Public Speaking vs Keynote Speaking vs TEDx

They’re not the same thing (and confusing them is costing people opportunities)

People often say to me, “Oh you’re a public speaker — like TED Talks, right?”

And I smile… because technically yes. But also… not even close.

It’s a bit like saying:

• jogging

• running a marathon

• and competing at the Olympics

…are all the same because they involve shoes.

They’re related. But they’re very different games.

After years on stages, keynoting conferences, and now curating TEDx Wynyard Quarter, I see this confusion all the time.

So let’s clear it up.

Because understanding the difference changes how you prepare, how you pitch, and how you position yourself.

Public Speaking

“I have something to say.”

Public speaking is the umbrella term.

It’s everything from:

• wedding speeches

• school assemblies

• workshops

• panels

• pitching

• training sessions

• emceeing

• business presentations

If you’ve stood in front of humans and talked with intention… congratulations. You’re a public speaker.

Public speaking is about sharing information, communicating clearly, holding attention and hopefully not dying of nerves.

It’s largely functional.

You’re there to inform, update, teach, or persuade.

It’s a skill. A valuable one. And honestly? Most people stop here.

But this is just the starting line.

Keynote Speaking

“I change the room.”

Keynote speaking is a different beast.

A keynote isn’t just talking.

It’s not:

• “Here are 10 tips”

• “Here’s our strategy”

• “Let me present the quarterly numbers”

A keynote sets the emotional and psychological tone for an entire event.

It opens minds. It shifts energy. It creates momentum.

It’s designed to inspire, challenge, reframe thinking, move people into action.

Keynotes are crafted, then delivered.

They’re:

• story-driven

• structured

• rehearsed

• intentional

• transformational

This is where you stop being “someone who speaks”… …and start becoming someone people remember. They demonstrate that you are a subject matter expert on something and that you have something that you stand for or are known for.

It’s also where speaking becomes a profession, not a task.

Keynote speakers don’t just present content.

They create experiences.

Speaking on the TEDx Stage

“I offer an idea worth spreading.”

Now here’s where it gets really interesting.

Because TEDx isn’t just “a really good keynote.”

It’s a completely different brief.

And this is where many great speakers get tripped up.

A TEDx talk is NOT your life story, your business pitch, your workshop, your signature keynote or your best content repackaged.

It’s something else entirely.

A TEDx talk is built around one clear idea, that could change how people see the world in under 18 minutes and designed for a global audience.

It’s not about you.

It’s about the idea.

Keynotes say: “Here’s how I help you.”

TEDx says: “Here’s a new way to think.”

Keynotes are: audience-focused and outcome-driven.

TEDx is: idea-focused and impact-driven.

And the discipline is intense. Ask anyone who has just gone through the process of being a speaker at TEDxWynyard Quarter and they will tell you this too.

Every word matters. Every story must serve the idea. Every sentence earns its place. AND if you're making a claim you MUST be able to validate that with research.

It’s closer to:

• theatre

• storytelling

• philosophy

• and an intellectual dissertation

…than it is to traditional speaking.

When I curate speakers, I’m not asking: “Are they engaging?”

I’m asking: “Is this idea strong enough to travel the world without them in the room?”

Because that’s what TEDx is designed for.

So which one should you aim for?

Here’s the truth most people won’t tell you:

They’re not levels.

They’re lanes.

Different goals. Different skills. Different outcomes.

If you want to:

Teach, facilitate, run sessions → Learn Public speaking. FYI: you can talk to me about that.

Build a business, get paid well, impact organisations → Talk to me about building your Keynote speaking career

Contribute a powerful idea to the world stage → Start your journey by researching and developing concepts for a TEDx....then talk to me.

And yes… you can do all three!

(I do.)

But they require different muscles.

Trying to use one style in the wrong context is like bringing a surfboard to a ski field.

Wrong gear. Wrong game.

My take?

Public speaking is communication. Keynote speaking is transformation. TEDx is legacy.

All three matter.

All three are powerful.

But they are not interchangeable.

And knowing the difference? That’s when you stop “hoping to get picked”…

…and start designing the speaking career you actually want.

In your corner,

Monique xoxo