Find Your Voice & Use It Fearlessly
Confidence when the stakes are high
A practical, research-informed approach to confidence, communication and self-advocacy — with live demonstration, not a lecture.
OverviewKeynote Speaker
Voice. Presence. Leadership.
Engaging, action-oriented keynotes that help teams, communities, and leaders find their voice and lead with purpose.
“You walked on stage and the energy in the room changed.
I thought, pay attention, I don’t want to miss this.”
Most keynote speakers on voice are performers who learned to present. Jessica came the other way round.
More than fifteen years coaching actors, singers and broadcast professionals, and a Level III certification in Somatic Voicework™. She also teaches undergraduates at eight in the morning, which is its own kind of qualification.
That background changes what an audience walks out with. A motivational talk sends people home feeling capable for about a day. A talk built on voice science sends them home able to do something specific on Monday — and able to do it again in March.
15+Years coaching voice
IIISomatic Voicework™
2017Teaching at ECU
Keynotes
Three keynotes, one body of work: what happens to people when communication, performance, trust and pressure collide. Every talk is tailored to the room.
The Human Signal
The leadership skills AI makes more valuable
What people and teams must get better at when the work around them changes — and how to develop it.
Overview
Your Voice Is a Leadership Skill
The science of being heard, trusted & remembered
How voice, presence and communication shape the way leaders are perceived — and practical tools to use it.
OverviewKeynote 1
Find Your Voice & Use It Fearlessly
Confidence, communication and self-advocacy when the stakes are high.
Confidence isn’t an instruction. When the stakes rise, breath, pitch and pace change before you’ve said a word, and we read that as a personal failing.
Jessica replaces the vague advice with voice and brain science — and shows it live, with the audience taking part.
The keynote grows from her book I’m Speaking, and runs for women’s leadership audiences or mixed rooms.
This Keynote is perfect for…
- Women’s leadership conferences and employee resource groups
- Leadership development programs
- Universities and student leadership events
- Executive communication programs
The audience will leave with:
- What actually happens to the voice, brain and body under pressure
- How breath, pitch, pace, resonance, volume and intention shape how you’re perceived
- Small, specific changes that hold up when you’re nervous
Keynote 2
The Human Signal
The leadership skills AI makes more valuable.
As AI gets better, what do humans need to get better at?
Jessica isn’t here to teach your audience how to use AI. She teaches organizations how to develop the people who will work alongside it — the judgment, trust and presence no tool replaces.
This Keynote is perfect for…
- Leadership and HR conferences
- Future-of-work events
- Healthcare leadership
- Organizations in the middle of a transformation
The audience will leave with:
- What should we automate? Where technology genuinely makes people and teams more effective
- What must remain human? Judgment, context, trust, empathy, creativity and accountability
- What must we strengthen? The capabilities people need once the tools take on part of the work
Keynote 3
Your Voice Is a Leadership Skill
The science of being heard, trusted & remembered.
People decide whether to trust a leader before they’ve weighed a single argument. Much of that decision is voice, presence and delivery.
Jessica shows how those signals shape the way leaders are perceived, and gives the audience practical tools for communicating with greater credibility and impact.
This Keynote is perfect for…
- Leadership development programs
- Executive and management teams
- Professional associations and conferences
The audience will leave with:
- How voice, presence and communication influence the way leaders are perceived
- Practical tools for communicating with greater credibility and impact
- What to change to be heard, trusted and remembered
Resources for Meeting Professionals
Speaking Reel
Three and a half minutes of stage footage. You’ll know inside thirty seconds whether she’s right for your audience.
Watch
Media Kit
Bio, keynote topics, testimonials and contact details in one PDF.
Download
Books for Attendees
Conference organizers regularly pair a keynote with copies of I’m Speaking for every attendee.
Ask About Bulk PricingThe Jessica Doyle-MekkesDifference
Enjoyable
Humor, sass, and a few thoughtfully chosen four-letter words. Making the content enjoyable is the hill she’s dying on.
“Amazing session —
very important information on how to become aware, speak up, and break patterns.”
“A hilarious confidence-boosting guide.
The thoughtful research within helped me combat my imposter syndrome and inspired me to be bolder.”
Practical
Her work as a vocal coach means she hands your audience the exact changes to make — in their head and out of their mouth. Tools, not a pep talk.
Efficient
Change broken into manageable, digestible, wine-drinkable increments. Roughly ten minutes a day.
“Had me humming, breathing, and laughing my way to more confidence.
Timely for any woman, in any field.”
“Quite simply, a bible on how to stand your ground without trepidation,
whether asking for a raise or speaking out against gaslighting.”
Personal
She meets people where they are. Where are you now? Where do you want to be? How long do you have? Everything stems from those answers.
On Stage
Ballrooms, chamber stages, women’s conferences.
Booked at the Spark Women’s Leadership Conference and by the Greenville‑Pitt County Chamber for Lead Her Ship, among others.
Next up: the Indiana Conference for Women on November 13, 2026, at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, on a bill with Harry Connick Jr. and Shawn Johnson East.
Frequently Asked Questions
Booking Jessica for Keynotes
What keynotes does Jessica offer?
Three: The Human Signal, the leadership skills AI makes more valuable; Find Your Voice & Use It Fearlessly, on confidence and self-advocacy when the stakes are high; and Your Voice Is a Leadership Skill, the science of being heard, trusted and remembered.
How long is a keynote, and can it be virtual?
A signature keynote runs 45 to 60 minutes, or up to 75 with audience Q&A. It can be paired with a breakout or workshop, or expanded into a 90-minute interactive workshop or a half-day program. Virtual keynotes (45 to 60 minutes) and virtual workshops (up to 90 minutes) are also available.
Are keynotes customized?
Yes. Every talk is tailored to the room — tell Jessica who’s in the audience and what you need them to walk out knowing.
How do I choose between the keynotes?
All three grow from the same expertise. Find Your Voice starts with the individual, Your Voice Is a Leadership Skill brings it to leaders, and The Human Signal scales it to the organization.
What’s included in every engagement?
A pre-event consultation and customization for your audience, the keynote or workshop itself, permission to promote the event with Jessica’s approved bio, headshot and session description, and post-event resources for attendees when appropriate.
Is it a lecture?
No. Expect live demonstration and audience participation — and humor. Making the content enjoyable is the hill she’s dying on.
Does Jessica only speak to women?
No. Find Your Voice runs as readily for mixed rooms as for women’s leadership audiences, and The Human Signal and Your Voice Is a Leadership Skill are built for any organization.
Can we get books for attendees?
Yes. Signed or bulk copies of I’m Speaking can be built into an engagement, and organizers regularly give one to every attendee. Bulk book packages and custom audience experiences are quoted separately. With a book order, Jessica does a signing or meet-and-greet at in-person events.
What does a keynote cost?
Fees depend on length and format (in person or virtual), so they’re quoted per event rather than published. Travel and lodging are additional for in-person events; Jessica flies from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) or Greenville (PGV). Custom programs, multi-session engagements, executive sessions, moderated conversations and multi-day events are quoted individually.
We’re a nonprofit. Can we still book Jessica?
Yes, please ask. Jessica welcomes conversations with nonprofit, educational and mission-driven organizations whose budgets differ from corporate and association events. Alternative structures, including a guaranteed bulk book purchase, may be available.
What should we include in an inquiry?
Your date, location, audience and roughly how many, and what you need people to be able to do differently afterwards. That last one matters more than the topic.
Start a Conversation
Jessica works with organizations, event teams and individuals to communicate clearly, build trust, and be heard. Tell her what you’re looking for — she reads every message herself.
If your request is time-sensitive, feel free to mention that below.