Jess Ekstrom Biography

Jess Ekstrom worked for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. As she interacted with children facing life-threatening illnesses, she discovered that young girls loved to wear headbands instead of wigs after losing their hair to chemotherapy. Armed with inspiration to do good beyond her internships, she soon after founded Headbands of Hope. HOH creates fun, fashionable headbands, and for every headband purchased, one is given to a girl with cancer and $1 is donated to childhood cancer research. Since launching the organization in 2012, HOH has been featured on The Today Show, Seventeen Magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur.com and more. Most importantly, thousands of headbands have been donated to girls coast-to-coast fighting cancer. So many college students want to make a difference, and plan to do it “someday.” Jess is living proof that a college student with an amazing idea and a willingness to act on it need not wait. College students can build companies, affect change, and solve problems before graduation, if they have the commitment. In her campus keynote, Jess shares her journey creating Headbands of Hope, encouraging audience members to change awareness of issues into action. “Awareness is only skimming the surface of change,” she said. “When we focus on action instead of just awareness, things really change.” Jess is a great choice for programs that encourage leadership, social change and making the most of your college experience. Consider her whenever you are promoting service and social change to students. Consider her for women’s achievement seminars, new student orientation, leadership conferences, and more. She is also a wonderful option for Panhellenic councils looking for an example of a woman who put the value of service into action. Has community service become a requirement? Something we have to do to please those evaluating us? From college applications to campus awards, so many students are engaging in service projects within their organizations. But, are they really making the connection to the good work they are doing? In this keynote, Jess Ekstrom encourages student leaders to “redefine philanthropy” from a requirement to a lifestyle. “We’re so worried about crossing philanthropy and service requirements off our list that we forget the purpose behind it. We forget to feel the passion.”

During her keynote, Jess stresses the importance of maximizing each opportunity that presents itself during college. She shares her own stories, tips, and tricks that she found helped her succeed not only during college, but also in building her dream career as a business owner and philanthropist. Broken down into four key areas students are eager to hear about, Jess walks them through being successful in the classroom, getting involved on campus, being safe on the weekends, and making preparations now for life after college.

Through funny anecdotes (like the time she failed two tests) weaved with practical tips students can begin using immediately, Jess encourages students not to wait until their senior year to get involved. Highlighting opportunities like holding positions in student government, running a campus event, or even applying for once-in-a-lifetime internships, Jess will inspire students to focus on making their years in college have an impact that lasts well past graduation.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Jess Ekstrom's expertise is in high demand. To book Jess Ekstrom for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Jess Ekstrom's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Jess Ekstrom's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Jess Ekstrom for your next speaking engagement.