Biography

Jess lives by three words: inspiration from frustration.

Whenever she’s frustrated, she usually finds inspiration in a business idea to solve the problem. Hence, she’s a 2x successful social entrepreneur.

In 2012, she took a $300 grant and launched Headbands of Hope, a company that provides headbands to kids with illnesses.

Since then, her company has donated millions of headbands all over the world and has become the official headband provider for the NBA, WNBA, and are now sold in all Kohl’s locations.

Jess is a Forbes Top Rated speaker with past clients like Zappos, Priceline, Netflix, Canva, Edward Jones, Magnolia, Under Armour, Newell Brands, Leadercast Live, SAS, Harvard, TEDx, and more.

But her career goals are not just about getting herself on stage, she wants to help more women get on stages as public speakers. And in 2018, she founded Mic Drop Workshop®️, a company with the mission of empowering more women to share their message as a public speaker and author. 

Jess is a 2x bestselling author of Chasing the Bright Side and Create Your Bright Ideas. She’s been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Vanity Fair, Forbes, and People Magazine ran an exclusive piece about her when her book was released. You’ve most likely seen Jess on your TV whether it was an interview on your favorite morning show, shopping on QVC, or watching her run her business from her Airstream in a global Canva commercial.

Some of her recent badges of honor…

  • Chip Gaines said, “Jess Ekstrom is leaving her mark on this world and it’s amazing to watch her do it.” 
  • Jess was dubbed The Ultimate Game Changer by Women’s Health Magazine
  • The co-founder of Netflix said, “Jess is a very poised and polished speaker- confident, funny, great connection with the audience and left them inspired.”
  • Jess was tapped to interview the First Lady of Iceland on women’s equality issues
  • Linkedin Learning and TED Education have asked Jess to host courses on the art of public speaking
  • Forbes named her a Top Motivational Speaker
  • Arianna Huffington put her on her 99 Female Disruptors List
  • Becoming a new mom to a little girl and advocating for moms in the workplace
  • And Business Insider said Jess is a “Woman to Watch”

Jess brings humor, inspiration, and entertainment to every group she addresses. Her motivational, edge-of-your-seat storytelling and infectious energy is a refreshing experience for audiences looking to improve their culture, purpose-building, and fulfillment. 

Read More

Videos

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

MAKING IT WITHOUT LOSING IT: THE NEW RULES FOR INNOVATION— AND MOTIVATION— THAT LASTS

Let’s face it, there’s always a “what’s next?” Your ability to individually and collectively reach that next big milestone — without burning out– has to do with the answer to the following question:



How do we create motivation that lasts when we’re never done?

It turns out — While traditional leadership approaches focus on external rewards, the latest science shows us that the most flourishing contributors have a personal, internal connection to their work. That’s right; people with high intrinsic motivation experience lower rates of disengagement, higher levels of innovation and more fulfillment than those focused primarily on external factors.



Forbes Top Rated keynote speaker, Jess Ekstrom, uses modern research and her experiences starting two multi-million-dollar businesses to guide audiences to deeper engagement, fulfillment and lasting motivation in their role.



If you’re looking to infuse individuals at any level of your organization with unshakeable motivation through gripping storytelling and entertainment, it’s here.

PAST AUDIENCES:
Kraft Heinz, Women in Insurance, Magnolia, Sharpie, Citrix, Ignite Tupelo, Catalyst University, National Association of Realtors, Banker Associations

Audience Takeaways:

- How to wire yourself and your teams to become intrinsically motivated instead of externally validated
- How intrinsic motivation leads to increased problem solving and fulfillment
- The three psychological needs that inspire lasting motivation
- Simple secrets to more powerfully create and innovate everyday
- Three questions to lead yourself and others with a greater purpose in mind

CHASING THE BRIGHT SIDE: PURPOSE-DRIVEN THINKING LEADS TO UNSTOPPABLE GROWTH

This keynote is perfect for: workplace engagement, overcoming burnout, adapting a more positive mindset at work, employee retention, increasing fulfillment, navigating change and hardships, startup struggles and culture building.

Nowadays, it’s so easy to get warped into negative thoughts and constantly feeling like you’re moving from problem to problem.



A recent study at the American Academy of Neurology found that prolonged negative thinking diminishes your brain’s ability to think or reason clearly and it quickly drains your energy.



You’d think the solution to negativity would be to tell yourself to “just be positive!” but we all know that doesn’t trick your brain, it only frustrates it.

In Jess’ bestselling book, Chasing the Bright Side, she talks about how optimism isn’t about eliminating the negativity, it’s about using it to create something better. Even the spark of her business, Headbands of Hope, was started because of a problem she saw: kids with cancer wanted to wear headbands after hair-loss. Now, her company has donated over one million headbands to kids with illnesses and has reached every children’s hospital in the United States and 22 countries.



But it all began because there was a problem. Problems are where a lot of great ideas begin if we let them.



If you’re looking to find a keynote speaker who can deliver inspiration infused with humor and entertainment, then Jess is your choice. In this keynote, she aims to inspire audiences to not just envision a better future for their life, work, and community, but go create it.

PAST AUDIENCES:
Edward Jones, Zappos, Leadercast Live, Newell Brands, Inman Connect, Economic Development conferences

Takeaways:

- Finding the overlap between passion and profit
- Why optimism is the key to positive growth
- How to turn setbacks into comebacks
- A better future starts with a brighter mindset

MEANINGFUL WORK: HOW TO BE FULFILLED...RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE

This keynote is perfect for: purpose building, audiences seeking fulfillment, hitting goals + targets, improve retention rates, improving connections to customers/clients, reentering your career to remember why you started.

Let’s get one thing straight: meaningful work is not assigned to you, it’s created by you.



Most of the time we believe that in order to do something meaningful, we have to do something else: live somewhere else, work somewhere else, do something else, be someone else.



But what if we didn’t have to change our circumstance to do something meaningful, but changed our mindset around it?



So according to the Chapman University Survey, why do most people fear public speaking more than they fear sharks?

Nowadays, people don’t want to just clock in and clock out. People want to feel like what they’re doing matters- it’s human nature. We want to know that all of the tasks are building blocks to something greater than themselves. We want to zoom out and say, “Yes! I’m a part of something that matters.”



When employees, leaders, entrepreneurs can create meaning in their work:

They show up with more passion
Their hustle muscle is activated
They’re more engaged in the big picture
And the ordinary tasks now have an extraordinary purpose



When we build meaning in our work: A single sale becomes a fist pump of forward progress. A customer service call becomes a deeper connection to a future customer. An end of quarter review becomes an impact report….



In other words, our jobs are no longer jobs…they’re a service to humanity.



Jess’ keynote is certainly not a namaste, save the world, love-what-you-do-and-you-never-have-to-work-a-day-in-your-life manifesto. She uses her experiences, market research, and improv comedy classes to make an inspiring yet entertaining experience.

PAST AUDIENCES:
Magnolia, Micron, Sharpie, Citrix, Ignite Tupelo, Catalyst University, National Association of Realtors, Banker Associations

Takeaways:

-Fulfillment is not a destination we hit one day, but a choice to how we live today
-Develop an entrepreneurial mindset to increase your agility and handle what's thrown your way
- It’s not about the task, but what you make the task mean
- Learn what is success (purpose) and what is achievement (reward)

Testimonials

JESS EKSTROM IS LEAVING HER MARK ON THIS WORLD AND IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH HER DO IT.
– CHIP GAINES, Co-Founder of Magnolia Network
JESS EMBODIES EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER ASK FOR IN A KEYNOTE SPEAKER – INSPIRATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, RELATABLE, AND ENTERTAINING. SHE'S AMAZING TO WORK WITH AND OUR AUDIENCE ABSOLUTELY LOVED HER. I CAN'T RECOMMEND HER ENOUGH!
– Katie Gaudu, VP Industry Engagement / Inman
JESS IS PHENOMENAL. WE BOOKED HER TO SPEAK FOR NEWELL BRANDS MARKETING CONFERENCE. I SEE MANY SPEAKERS, AND SHE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST.
– Chris Pote, Newell Brands/Devote Consultancy UK
JESS IS A VERY POISED AND POLISHED SPEAKER – CONFIDENT, FUNNY, GREAT CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE AND LEFT THEM INSPIRED.
– Marc Randolph, Co-Founder of Netflix
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD JESS SPEAK AT FAILFEST I WAS BLOWN AWAY. BLOWN AWAY BY HER COMPANY, HER SPEAKING, HER MESSAGE, BUT MOST OF ALL, BLOWN AWAY BY HER.
– Jeff Hoffman, Co-Founder of Priceline.com
IT WAS A PURE PLEASURE HAVING JESS EKSTROM COME AND SPEAK AT ZAPPOS. NOT ONLY DID SHE INSPIRE OUR EMPLOYEES AND LEAVE THEM FEELING EMPOWERED TO TAKE ON ANY CHALLENGE, BUT SHE WAS 100% REAL AND CANDID ABOUT HER OWN JOURNEY. JESS WENT THE EXTRA MILE TO TAILOR THE MESSAGE TO OUR GROUP AND STAYED LONGER TO ANSWER AUDIENCE QUESTIONS AND SIGN BOOKS. WE WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST WORKING WITH JESS AND HER TEAM FOR CORPORATE OR COMMUNITY EVENTS.
– Ashley Kasevich, Business Analyst, Zappos Family of Companies
JESS FEELS LIKE YOUR BFF! SHE CONNECTS WITH HER AUDIENCE IN A REAL WAY AND MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HAVING COFFEE AND CATCHING UP ON LIFE. SO MANY OF OUR ATTENDEES FELT INSPIRED AND FELT LIKE SHE FITS RIGHT INTO OUR EDWARD JONES CULTURE!
– Jamie Hickenbottom, HR-Shared Services, Edward Jones
WHEN JESS IS ON STAGE, SHE IS A CONFIDENT AND NATURAL STORYTELLER. SHE KNOWS HOW TO FRAME THE STORY OF HER JOURNEY IN A MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL WAY FOR AN AUDIENCE TO FEEL ENGAGED WITH HER STORY AND HER BUSINESS, HEADBANDS OF HOPE.
– Kelly B., Under Armour Innovative Partnerships
IF BRENE BROWN AND AMY SCHUMER HAD A BABY, IT WOULD BE JESS EKSTROM.
– Myrna P. Daramy, Audience Attendee
JESS IS A CAPTIVATING SPEAKER. HER PRESENTATION WAS THOUGHTFUL, POIGNANT, AND INSPIRING. I WOULD RECOMMEND HER AS A SPEAKER FOR ANY BUSINESS-RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR NETWORKING EVENT.
– Spencer High, Manager National Association of Realtors

Booksby Jess Ekstrom

Chasing the Bright Side

Blog Posts

Simple Travel Tips to Outsmart Jet Lag This Holiday Season

Do you travel for work and constantly feels drained when you land? Learn actionable tips to help you bounce back faster and perform at your best.

Read More

Finding Your Purpose with Small Acts of Kindness

Discover how small acts of kindness can help you find purpose and create a lasting impact in your life and others.

Read More

Take Ownership and Transform Your Life Today

Take ownership of your life with Merril Hoge's inspiring insights on resilience, mindfulness, and breaking unhealthy cycles.

Read More

Reflecting on 2024: Key Insights and Trends for Event Professionals

What were the biggest takeaways from events in 2024, and how can they shape the way you plan conferences in 2025? 📝

Read More

Innovative Insights to Keep Your Event Attendees Engaged

Discover innovative insights and strategies to enhance attendee experience and engagement at your next event.

Read More

Powerful Ways to Unleash Your Creativity with Kyle Scheele

Unleash your creativity with keynote speaker Kyle Scheele expert insights on innovation, leadership, and turning limitations into inspiration.

Read More

Related Speakers

Reviews & Ratings

Here's how toHit the mark with the perfect speaker!

1. Schedule a call

We’ll connect so we understand your needs to curate a selection of great speakers.

2. Book your speaker

We’ll manage all the details so you will be confident with your choice.

3. Wow your audience

Inform & educate your participants to ideas that transform their work & personal life.

Schedule a Call

Blog Posts

 

Simple Travel Tips to Outsmart Jet Lag This Holiday Season

At The Keynote Curators, we understand how much time event professionals spend on the road. With...

Read More

Finding Your Purpose with Small Acts of Kindness

What does it truly mean to find your purpose? Many people believe purpose is tied...

Read More

Take Ownership and Transform Your Life Today

What’s holding you back from living the life you’ve always wanted? If you’ve ever felt...

Read More

Reflecting on 2024: Key Insights and Trends for Event Professionals

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, it's the perfect time to...

Read More

Innovative Insights to Keep Your Event Attendees Engaged

Engaging attendees at an event is no easy feat, especially in today’s fast-paced world where...

Read More

Powerful Ways to Unleash Your Creativity with Kyle Scheele

Creativity is often misunderstood. Some see it as a gift reserved for artists or visionaries,...

Read More