Behind the scenes of Kevin Gaskell’s speaking success
Few people have lived multiple careers quite like Kevin Gaskell. He’s transformed global brands such as Porsche, BMW, and Lamborghini, built 15 companies, walked to both poles, rowed oceans, climbed mountains, and raised over £1 million for charity.
But what’s perhaps most impressive is how he’s turned all of that experience into a thriving international speaking business. In our recent conversation on the Speaking Business Podcast, Kevin shared what it really takes to build a speaking career that lasts, and the lessons are worth their weight in gold.
- He didn’t plan to become a speaker, but he built a plan once he started
Kevin admits he fell into speaking by accident. A last-minute invitation to fill a conference slot led to a tour alongside seasoned professional speakers. Watching how good they were and how much he had to learn changed everything.
He realised speaking wasn’t just about telling stories, it was a profession that required skill, structure, and strategy. From that moment, he built a plan. He studied the craft, refined his material, learned how to hold a room, and built the infrastructure around his speaking.
“It’s not one skill; it’s a set of skills. Even if you talk about business, it has to be entertaining.”
- He treats speaking like a business, not a hobby
Kevin applies the same discipline to his speaking that he brought to running global brands. Every talk is customised, every brief studied, every story intentional.
“Book me on a Friday, and you can use what I talk about on Monday,” he says.
That’s the essence of commercial speaking: real value, practical lessons, and a clear outcome for the audience. He reviews, rehearses, and prepares meticulously.
“This is a show. It has to be good to go.”
- He keeps his content and energy fresh
Despite delivering hundreds of talks, Kevin never repeats his speech word for word. He adapts constantly, adding new stories, refining examples, and connecting to what’s relevant right now.
He keeps a notebook with potential stories, phrases, and insights that could one day become part of a keynote. Like a comedian polishing material, he’s always tuning his performance.
“If I stop feeling that buzz before walking on stage, the audience will see it.”
- He builds a team and a system around him
Kevin’s “first circle” includes Speaking Office, who manage his bookings, contracts, logistics, and travel, a social media expert, and a website team. Beyond that, he stays close to bureaus, mentors, and fellow speakers. Including yours truly 😊
He knows that building a business means surrounding yourself with people who elevate what you do.
“My job is to make it easy for them to sell me.”
- He chooses stories that serve the audience
Whether it’s crossing glaciers with his son or turning around failing car companies, every story Kevin tells has a clear business point such as trust, resilience, teamwork, or honesty.
He reminds us that storytelling isn’t about entertainment for its own sake, it’s about helping audiences see what’s possible.
“There’s only one version of the truth in business and in life.”
- He uses humour with humility
Even when sharing tough or serious lessons, Kevin brings humour and self-awareness. It keeps his stories human and relatable.
“Part of humour is humility. I’m honest about the mistakes as well as the wins.”
- He approaches speaking as service
Perhaps the biggest takeaway - Kevin sees his job as helping others succeed. Whether that’s clients, audiences, or fellow speakers, he shows generosity of spirit, the mark of a true professional.
“Let’s be generous with our time, our contacts, and our knowledge. Just help people.”
In summary
Kevin’s approach is a reminder that professional speaking is both an art and a business.
- Build a plan, not just a talk.
- Treat every brief with precision.
- Keep your material alive.
- Build a strong team.
- Choose stories that serve your audience.
- Stay humble. Stay human.
Listen to the full podcast here: https://speakingbusiness.libsyn.com/from-boardroom-to-mainstage-lessons-from-kevin-gaskell-on-building-a-world-class-speaking-career
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