Jess Ekstrom
Founder of Headbands of Hope
Jess Ekstrom
Founder of Headbands of Hope
Check Fees And Availability for Jess Ekstrom
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.
Speech Topics
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.
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
Share What You Know: How to Turn Your Experience into your Expertise
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.
Mic Drop WorkFORCE
Build Stronger Communicators & Grow Future Leaders.
Women make up less than one-third of management roles globally, yet companies with greater gender diversity in leadership consistently outperform their peers.
The key?
Confidence in communication.
Mic Drop Workforce is here to help women in your organization develop public speaking skills, lead meetings with authority, and present ideas with impact, boosting both their careers and your company’s success.
Why Bring Mic Drop Workforce to Your Company?
Stronger Presence & Confidence
Help employees speak up, present effectively, and lead with impact.
Leadership & Career Growth
Confident communicators make strong leaders.
Higher Engagement & Retention
Empowered employees stay longer and contribute more.
A More Inclusive Workplace
Ensure women’s voices are heard and valued at every level.