Octagon Expert Bureau
For Event Planners

Find the Right Expertise for the Room You’re Building

Every partner on the Octagon Expert Bureau roster has been vetted, interviewed, and selected. Send us a brief — audience, objective, outcome — and we will come back with a shortlist of experts who fit, not a database search you have to sort through.

Find the Right ExpertExplore the Roster
Who We Help

We help organizations identify subject matter experts aligned with:

Event themes
Audience needs
Strategic objectives
Budget parameters
Program design goals
What We Help You Solve

We help clients navigate:

Speaker selection
Expert fit
Format decisions
Program design possibilities
Coordination and engagement logistics
Our Approach

Fresh Perspectives Are a Strategic Advantage

Exceptional events and important conversations rarely come from recycled thinking.

They come from relevant expertise, expanded perspectives, and voices that challenge assumptions and advance meaningful dialogue.

That belief shapes how we broker engagements.

Strategic Engagement Solutions

Some organizations need more than a single engagement

We support both single-event engagements and scalable expert programming models.

Single-Event Engagements

  • Keynotes
  • Workshops
  • Panels
  • Fireside Chats
  • Roundtables

Extended Engagements

Thought Leader in Residence
Bring specialized expertise into your organization over time.
Consulting and Advisory Engagements
Bring specialized expertise to your organization’s strategic priorities.
Executive Coaching
Support leaders through expert guidance for growth and performance.

Custom Program Solutions

Quarterly Expert Series
Create recurring expert programming designed for sustained value.
Conference in a Box™
Bring a curated conference-style expert experience directly into your organization.
Featured Offering

Conference in a Box™

The conference experience, engineered for your organization’s environment.

Designed, produced, and delivered by the Bureau. Three things organizations consistently value: bringing the conference to them, custom-scoped to their goals, and having a real say in expert selection.

You share your objective, audience, and outcomes.
The Bureau designs the complete program — keynote, panels, workshops, executive conversations.
You have meaningful input on expert selection; the Bureau curates the lineup.
The Bureau handles design, production, coordination, materials, and day-of logistics.
“Your attendees show up the way they would at any conference. We handle the rest.”
Brief Us on Your Event
How We Work

Four steps, start to delivery

01
Share the Brief
Audience, objective, outcome, format, date, budget signal.
02
Receive a Shortlist
We recommend a curated handful of experts who fit.
03
Confirm and Scope
Discovery call with the expert. Statement of Work. Contract.
04
Deliver the Event
The Bureau handles contracts, logistics, and delivery end to end.
FAQ

What decision-makers ask us

How fast can you recommend experts for an event?+

Usually within 2 business days of your inquiry. We review your objective, audience, and date constraints, and come back with a curated shortlist.

Can I inquire about a specific expert?+

Yes. You may inquire directly through an expert’s profile or request recommendations based on your event goals.

Can you help us identify the right expert if we are still exploring options?+

Yes. We can recommend experts aligned with your audience, objectives, and budget.

Do you support panels, moderation, and other formats beyond keynotes?+

Yes. Engagements may include panels, fireside chats, workshops, roundtables, thought leader residencies, and custom programming.

Can you support multi-session or ongoing engagements?+

Yes. Through solutions such as Quarterly Expert Series, Conference in a Box™, and Thought Leader in Residence engagements.

Are travel and A/V costs included in the fee?+

Travel and out-of-pocket expenses are billed separately, either at actual documented cost or as a flat expense fee agreed in advance. A/V, staging, and platform costs are typically the client’s responsibility. Every engagement is scoped in a Statement of Work so there are no surprises.

Can we have a discovery call with an expert before we commit?+

Yes. Once we have narrowed the shortlist, we can arrange a short brief call between you and the expert so both sides can confirm fit before you sign anything.

What happens if an expert cancels?+

The Bureau manages the cancellation terms on both sides. For circumstances beyond the expert’s control, we work to secure a comparable substitute and protect your event. Cancellation terms are detailed in the Statement of Work.

Do you support virtual-only or international engagements?+

Yes. Many of our experts deliver virtual keynotes, hybrid sessions, and international engagements. Let us know your format and location in the brief so we only surface experts who can deliver it.

How are fees structured?+

Engagement fees typically range from $5,000+ for single engagements to $25,000+ for custom programs and extended engagements. Final fees are scoped based on the specific engagement and expert(s) being hired and are discussed during the inquiry conversation.

Send us a brief

You will hear back with a shortlist of experts who fit.

Find the Right ExpertExplore the Roster