Perhaps it’s her Texas roots, but Jess Pettitt, MBA, M.Ed., CSP, believes that to really thrive in this world, you have to ride two horses—one of giving and one of receiving. For Jess, the giving horse is her passion for service, and the receiving horse is the high she rides entertaining audiences. For almost 10 years, Jess rode one horse by day, serving as an administrator in student affairs for university Diversity and Inclusion programs, and the other by night, performing and hosting three times a week doing stand-up in New York City’s most popular comedy clubs (ask her about George Carlin’s nickname for her or sharing an eggroll birthday cake with Bob Newhart). Eventually, Jess discovered she could ride both horses at the same time in the same career, and a speaker in the DEI space was born. Now, nearly 20 years and half a million audience members later, Jess gallops from coast to coast delivering her “Good Enough Now” message to anyone willing to take the leap toward creating a much more inclusive (read: much more effective) organization.

Jess talks about her latest book, “Almost Good Enough”, implementing DEI in an organization, elements of culture change, and much more!

Sylvia Melena is the Founder & Principal of Melena Consulting Group, a company specializing in leadership and organizational development and business book writing and publishing. Sylvia is a two-time international award-winning and best-selling leadership author, the former Vice President of the San Diego Book Awards Association, and a four-time marketing judge for the National Association of Hispanic Publications' José Martí Awards.

Sylvia shares some tips on leveraging your books as a sales tool, seeking mentorship, transition to entrepreneurialism, and much more!

John St. James has been in the leadership training business for well over 45 years. He became a certified leadership and martial arts instructor and started his teaching career at the age of 18. John attended the University of California, San Diego. He attained his bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1984 and later an advanced degree in Insurance and Risk Management from the American Institute in 1986.

John talks about finding your skill to master and offer to the world, leadership principles, continuing progress, and much more!