Ellen Langer
Harvard Professor | First Woman Tenured in Psychology at Harvard | Mother of Mindfulness | Author, The Mindful Body | Pioneer of Mind-Body Unity
Jesse Itzler
Serial Entrepreneur: Marquis Jet, ZICO & Atlanta Hawks | NYT Bestselling Author, *Living with a SEAL* | Endurance Athlete & Life Resume Expert
Jesse Itzler built a $5 billion company with no aviation experience, co-founded a coconut water brand sold to Coca-Cola, wrote a New York Times bestseller with David Goggins, and co-owns an NBA franchise — all while completing Ultraman and 100-mile ultramarathons. His keynotes are part business masterclass, part concert, and entirely unforgettable, built around one urgent idea: stop building your résumé and start building your Life Resume.
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Jesse Itzler biography
Jesse Itzler is a serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, endurance athlete, and one of the most electrifying keynote speakers on the circuit today. Born and raised in Roslyn, New York, he graduated from American University in 1990 and launched a music career that took him to MTV, the Billboard 100, and an Emmy Award — before pivoting entirely to build, one improbable chapter at a time, one of the most unconventional business resumes in American entrepreneurship. His story is a relentless argument that passion, not pedigree, is the only currency that truly compounds.
Motivational speaker Jesse Itzler has founded and exited multiple companies across completely unrelated industries — each time starting with zero relevant experience. He co-founded Marquis Jet, the world’s largest private jet card company, which he and his partner sold to Warren Buffett’s NetJets after generating over $5 billion in sales. He then partnered with Mark Rampolla to build ZICO Coconut Water from a niche health product into a mass-market category leader, selling it to The Coca-Cola Company. He created 29029 Everesting — an endurance event where participants hike a ski mountain until they’ve climbed the vertical equivalent of Mount Everest — which was acquired by iFit in 2021 and subsequently bought back by Itzler and his partners. He also co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records, a sports jingle company that produced anthems for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and dozens of other teams before being sold to SFX Entertainment. Today he and his wife, SPANX founder Sara Blakely, are co-owners of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.
The Life Resume Philosophy
Beyond his companies, Itzler is the New York Times bestselling author of Living with a SEAL — the hilarious and genuinely mind-expanding account of inviting Navy SEAL David Goggins to live with his family for 31 days — and Living with the Monks, which chronicles two weeks of silence and stillness at an isolated monastery in upstate New York. Both books capture the same core belief: that the most meaningful growth in business and life happens when you deliberately seek discomfort, challenge your own assumptions, and never stop adding to your Life Resume. He is also the creator of the Big Ass Calendar, a viral year-at-a-glance planning tool, and the founder of Build Your Life Resume, a coaching and personal-growth platform used by thousands.
As a speaker, Jesse Itzler is in a category of his own. His presentations — often accompanied by DJ Dee Wiz — are part keynote, part concert, and wholly unforgettable. He combines raw storytelling, self-deprecating humor, and hard-won business insight to leave audiences not just motivated but genuinely moved to act. Clients including Wells Fargo, the National Association of REALTORS, and the Dallas Cowboys have given him standing ovations. His message is simple and urgent: you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room — you have to be the most passionate. And you have to start building your Life Resume today.
Jesse Itzler Speaking Videos
The Happiness Meter | Jesse Itzler | TEDxHickory
The Words You Speak Matter In Life & Business! - Jesse Itzler Motivational Speech
Jesse Itzler Keynote Topics
Most people spend their careers perfecting a professional résumé while sleepwalking through the experiences that actually make life worth living. Itzler flips this entirely. Drawing on his own improbable journey — from MTV rapper to private jet mogul to NBA co-owner to endurance athlete — he makes a high-energy, deeply personal case for designing your life as intentionally as you design your career. This session introduces the Life Resume framework: how to identify the experiences that matter most, build the habits and mindset to pursue them, and use discomfort as a growth accelerator. Audiences leave with a new definition of success and an urgent desire to start filling their calendar with things that will matter in twenty years.
The most interesting companies and careers rarely follow a blueprint — they follow curiosity, passion, and a willingness to look foolish in the pursuit of something bigger. Itzler built three exits in industries he knew nothing about — aviation, beverages, and endurance sports — by applying the same principle every time: show up with more energy and commitment than anyone expects. This session explores the mindset behind unconventional success, how to build conviction when you have no credentials, and why the leaders who shape culture are the ones willing to operate without a map. Built for entrepreneurs, executives, and anyone navigating a transition or building something from scratch.
What does it mean to win in business without losing yourself? Itzler has trained with the world's toughest Navy SEAL, lived in silence with monks, run 100 miles through the night, and built a family life he considers his greatest achievement. In this deeply personal and unexpectedly funny session, he explores the connection between inner stillness and outer performance — how slowing down, removing distraction, and getting honest about what actually matters can be the most strategic move a leader makes. Part memoir, part philosophy, part practical framework for living with more intention. One of the most emotionally resonant keynotes available on the circuit.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Jesse Itzler
Why Jesse Itzler?
Booking Jesse Itzler is one of the surest bets in the keynote speaking world — and that's not hyperbole, it's a track record. He consistently earns standing ovations from audiences as varied as Wells Fargo, the National Association of REALTORS, and the Dallas Cowboys. What makes him exceptional isn't just the story — it's the delivery. His presentations, often accompanied by a live DJ, combine the energy of a concert with the substance of a boardroom conversation. He brings humor, vulnerability, and hard-earned business wisdom from founding and selling companies in aviation, beverages, and endurance sports — all without prior industry experience in any of them. He doesn't just inspire people to think differently — he gives them a framework (the Life Resume) to act differently. If your event needs a speaker who will be talked about for months, reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau to check Jesse's availability.
What companies has Jesse Itzler founded and sold?
Jesse Itzler has built and exited multiple companies across entirely different industries. He co-founded Marquis Jet, the world's largest private jet card company, which was acquired by Warren Buffett's NetJets after surpassing $5 billion in sales. He partnered in ZICO Coconut Water, which was sold to The Coca-Cola Company. He created 29029 Everesting, an endurance event company acquired by iFit — and later bought back by Itzler and his partners. Earlier in his career, he co-founded Alphabet City Sports Records, a sports anthem company sold to SFX Entertainment. He is also a co-owner of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks alongside his wife, SPANX founder Sara Blakely.
What is Jesse Itzler's Life Resume concept?
The Life Resume is Jesse Itzler's signature framework for redefining success. The idea is simple: while most people obsess over their professional résumé — job titles, degrees, promotions — the experiences that actually make a life extraordinary rarely appear on a piece of paper. Itzler encourages people to be as intentional and ambitious about building their Life Resume as they are about their career — stacking it with races run, trips taken, fears faced, skills learned, and meaningful challenges embraced. The concept underpins his books, his coaching platform, his Big Ass Calendar planning system, and every keynote he delivers.
What topics does speaker Jesse Itzler cover?
Jesse Itzler speaks on entrepreneurial mindset and building companies without industry experience, the Life Resume framework for intentional living and peak performance, mental toughness and getting comfortable with discomfort, leadership, energy management, and the power of passion over credentials. His sessions work across industries and audience types — from financial services and real estate to tech, healthcare, and sports organizations. Whether it's a sales kick-off, a leadership summit, or an annual conference, Jesse brings an energy and authenticity that consistently converts skeptics into standing-ovation participants. To book Jesse Itzler, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Jesse Itzler as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Jesse Itzler as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Jesse Itzler's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Jesse Itzler or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Jesse Itzler speaking fee?
Jesse Itzler speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Jesse Itzler to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Jesse Itzler.
How can I contact Jesse Itzler?
We only work with Jesse Itzler on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Jesse Itzler and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Jesse Itzler speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Jesse Itzler for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Jesse Itzler for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Jesse Itzler is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Jesse Itzler for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
