Jessica Shortall Biography

Jessica started her adult life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan and hasn't stopped searching for ways to change the world since, across the non-profit and for-profit landscapes. In the early 2000s, she co-founded and franchised The Campus Kitchens Project, a non-profit organization that is now active in more than 40 communities.

In 2006, Jessica received an MBA with honors from the University of Oxford, as a Skoll Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship. She went on to spend three years in London, providing consulting services to social enterpreneurs. From 2009 to 2014, she was the first Director of Giving and Social Innovation at TOMS Shoes, hired to build out the now-iconic One for One giving mission and strategy.

Today Jessica runs Texas Competes, Texas' first statewide coalition of businesses making the economic case for LGBT rights. She is also the author of a forthcoming book, Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom's Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work (Abrams Books, September 2015). The threads through all of this? Entrepreneurship, innovation, smart and sustainable social change, and creative problem-solving with limited resources.

Jessica speaks to large and small groups, from corporations to young graduates, on topics including corporate social innovation, intelligent ways to change the world, the role of women in corporate and civic leadership, and the fast-changing landscape of business activism on a variety of social issues.

Jessica likes to surprise audiences, upending conventional wisdom and inviting them to be inspired with her, instead of by her. But she is not content with inspiration. Her mission is to equip people with the tools to be great at changing the world. She likes to challenge people to look at old problems with fresh eyes, and to reconsider how they can make a difference. She draws on her rich repository of global stories and stories that are at turns funny, surprising, and thought-provoking.

Jessica's experiences across the corporate, start-up, non-profit, and international worlds give her a unique perspective on leadership, innovation, culture, and personal growth.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Jessica Shortall's expertise is in high demand. To book Jessica Shortall 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 Jessica Shortall'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 Jessica Shortall's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Jessica Shortall for your next speaking engagement.