globally at much larger scale than Speechworks. Operates as a broad incumbent in the human performance/L&D category, partially overlapping with executive communication training.
• Crucial Learning (formerly VitalSmarts): Corporate training company offering courses on communication, influence, and leadership (Crucial Conversations, Crucial Influence). Operates as a broad incumbent in the corporate L&D space with overlapping communication skills content.
• FranklinCovey: Large-scale leadership and organizational training firm (NYSE: FC) offering communication, leadership, and execution programs to global enterprises. Broad incumbent with overlapping communication training content, though positioned primarily as leadership/execution rather than pure communication.
• Wilson Learning: Global sales and leadership development company offering communication and interpersonal skills training. Broad incumbent with overlapping enterprise L&D focus, though weighted more toward sales enablement than executive communication.

Direct peers

• Exec|Comm: Specializes in business communication skills for Fortune 500 professionals, with workshops on presentation delivery, executive presence, and business writing. Exec|Comm's curriculum and audience overlap substantially with Speechworks' executive workshop portfolio.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Iconic public speaking, leadership, and interpersonal skills training franchise operating globally since 1912. Dale Carnegie competes directly with Speechworks in the corporate presentation/executive communication space, with similar workshop formats and enterprise delivery model.
• Decker Communications: Founded in 1979, Decker Communications is one of the longest-running business communication training firms in the US, serving Fortune 500 clients with presentation and executive presence workshops. It is the closest direct competitor to Speechworks in scope, methodology, and customer profile.
• Toastmasters International: Global non-profit organization dedicated to public speaking and leadership development through member-led clubs. Toastmasters is the largest-scale peer in public speaking practice, though it operates as a membership model rather than paid coaching; it shapes the same buyer category Speechworks serves.
• The Presentation Company: Specialist presentation skills and public speaking training firm serving corporate clients with workshops and coaching. Directly comparable to Speechworks in workshop format, target audience (executives and professionals), and coaching-led delivery model.
• Media Training Worldwide: Provides media training, presentation coaching, and communication skills development for executives and corporate teams. Comparable to Speechworks in its focus on high-stakes communication scenarios and individual coaching delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpeechworksATL
• Facebookfacebook.com/speechworksatl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speechworks-asher-communications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Speechworks