I help audiences build deepr
MOTIVATION
That Lasts.
MOMENTUM
That Matters.
I help audiences fuse their WHAT and their WHY so they can create motivation and innovation that last (even when finish lines never come).
STANDING OVATIONS FROM:
Forbes Top
Rated Speaker
Millions of Audience Members Served
Author of Making it Without Losing it
Let's Face it – We're Never Done.
Most talks spark energy for a moment. I help audiences leave with motivation that lasts into real work, real goals, and real growth.
PREVIOUS CLIENTS
Named Top Influential Speaker by Forbes
I'M ON A MISSION
Jess Ekstrom named to Inc.'s Female Founders 500 list
For launching the first AI public speaking agent and establishing a women’s public speaking meetup in 35 cities.
The Female Founders 500 list comprises accomplished female founders from 500 organizations, including public and private companies and nonprofits from the U.S. and (for the first time) other countries as well. Inc.’s editorial team reviewed and scored each founder, evaluating their organizations success and their impact as a leader.
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
Keynote #1
Making it Without Losing It: The new rules for innovation— and motivation— that lasts
- MOST BOOKED
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.
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
jess is phenomenal.
We booked her to speak for Newell Brands Marketing Conference. I see many speakers, and she is definitly one of the best.”
Chris Pote
Newell Brands / Devote Consultancy UK
If you haven’t booked Jess to speak at your company’s team event…
go do it now! Jess is truly a life changing speaker.”
Traci Graziani
Kraft Heinz
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.”
Kelly B.
Under Armour Innovative Partnerships
jess is a very poised and polished speaker.
– confident, funny, great connection with the audience and left them inspired.”
Marc Randolph
Co-Founder / Netflix
Keynote #2
Redefining "Having It All": Why Chasing Balance is Exhausting and What Actually Sustains Us
Women’s Keynote!
Women today are more accomplished than ever, yet more exhausted, overwhelmed, and dissatisfied than we expected to be. Somewhere along the way, “having it all” turned into carrying it all.
In this keynote, Jess Ekstrom unpacks why traditional definitions of success leave women feeling depleted instead of fulfilled. Drawing from her work as a social entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author, she introduces a more sustainable approach to motivation that doesn’t rely on perfection, pressure, or constant progress. This talk offers a refreshing redefinition of ambition, one that allows women to keep growing without losing their joy, identity, or sense of self.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, “HAVING IT ALL” TURNED INTO CARRYING IT ALL.
In this keynote, Jess Ekstrom unpacks why traditional definitions of success leave women feeling depleted instead of fulfilled. Drawing from her work as a social entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author, she introduces a more sustainable approach to motivation that doesn’t rely on perfection, pressure, or constant progress. This talk offers a refreshing redefinition of ambition, one that allows women to keep growing without losing their joy, identity, or sense of self.
add-on workshop
MIC DROP WorkFORCE
Keynote #3
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, recentering your career to remember why you started.
“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
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)
Keynote #3
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, recentering 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)
“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
Keynote #4
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID: POWERING OUR INNER DIALOGUE SO WE CAN LEAD THE WAY
The perfect keynote option for any women’s group or women-focused event!
“WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE INCREDIBLE TALENT THAT IS JESS EKSTROM. SHE WAS A STANDOUT AMONG NINE OTHER SPEAKERS DURING CATALYST UNIVERSITY WITH HER STORY, INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE AND LOVABLE ENERGY. JESS IS AN ORIGINAL IN A WORLD OF COPIES; NOT ONLY IN THE WORK SHE DOES, BUT IN THE STORIES SHE TELLS AND THE WAY SHE LIVES HER LIFE.”
Kelsey McKague
Director of Catalyst University
There was a study that asked men and women in their last moments of life what they regretted.
Women said, “I cared too much about what others thought of me.”
Men said, “I worked too hard.”
In other words, women had regrets over their thoughts and perception…men didn’t.
Whether or not we recognize it or hear it, we have this voice in our head: the voice in our head that tells us we’re not ready. The voice in our head that makes our failures louder than our wins. The voice in our head that compares us to the woman beside us. The voice in our head that tells us someday, but not today.
So what happens when we change the story?
Opportunity. That’s what happens when we change the voice in our head to tell us that there’s good and we can bring it. It opens up a whole other world that maybe we thought was beyond reach before. Everything we want is within reach if we’re willing to throw perfection out the door and embrace the messiness of the journey.
But first, we have to learn to recognize the voice in our head and train it to be our biggest cheerleader, instead of the coach that keeps putting you on the bench. In this keynote, Jess will use her entrepreneurial story to show how she actively trained the voice in her head through times of inspiration, chaos, failure and purpose.
PAST AUDIENCES:
Leadercast Women, Wine and Design Franchisee Conference, and Carquest Women’s Summit
takeaways:
- Recognizing the voice in our head and what it tells us
- The path to leadership begins with giving more airtime to our inner cheerleader than our inner critic
- Learning that confidence is a voice, not a skill
- Understanding that we are always in control of our story
Keynote #4
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID: POWERING OUR INNER DIALOGUE SO WE CAN LEAD THE WAY
The perfect keynote option for any women’s group or women-focused event!
There was a study that asked men and women in their last moments of life what they regretted.
Women said, “I cared too much about what others thought of me.”
Men said, “I worked too hard.”
In other words, women had regrets over their thoughts and perception…men didn’t.
Whether or not we recognize it or hear it, we have this voice in our head: the voice in our head that tells us we’re not ready. The voice in our head that makes our failures louder than our wins. The voice in our head that compares us to the woman beside us. The voice in our head that tells us someday, but not today.
So what happens when we change the story?
Opportunity. That’s what happens when we change the voice in our head to tell us that there’s good and we can bring it. It opens up a whole other world that maybe we thought was beyond reach before. Everything we want is within reach if we’re willing to throw perfection out the door and embrace the messiness of the journey.
But first, we have to learn to recognize the voice in our head and train it to be our biggest cheerleader, instead of the coach that keeps putting you on the bench. In this keynote, Jess will use her entrepreneurial story to show how she actively trained the voice in her head through times of inspiration, chaos, failure and purpose.
PAST AUDIENCES:
Leadercast Women, Wine and Design Franchisee Conference, and Carquest Women’s Summit
takeaways:
- Recognizing the voice in our head and what it tells us
- The path to leadership begins with giving more airtime to our inner cheerleader than our inner critic
- Learning that confidence is a voice, not a skill
- Understanding that we are always in control of our story
“WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE INCREDIBLE TALENT THAT IS JESS EKSTROM. SHE WAS A STANDOUT AMONG NINE OTHER SPEAKERS DURING CATALYST UNIVERSITY WITH HER STORY, INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE AND LOVABLE ENERGY. JESS IS AN ORIGINAL IN A WORLD OF COPIES; NOT ONLY IN THE WORK SHE DOES, BUT IN THE STORIES SHE TELLS AND THE WAY SHE LIVES HER LIFE.”
Kelsey McKague
Director of Catalyst University
Jess Ekstrom was fantastic. We knew within seconds that we nailed our keynote choice at Circle K.”
Ally Alfonso
Circle K
Jess's presentation at SPARK was truly outstanding.
Her content deeply resonated with the audience, and you could tell she invested significant time in understanding our event goals, attendees, and culture, even conducting her own research at a local restaurant. As a result, attendees departed feeling inspired, motivated, and equipped with actionable strategies to implement in their own restaurants.”
Michele Crow
Lead Event Producer Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Let Us Help You Book Incredible Speakers for Your Event
We have a roster of amazing women speakers with varying topics and prices points we’d love to introduce you to.
Contact us to learn more!
what attendees have said
in the past 12 months:
Book Jess to Speak
Want more information about booking Jess? Fill out the form or email [email protected]
“If you haven’t booked Jess to speak at your company’s team event…go do it now!
Jess is truly a life changing speaker."
Traci Graziani
Kraft Heinz
“If you haven’t booked Jess to speak at your company’s team event…go do it now!
Jess is truly a life changing speaker."
Traci Graziani
Kraft Heinz
Blown away by her company, her speaking, her message, but most of all, blown away by her."
"Having worked with many speakers over the years, I can confidently say Jess stands out as one of the very best."
Apartment Association of Greater Dallas
"Having worked with many speakers over the years, I can confidently say Jess stands out as one of the very best."
Apartment Association of Greater Dallas
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
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
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-Shred Services, Edward Jones
Jess was an incredible keynote speaker
– a beautiful combination of humor, humility, passon, and inspiration. Many attendees commented that she was ‘the best we’ve ever had!’ We highly recommend her for your next event!”
Theresa Miller
Girls On the Run International
Keynote #3
“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
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, recentering 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?
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
It’s not about the task, but what you make the task mean
Develop an entrepreneurial mindset to increase your agility and handle what's thrown your way
Learn what is success (purpose) and what is achievement (reward)
“JESS IS A VERY POISED AND POLISHED SPEAKER – CONFIDENT, FUNNY, GREAT CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE AND LEFT THEM INSPIRED.”
Mark Randolph
Co-Founder of Netflix
Keynote #4
“WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE INCREDIBLE TALENT THAT IS JESS EKSTROM. SHE WAS A STANDOUT AMONG NINE OTHER SPEAKERS DURING CATALYST UNIVERSITY WITH HER STORY, INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE AND LOVABLE ENERGY. JESS IS AN ORIGINAL IN A WORLD OF COPIES; NOT ONLY IN THE WORK SHE DOES, BUT IN THE STORIES SHE TELLS AND THE WAY SHE LIVES HER LIFE.”
Kelsey McKague
Director of Catalyst University
That’s What She Said: powering our inner dialogue so we can lead the way
The perfect keynote option for any women’s group or women-focused event!
There was a study that asked men and women in their last moments of life what they regretted.
Women said, “I cared too much about what others thought of me.”
Men said, “I worked too hard.”
In other words, women had regrets over their thoughts and perception…men didn’t.
Whether or not we recognize it or hear it, we have this voice in our head: the voice in our head that tells us we’re not ready. The voice in our head that makes our failures louder than our wins. The voice in our head that compares us to the woman beside us. The voice in our head that tells us someday, but not today.
So what happens when we change the story?
Opportunity. That’s what happens when we change the voice in our head to tell us that there’s good and we can bring it. It opens up a whole other world that maybe we thought was beyond reach before. Everything we want is within reach if we’re willing to throw perfection out the door and embrace the messiness of the journey.
But first, we have to learn to recognize the voice in our head and train it to be our biggest cheerleader, instead of the coach that keeps putting you on the bench. In this keynote, Jess will use her entrepreneurial story to show how she actively trained the voice in her head through times of inspiration, chaos, failure and purpose.
past audiences:
Leadercast Women, Wine and Design Franchisee Conference, and Carquest Women’s Summit
takeaways:
Recognizing the voice in our head and what it tells us
Learning that confidence is a voice, not a skill
The path to leadership begins with giving more airtime to our inner cheerleader than our inner critic
Understanding that we are always in control of our story
“WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE INCREDIBLE TALENT THAT IS JESS EKSTROM. SHE WAS A STANDOUT AMONG NINE OTHER SPEAKERS DURING CATALYST UNIVERSITY WITH HER STORY, INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE AND LOVABLE ENERGY. JESS IS AN ORIGINAL IN A WORLD OF COPIES; NOT ONLY IN THE WORK SHE DOES, BUT IN THE STORIES SHE TELLS AND THE WAY SHE LIVES HER LIFE.”
Kelsey McKague
Director of Catalyst University
Download Media Kit for Jess Ekstrom
Making It Without Losing It
How to Stay Motivated in a World Where We Are Never Done
A refreshingly honest guide for ambitious humans who want to chase their goals without setting their inner peace on fire. Rediscover what it actually feels like to enjoy your work, stay motivated without the meltdown, and build a life that feels as good as it looks on LinkedIn.
"I have been doing this conference since 1998 (sans two pandemic years), and I can say with certainty that Jess, her message, and overall impact was by far the best response we have ever had."
Rich Johnson
President of ViaQuest
"I have been doing this conference since 1998 (sans two pandemic years), and I can say with certainty that Jess, her message, and overall impact was by far the best response we have ever had."
Rich Johnson
President of ViaQuest
Jess was an outstanding choice as a keynote speaker for our women's leadership conference.
Her ability to tell stories is second to none. She made me laugh, cry, and feel motivated all in one talk. That’s how you know you have something special.”
Danielle Peebler
Farm Credit Services of America
What can I say about Jess Ekstrom...Dynamic, Inspirational, Powerful? All of these and more!
I have had the pleasure to hear Jess speak in person on several occasions. Each time I have come away with my heart and eyes full! Most recently I had the opportunity to hear her speak at the Virginia ULI conference in Richmond, Virginia. To say she captured the audience is an understatement. If you have an opportunity to hear this inspiring young woman speak…run…don’t walk!”
Debbie Reading
Director of Business Development
"
I had a great time in conversation with jess ekstrom. she asked great questions and was incredibly engaging with the audience.
ELIZA REID
First Lady of Iceland
WATCH JESS SPEAK
More footage available upon request.
To inquire about bringing Jess to your event, please email [email protected] or click the button below and fill out our form. We look forward to learning more about your event!