From expertise to influence: Inside Kendall Bonner’s The Industry Speaks Academy

HousingWire

Audiences are tired of recycled talking points, and housing events are feeling the pressure. In this episode of Ten Minute Talks, HousingWire’s Brenna Nath talks with Kendall Bonner, Founder & CEO of The Industry Speaks Academy, about why the future of housing depends on new voices, sharper storytelling, and why public speaking, not technology, is the key to unlocking better housing conversations.  Bonner shares how The Industry Speaks Academy prepares industry leaders to communicate complex ideas like AI,housing affordability, and innovation in ways that resonate emotionally and drive action. The result: more compelling stages, better conversations, and an industry that leads instead of reacts.   #HousingIndustry #PublicSpeaking #IndustryImpact #KendallBonner

Transcript

00:00I think the future looks like a deeper bench of prepared voices.

00:05Diverse in perspective, grounded in the real work that it takes.

00:10To get to where most of us desire to grow to.

00:15Hello, I'm Brenna Nath, Vice President of Avens and

00:20Community at Housing Wire.

00:21This is a 10-minute talk that I'm particularly...

00:25excited about for what it means for growing a part of the industry.

00:30And the space I'm so passionate about, which is events, public speaking, whether that's...

00:35in-person or virtual.

00:37And so I've had the pleasure of not only having...

00:40Kendall Bonner on my stage over the years, but I had the honor of...

00:45interviewing her myself back, and I think it was August of last year.

00:49And I still say...

00:50Kendall, you are probably my...

00:52I shouldn't have favorites, maybe I shouldn't say that, but one of the...

00:55strongest people I've ever interviewed in person.

00:58What does that look like when I say a strong...

01:00interview, and I want to call this out because it applies to the rest of our conversation,

01:03she was engaging the audience.

01:05making people laugh, bringing people back into the room, and as a result, had people...

01:10coming up to her afterwards and being like, oh, tell me more about this, let me see this, and...

01:15I call that out because it just shows that the knowledge, the strength, and credibility that...

01:20she's bringing to this conversation, because I want to let you, Kendall, kind of introduce a little bit...

01:25about this new chapter that you're rolling out, this exciting...

01:30company that really needs, needs to live in this space, so Kendall, first off...

01:35we're excited to have you on 10 Minute Talks, and can you tell us a little bit about your new title?

01:40Yes, hi, Brenna, thank you, thank you, thank you, and I just want to say first of all...

01:45to you and to your audience, what a pleasure and an honor it is to be here today and share this...

01:50the stage with you again, like, so much fun. So, yes, I am...

01:55the founder of the Industry Speaks Academy, and I'm so excited...

02:00excited about this particular venture of mine because for the first time I'm building something...

02:05that really is designed to make a massive impact...

02:10on our industry, and so, you know, so many things that we do in life...

02:15have micro-impact or local impact, and this is one of those...

02:20ones that truly has the opportunity to have an industry impact, and so I'm super excited...

02:25excited about it, and I can't wait to share more.

02:28You've come to our stage...

02:30other stages in the industry, talking about almost every trend...

02:35important topic, whether it's leadership or top news stories, you've kind of addressed...

02:40it all, so you really can talk through how do you approach an important topic that's sensitive...

02:45you need to be mindful of, you approach it to...

02:47here's how I inspire an audience, which I think is really cool.

02:50So, as I've looked at events for 2026, a theme that I've...

02:55noticed is that with this growth of technology, with this growth of AI, there's still so...

03:00much power in the human element, the emotional element of coming together...

03:05which is why I'd love to hear your thoughts with the Industry Speaks Academy, what...

03:10important perspectives or discussions do you think is going to shape housing?

03:13Because that's what you're building towards, ultimately.

03:15is helping these people craft their discussions to show up more consistently on stage.

03:19So, what...

03:20what do you think will shape some of those discussions?

03:23Yeah, that's such a big question.

03:25and I have my own ideas about where I think people should be...

03:30timing conversations, for sure, and you know, I have been very blessed to...

03:35not only attend many conferences and be on their stages, but also...

03:40to listen to some powerful conversations and, you know, where I think it would be...

03:45super interesting to see speakers and event organizers...

03:50reframe conversations, especially when it comes to housing, is a couple of different things.

03:55I was on a stage last year...

03:58I moderated a panel for...

04:00South by South...

04:01on South by Southwest stage...

04:02for Realtor.com...

04:03and...

04:04and...

04:05we were talking about the evolution of housing...

04:09and policy...

04:10the...

04:11lack of affordable homes and things like that.

04:14And I really do think 2026 should address some of these very real issues...

04:19that we're having in our industry right now.

04:21For example, how we can streamline...

04:24in housing production, I imagine...

04:27AI and robotics...

04:29taking a big...

04:30playing a bigger role in housing development.

04:32I think that would be super interesting.

04:34to see on our stages going forward.

04:36I'd love to see us talking about how we can...

04:39leverage AI and operations...

04:41for example...

04:42of like...

04:43permitting...

04:44housing permitting...

04:44related to development.

04:45You know...

04:46again...

04:47anytime we can streamline these things...

04:48we can make...

04:49things more affordable...

04:50and...

04:51provide...

04:52more opportunity...

04:53for housing...

04:54for...

04:54our citizens...

04:55also...

04:56to...

04:57getting involved in more...

04:58innovative mortgage solutions...

04:59you know...

05:00talking about...

05:01assumable mortgages...

05:02portable mortgages...

05:03rent-to-own...

05:04lease-to-own...

05:04we've talked about this on stage...

05:05before...

05:06but I don't think it's talked about enough...

05:08but I think it's...

05:09the interesting angle...

05:10and then of course...

05:11you know...

05:12proactive housing policies...

05:13around...

05:14innovation...

05:15for example...

05:16adaptive use...

05:17and reuse...

05:18of land...

05:19right?

05:19the fact that we're not...

05:20leveraging...

05:21public...

05:22land...

05:23that...

05:24is being repurposed...

05:25instead of...

05:26for corporate development...

05:27let's...

05:28use it for housing...

05:29let's...

05:29take commercial buildings...

05:30and use it for housing...

05:31I think there's just...

05:32this real opportunity...

05:33to have some new...

05:34conversations...

05:34but in order to have...

05:35these new conversations...

05:36we have to get...

05:37some new voices up there...

05:38through our...

05:39about these things...

05:40and I think that's...

05:41a real opportunity...

05:42that we have...

05:43going forward...

05:44in 2026...

05:44in conference space...

05:45that's a great call out...

05:47because the reason...

05:48I started off...

05:49this...

05:50conversation...

05:51talking about...

05:52how you engage...

05:53the audience...

05:54how it's powerful...

05:54to me...

05:55it's tools like that...

05:56and even more...

05:57that you're bringing...

05:58to Industry Speaks Academy...

05:59and so...

06:00how do you...

06:01because I agree...

06:02it's like...

06:03you have these people...

06:04who have the knowledge...

06:04now let's help...

06:05them learn...

06:06how do you...

06:07get that...

06:08to be engaging...

06:09for a room...

06:10so in practice...

06:11what does this...

06:12look like...

06:13how are you...

06:14getting these people...

06:14more stage ready...

06:15and how are you...

06:16even finding them...

06:17maybe...

06:18so right now...

06:19the goal...

06:19the Academy Speaks...

06:20is to...

06:21source...

06:22speakers...

06:23who have been...

06:24on stage before...

06:24or done some sort of event...

06:25in the past...

06:26who have...

06:27a...

06:28expertise...

06:29or an experience...

06:30to share...

06:31and then my goal...

06:32is to help them...

06:33reframe...

06:34that expertise...

06:35into contribution...

06:36because...

06:37just because...

06:38you've learned something...

06:39or...

06:39you know something...

06:40does not mean...

06:41that you are...

06:42yet skilled...

06:43in the way...

06:44of...

06:45articulating it...

06:46in a...

06:47fashion that...

06:48allows the audience...

06:49to truly...

06:49hear what you're saying...

06:50and not only to hear it...

06:51but to feel...

06:52connected to it...

06:53and to be able to...

06:54take from it...

06:55and learn...

06:56and then go take action...

06:57right...

06:58and be inspired by...

06:59the move...

06:59and...

07:00part of what we do...

07:01for example...

07:02at the Industry Speaks Academy...

07:03is we have...

07:04five frameworks...

07:04that we work from...

07:05to...

07:06help...

07:07our leaders...

07:08and our speakers...

07:09reframe...

07:10their conversations...

07:11help them...

07:12be prepared...

07:13for the opportunity...

07:14on a stage...

07:15because that is the true...

07:16special sauce...

07:17is taking your...

07:18experience...

07:19and turning...

07:19it into...

07:20contribution...

07:21that lands...

07:22and so...

07:23those are the things...

07:24that we're doing...

07:24and that comes from...

07:25repetition...

07:26and practice...

07:27as well as...

07:28real...

07:29honest feedback...

07:30so many of us...

07:31get the opportunity...

07:32to share...

07:33and then...

07:34we're...

07:34asking...

07:35the audience members...

07:36how'd I do...

07:37you did great...

07:38well that's not helpful...

07:39if...

07:39especially when you know...

07:41that more...

07:42that...

07:43really...

07:44it's not just about...

07:44talent...

07:45speaking...

07:46and contributing...

07:47back to the industry...

07:48is about...

07:49a skill...

07:49it's a skill set...

07:50that has to...

07:51it's a muscle...

07:52it is a muscle...

07:53repetition...

07:54I would emphasize that...

07:55so much...

07:56that you could have...

07:57all the passion skills...

07:58but you need the reps...

07:59in order to just...

08:00be able to improv too...

08:02I...

08:03have heard...

08:04some of your...

08:04answer to this...

08:05but I would love to hear it...

08:06in your words...

08:07which is...

08:08it's weaved...

08:09into all of your answers...

08:09but why you're so...

08:10passionate...

08:11about this...

08:12can you expand...

08:13on that part some?

08:14yeah...

08:15I'm passionate about it...

08:16because...

08:17I've been...

08:18I've been blessed...

08:19to have the...

08:19experience...

08:20of...

08:21being on many...

08:22different stages...

08:23and...

08:24I have...

08:24met...

08:25so many other...

08:26amazing leaders...

08:27who...

08:28have not had...

08:29that opportunity...

08:30yet...

08:31and who have...

08:32really...

08:33really...

08:34really...

08:35amazing...

08:36things to share...

08:34and...

08:35what happened was...

08:36is...

08:37I had...

08:38people ask me...

08:39how can...

08:39I duplicate...

08:40Kendall...

08:41what you've achieved...

08:42I want to...

08:43contribute back...

08:44to the industry...

08:44that's changed my life...

08:45because that's...

08:46certainly how I see it...

08:47and...

08:48at first...

08:49I didn't have a path...

08:49or a mechanism...

08:50to share...

08:51and I didn't...

08:52I hadn't quite...

08:53articulated...

08:54what that looked like...

08:54and...

08:55I finally decided...

08:56to take on that challenge...

08:57because I felt...

08:58it was...

08:59important...

08:59if I wanted to be able...

09:00to truly...

09:01impact my industry...

09:02and...

09:03I realized...

09:04there was this...

09:05credibility...

09:06gap...

09:07that...

09:08existed...

09:09and...

09:10I wanted to help...

09:11solve that...

09:12and so...

09:13by...

09:14creating...

09:14the industry speaks...

09:15academy...

09:16I was able to...

09:17solve the problem...

09:18of the...

09:19gap between...

09:20where people are...

09:21as leaders...

09:22and their expertise...

09:23and then...

09:24their...

09:24their ability...

09:25to...

09:26share those lessons...

09:27and share that...

09:28information...

09:29with...

09:29their audiences...

09:30in a way...

09:31that drives...

09:32real movement...

09:33and impact...

09:34so...

09:35that was...

09:36really important...

09:37the reason...

09:38I was so quick...

09:39to want to get you...

09:40on this video...

09:41interview...

09:42was because...

09:43as someone...

09:44who oversees...

09:45events...

09:46I see...

09:47this...

09:48time...

09:49and...

09:50time...

09:51again...

09:52where someone...

09:53has so...

09:54a...

09:55so...

09:56a...

09:57a...

09:58a...

09:59a...

10:00a...

10:02a...

10:03a...

10:04a...

10:10a...

10:11a... a...

09:47much information, but then maybe they're not stage ready or maybe they're stage ready,

09:50but we also want to help.

09:52Help them grow and become a better stage presenter so they're tightening their message, they're

09:55getting to the core points.

09:57And to your point, feedback is so core in that.

09:59And so that element along with repetition, all of it matters.

10:02If you had to look ahead, maybe it's a year, two years, like.

10:07I said earlier, I firmly believe in the importance of in-person connection, how.

10:12How do you view raising the bar for speakers, bringing more voices in the industry?

10:17How does this have the power to change the industry as a whole, which I also know is

10:20quite the big question.

10:22Yeah, it is a big question, but I think that, you know, the goal here is.

10:27Is reasonable, which is, you know, the fact is audiences.

10:32Don't want to continue to get recycled talking points, right?

10:36We can.

10:37Build something that allows more innovative and new voices.

10:42Opportunity to share that can help prevent that, you know, and.

10:47Experience, when experience becomes contribution, that's a truly.

10:52Truly magnificent opportunity, right?

10:55And then, of course, you know.

10:57The goal of being on stage and the goal of bringing these voices to stage is the lesson.

11:02The goal of being on stage and the goal of being on stage and the goal of being on stage, right?

11:07The goal of being on stage and the goal is to make the future look like a deeper bench of prepared voices, a diverse.

11:12perspective, right?

11:13That's super important.

11:14Grounded in the real work that

11:17it takes to get to where most of us desire to grow to.

11:22And then basically it's capable

11:23of shaping the industry forward

11:24instead of just reacting to it.

11:27So, you know, we want to teach the rules.

11:31We want

11:32to have the game.

11:33We want to force objective and honest feedback

11:36as a part of the.

11:37Academy.

11:38And then, of course, we want to signal that

11:40Academy speakers, for example.

11:42They're ready and they're open to be connected

11:45with, you know, amazing event.

11:48I appreciate that.

11:50Well, like I said, I truly view this.

11:52As a partnership, as someone like you,

11:53who is passionate about very similar things to me,

11:56this is a.

11:57message that I know will

11:59help bring this industry forward in a way

12:01that's like you might have.

12:02all the insights, but doesn't matter if you don't know

12:04how to distill them down for others.

12:05So, Kendall, thank.

12:07Thank you for joining me.

12:08I know this will be the last time we talk.

12:10Appreciate it.

12:11I appreciate you.

12:12you too.

12:13Thank you so much.

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