91: The Speech That Changed Everything: Simon Doble on Fear, Purpose & Global Impact

This conversation with Simon Doble is a masterclass for emerging speakers who dream of making an impact but feel the weight of fear, nerves, or imposter syndrome.

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This conversation with Simon Doble is a masterclass for emerging speakers who dream of making an impact but feel the weight of fear, nerves, or imposter syndrome. Simon takes us inside his journey, from resisting the stage to realising speaking wasn’t just a platform, but the catalyst that catapulted his mission onto the world stage.

What you’ll hear isn’t just another story about “doing good.” It’s a roadmap for speakers who want to land bigger stages, attract corporate opportunities, and make their message unforgettable. 

Simon shows you how to get out of your own way, embrace authenticity over polish, and use speaking to amplify both your business and your purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The Time Magazine article that lit the spark and changed Simon’s life forever. (10:04)
• The role of joy in communities facing energy poverty — and why joy fuels resilience. (18:02)
• The mindset shift that reframes speaking from performance to service — and beats imposter syndrome. (25:21)
• How one terrifying keynote in Oman opened corporate doors and 10x’d SolarBuddy’s growth. (28:02)
• How Simon turned speaking into a legitimate revenue stream, raising $500K+ to fund SolarBuddy. (31:43)
• The ripple effect of speaking: how one stage moment inspires thousands and changes millions of lives. (37:12)
• From Times Square to Mercedes-Benz Arena: stories from the world’s biggest stages (and what they taught him). (47:38)

This episode is not just for speakers – it’s for anyone who’s ever wondered: Could my story really change the world? Simon’s answer is a resounding yes.This episode is not just for speakers – it’s for anyone who’s ever wondered: Could my story really change the world? Simon’s answer is a resounding yes.

QUOTES

“One keynote in Oman changed the trajectory of my life, my charity, and millions of children’s futures.” – Simon Doble

“My darkest moment collided with the world’s darkest reality — and it lit a fire in me that’s never gone out.” – Simon Doble

“It’s not about you. It’s about the audience and what you can give them. If you get it wrong, you won’t die — but if you get it right, you can change everything.” – Simon Doble

“Speaking was the catalyst. Without it, SolarBuddy would never have scaled to what it is today.” – Simon Doble

“If I can get speaking skills into the hands of charity founders, I believe the world changes.” – Jacqueline Brooker

RESOURCES

ABOUT SIMON DOBLE

Simon Doble is a humanitarian entrepreneur, serial inventor, and keynote speaker. He is dedicated to ending energy poverty. Founder of BrightBeam (2011), SolarBuddy (2016) and the Barefoot Citizens (2021) group of social enterprises, he creates sustainable solutions for global impact. His work empowers communities through innovation, education, and partnerships, lighting the way for a more equitable and sustainable future. 

WHERE TO FIND SIMON DOBLE

• Website: https://www.simondoble.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjdoble/ 

WHERE TO FIND JACQUELINE BROOKER

To connect and learn more about creating a Speaker Driven Business connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn. You can also follow Jacqueline on Instagram or join the private Facebook group

Join the Speak More Collective.