The Princess Who Showed Up

Last week Joy my Associate and I attended the spring meeting of the Association Executives of North Carolina in Durham. Events like this are always energizing—new ideas, great conversations, and opportunities to connect with people who are passionate about their work.

One of those moments happened when Jess Ekstrom walked onto the stage.Before that morning, I had never heard her speak. But my friend and fellow speaker Sharon Delaney leaned over and said, “You’re going to enjoy this.” She was right!

Jess immediately drew the audience in with a simple story from early in her career. While working with children facing serious illnesses through experiences connected with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and visits to Walt Disney World Resort, she helped arrange special moments for children whose greatest wish was simply to feel like a kid again.

One young girl had a dream to meet Snow White and be treated like a princess for the day.

Jess carefully arranged every detail. But just before the visit, she received a call that the little girl had become too sick to travel. Most people would have quietly canceled the plans.

Jess did something different. She found a costume, stepped into the role herself, and brought Snow White to the child.

That moment stayed with her. Around the same time, Jess noticed many girls undergoing cancer treatment had lost their hair but loved wearing headbands. It was a small observation, but it sparked an idea.

That idea became Headbands of Hope—a company she launched while still in college with a simple promise: for every headband sold, one would be donated to a child battling illness. What began as a dorm-room concept has now delivered millions of headbands to children’s hospitals and supported families across the country.

As I listened, I realized something that resonates deeply with the message I share in my keynote, There’s an ART to Making a Difference.

Jess’s story demonstrates three qualities every leader—and every organization—can learn from.

Awareness. She noticed something others might have overlooked. A small accessory that gave confidence to children in the middle of a frightening journey became the spark for a larger mission. Leaders who make an impact start by paying attention to what others miss.

Resourcefulness. When circumstances prevented the original plan, she didn’t abandon the dream. She found another way. Resourcefulness turns compassion into action and ideas into reality.

Timing. Jess acted when the opportunity appeared. Many people have ideas that could help others, but timing—and the courage to move forward—often determines whether those ideas remain thoughts or become movements.

Today Jess continues to inspire audiences through her speaking and through programs like her Mic Drop Workshop, where she encourages women to step forward and share their voices with confidence.

For meeting planners and association leaders searching for speakers who leave a lasting impression, her story is a reminder of what truly resonates with an audience: authenticity, purpose, and a message grounded in real experience.

The best keynotes don’t simply inform. They remind us why our work matters.  And sometimes that reminder begins with something as simple as someone willing to show up dressed as Snow White when a child needed a princess.