Jess Pettitt | Conference MC | Event Host | California

Jess Pettitt, M.Ed., CSP, has always had a foot in two different approaches to her life.

Perhaps it is her Texas roots, but she believes to thrive in this world you have to ride two horses at once – one of humility and one of ego.

This is why while hosting and performing stand-up in NYC she also worked as a diversity and inclusion specialist as a day job. She quit her day job after a decade and almost 20 years later still uses humor to deliver actionable content related to everything you ever wanted to know about where leadership and diversity collide but are afraid to ask.

Though often referred to as a thought leader, Jess responds that she just makes leaders think.

For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work to stick, the first step is a conversation that matters about what you don’t know you don’t know then you can do the best you can with what you have some of the time without getting sued, losing talent, or failing customers.

Jessica blends politics, humor, identity, and local flair with big city passion and energy through direct, individualized, and interactive conversations.

Her workshops, seminars, and keynotes don’t just leave participants invigorated but inspired and motivated to follow through with action to create change.

Having traveled and lived in a variety of communities and environments all over the world, while also engaging with education as student, teacher, administrator, and active community member, Jessica uses her take on life to lead participants through a safe but confrontational process of examination, self-reflection, and open dialog that is as challenging as it is rewarding.