SPEAKING & COMMUNITY BUILDING

SPEAKING & COMMUNITY BUILDING

For Jess, connection, storytelling, and deep listening are key to solving hard problems.

That’s why she has used her free time to organize major events like TEDxSan Francisco and Social Capital Markets (SOCAP), and she continues to speak at impactful events and connect with new people.

TEDx SanFrancisco

Between 2016 and 2019, Jess took on the role of Head of Creative and Brand at TEDxSanFrancisco, joining a small executive team to bring one of Silicon Valley’s premier innovation events to life.

With over 1,000 attendees each year and a half-million-dollar production budget, she led everything from brand and design to speaker coaching and storytelling. Alongside a talented team of creatives, Jess supported over 60 high-profile speakers and partners in shaping their on-stage presence. Her time with TEDx also opened the door to unique experiences behind the scenes at TED Global and its New York headquarters.

In 2019, Jess shared a talk on how the TEDxSF design system came together.

Community Highlight

  • Social capital market

    ADVISOR TO CEO

    SOCAP (Social Capital Markets) is where purpose meets capital—uniting people who use business and finance to create real social and environmental change.

    Jess served as an advisor to SOCAP CEO Lindsay Smalling, helping to clarify brand positioning and strategy, while aligning stakeholder understanding across impact investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropic partners, and more.

  • DEV/Color: DCIM

    SPEAKER

    /DEV/COLOR empowers Black software engineers, technologists, and executives through a global career accelerator, while holding companies accountable for meaningful inclusion and investment.

    Jess was invited as a keynote speaker at the /DEV/COLOR In Motion Summit to share insights on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset for personal brand building.

  • Camelback ventures

    SPEAKER

    Camelback Ventures supports early-stage, underrepresented entrepreneurs by providing access to funding, mentorship, and resources, helping diversify social innovation.

    Jess has been a longtime supporter and collaborator of Camelback Ventures founder Aaron Walker. She has been invited to participate in several Demo Days and interview series to help demystify entrepreneurial brand building.

Dear Investor Community

Dear Investor Community

This was first written in the middle of the pandemic, but its relevance hasn't faded. DEI is a clear business edge and an opportunity we can't afford to ignore. Creating the future we want takes work from all of us—especially investors, who have a unique power to push for real progress.

Read Letter Here.

Speaking Highlights

  • Institute for the Future: Expert Panel

  • International Monetary Fund: Internal Whitepaper

  • Apple: Internal Training on Personal Brand

  • DEV/Color DCIM Summit

  • TEDxSanFrancisco

  • Camelback Ventures Office Hours Series 

  • Stanford D.School: Prototyping For Policy

  • Innovation Open House Featured Speaker

  • LA Women Design Salon