The Visionaries Who Lit the Spark

VSAI was born from a vision shared by a pioneering group of international speakers—leaders who saw the need for a truly global, speaker-led organization. Their dedication to collaboration, ethics, and speaker empowerment laid the foundation for the vibrant community we are today.

 

Our Story - The Vision Behind VSAI: A Home for Every Speaker

In 2018, a powerful idea took root—what if every speaker, no matter where they were in the world, had a place to belong? At the time, the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) represented 15 national speaker associations, yet countless professional speakers remained unrepresented. Many longed for a global stage, a professional network, and a supportive community but faced barriers of geography, cost, and accessibility.

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To change that, visionary leaders within GSF came together to create something groundbreaking: a virtual association that transcended borders, welcoming speakers from all backgrounds, countries, and experiences. This bold vision became reality with the birth of the Virtual Speakers Association International (VSAI).

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Led by Sir Paul ter Wal LLM CSP, with the pioneering efforts of Mike Handcock, Lindsay Adams OAM, and Frowa Schuitemaker, VSAI was officially registered in the Netherlands and has since grown into the fastest-expanding speakers’ association in the world.