Jess Ekstrom's Entrepreneurial Journey

In this episode of Reclaim + Advance, we hear from Jess Ekstrom, the founder of Headbands of Hope and Mic Drop Workshop. Jess is also a two-time bestselling author, top-rated speaker, and new mom. She shares her unique perspective on entrepreneurship, vulnerability, and storytelling.

• Jess is an entrepreneur who has built successful businesses like Headbands of Hope and Mic Drop Workshop. She's also a bestselling author and speaker, and a new mom.
• Jess was inspired to start Headbands of Hope after she was personally affected by a family scandal, which led her to turn a difficult situation into an entrepreneurial opportunity.

Turning Challenges into Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Jess Ekstrom uses her personal experience to highlight how difficult times can be a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth. She draws upon the challenges she faced, particularly the family scandal involving her uncle Bernie Madoff.

• Jess shares her story of overcoming the challenges she faced due to the Madoff scandal.
• She emphasizes how she channeled her experience into building successful businesses, showing that adversity can be a driving force for entrepreneurs.

Authentic Expertise & The Power of Simplicity

Jess Ekstrom underscores the importance of authenticity and simplicity in entrepreneurship and speaking. She advocates for sharing what you've learned from your struggles and making complex concepts relatable to your audience.

• Jess believes that authentic expertise comes from sharing what you've learned from your struggles and challenges.
• She emphasizes the importance of simplifying complex ideas to connect with your audience effectively.

The Power of Vulnerability in Speaking and Leadership

Jess Ekstrom believes that embracing vulnerability is essential for impactful speaking and leadership. She shares her own experiences with vulnerability and how it has helped her connect with her audience.

• Jess advocates for embracing vulnerability in speaking and leadership. She believes that sharing your struggles and challenges helps you connect with your audience more authentically.
• She highlights the power of vulnerability in building trust and credibility as a speaker and leader.

Jess's Advocacy for Women Speakers

Jess Ekstrom is a strong advocate for women speakers. She discusses the shocking pay gap that exists between men and women speakers and the challenges women face in the speaking industry.

• Jess is a passionate advocate for women speakers, highlighting the significant pay gap between male and female speakers.
• She discusses the challenges women face in the speaking industry and promotes opportunities for women speakers to succeed.

Embracing Struggle in Storytelling

Jess emphasizes the importance of embracing struggle and challenges in your entrepreneurial journey. She believes that your most impactful stories often come from your worst moments.

• Jess believes that your most impactful stories often come from your worst moments and challenges.
• She encourages entrepreneurs to embrace struggle in their stories as it can inspire and connect with others.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

In this episode of Reclaim + Advance, Jess Ekstrom shares valuable insights into entrepreneurship, vulnerability, and speaking. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, simplicity, and embracing your struggles to connect with your audience and build a successful career.

• Embrace your struggles in storytelling and use them to connect with your audience authentically.
• Simplify complex ideas to make them relatable and accessible to a broader audience.
• Be vulnerable in your speaking and leadership to build trust and credibility.