Jess Ekstrom

Jess helps audiences fuse their WHAT and their WHY so they can create motivation and innovation that last (even when finish lines never come).

Learn more about Jess Ekstrom

Jess gives ambitious women permission to want MORE, without sacrificing themselves to get it.
Jess helps women reconnect with their ambition, energy, and excitement while letting go of the belief that success has to come with exhaustion.
Jess turns “I’m stuck” into “What if I tried this?”
Women leave seeing possibilities they couldn’t see before, with a renewed willingness to take the chance, make the move, share the idea, or pursue what’s next.
Jess helps women get out of their own way and into the room.
Jess inspires women to stop waiting until they feel perfectly ready and start using their voice, owning their ideas, and showing up with confidence.
Jess makes setbacks feel less like stop signs and more like plot twists.
Through humor, storytelling, and her own unconventional journey, Jess shows women how to navigate rejection, change, and unexpected turns without losing their momentum.

Jess creates the kind of keynote women are still talking about after the conference is over.
Jess is funny, relatable, energizing, and deeply human. Attendees don’t just leave inspired, they leave lighter, more connected, and genuinely excited about what they’re capable of next.

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.

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

Every day, employees solve problems, navigate change, and learn lessons that could help someone else…but most of that knowledge stays trapped inside their own heads.

In a world where AI can generate information in seconds, just having information is no longer the advantage. Being able to share what you know in a human to human way is the advantage.

AI can generate information but it can’t generate your lived experience. Your competitive advantage isn’t what you know, it’s what you’ve learned.

The organizations that thrive won’t simply have the smartest people, they’ll have employees who can turn experience into expertise, communicate ideas that others can act on, and create a culture where knowledge is shared instead of siloed.

In this inspiring and interactive keynote, bestselling author and entrepreneur Jess Ekstrom teaches a practical framework for uncovering the lessons you’ve already earned, turning them into ideas people remember, and using them to make a greater impact at work and beyond.

Audience Takeaways:

Turn everyday experiences into repeatable lessons that help others.
Identify the unique expertise they’re building through the work they’re already doing.
Communicate ideas in a way that’s memorable, practical, and actionable.
Build stronger relationships and influence through generosity instead of self-promotion.
Use simple frameworks to make their knowledge easier to share across teams, clients, and organizations.
Leave with one clear idea they can immediately apply, teach, and use to create greater impact.

Jess Ekstrom brought an uplifting presence to our annual conference with her life anecdotes that shared inspiration and showed how to lead with a servant’s heart.

Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association

As a national association representing members across the country, we seek speakers who can resonate with diverse audiences and spark lasting impact at our conferences.

Jess welcomed everyone with her refreshing combination of authenticity, humor, and heartfelt wisdom and quickly created a sense of connection and renewed energy with our attendees. Her story of resilience and purpose-driven entrepreneurship is deeply relatable, and her warmth and clarity while providing personal experiences is motivating and empowering.

We look forward to working with Jess and her team in the future.

American Public Power Association

After the program, I waited in line to get a picture with Jess. I want to hang that picture in my office one day and tell people, this is the girl that changed my life.

Western Carolina University

When we need to inspire students to take action, we call Jess. On multiple occasions we have invited her to speak and each time our students left with a greater sense of purpose and a renewed energy to pursue innovative ideas. We look forward to continuing our tradition of integrating Jess into our yearly schedule of events.

Campbell University

Her presentation was so genuinely engaging and spot-on for our students, that after a standing ovation it was no surprise that there was also a line of students waiting to chat with her. We have already booked her for next year!

NC State

Jess Ekstrom’s message is just what we were looking for and hoping to be a part of the OU Leader Summit. Her story is a message of hope and inspiration, but also one of resiliency that many college students need to hear. The students loved her demeanor, presentation style, vulnerability and realness. There has been a great deal of buzz about the conference and so many participants said that Jess was one of their favorite speakers ever.

Oklahoma University

Jess Ekstrom is a breath of fresh air, sunshine, and authenticity all in one! I cannot recommend Jess enough for your audience, especially if your group needs personal encouragement, an opportunity to pause and see the potential around them, and a healthy dose of perspective. Jess’s positive energy is palpable and her sincerity is unmatched. We’ve had the privilege of hosting her three times and I hope we will be able to bring her back!

Penn State University

Working with Jess was a joy from beginning to end. In each interaction before her sessions, both virtually and in person, Jess was engaging, thoughtful, and eager to learn about what we needed from her. Jess did three presentations with our members between September 2024 and June 2025: one virtual keynote, one in-person keynote, and one breakout session. Each one was done with care for what the attendees would need and our current experiences as an organization. While her presence and professionalism made it clear that she had delivered many presentations before, Jess was authentic, and her content felt unique to the moment and the audience. We felt valued as individuals and as an organization. I loved getting to work with Jess and her team, and I hope to do it again!

Kappa Delta

Having Jess as our keynote speaker started our conference off in the most positive light for our attendees. Her content was engaging and influenced our membership to really think about their own service in their individual lives and within their AOII roles.

In our attendee survey, it was stated that “Jess was one of the best keynote’s we’ve ever had at an International event.” As an organization, we are so grateful to hear this keynote and learn how we can better serve those around us and inspire others to do the same. Jess was truly a joy to work with!

Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity

Jess was an incredible keynote speaker – a beautiful combination of humor, humility, passion 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

Jess Ekstrom

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Jess Ekstrom's Books

Making It Without Losing It: How to Stay Motivated in a World Where We Are Never Done