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Jess Ekstrom

@jess_ekstrom

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🗣️ speaker + passing the 🎤 to women at @micdropworkshop
🎧 host of Making it with Jess Ekstrom
☕️ Last seen drinking coffee and chasing toddlers

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One room. Countless connections. Endless impact. LIVE2LEAD 2026 was one for the books!👏🏼🎤🔥

From powerful speakers and inspiring conversations to meaningful connections and a room full of people ready to GROW, Kelly Merbler and her incredible team of speakers. sponsors and volunteers brought another unforgettable leadership experience to South Florida!

There’s something special about being surrounded by people who are passionate about becoming better leaders or growing as current leaders, both personally and professionally.

So grateful to be back capturing the energy, the people, and all the little moments that made this day so memorable. If you weren’t in this room this year, you don’t want to miss out next year so look out for info on how to sign you and your colleagues up!

Until next year, LIVE2LEAD!

#LIVE2LEAD2026 #kellymerblercompany #LeadershipDevelopment #SouthFloridaEvents #montagnamarketingllc

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?

At 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝟐𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐦 shared a powerful analogy: boiling water softens a potato but hardens an egg. The same conditions can lead to very different outcomes depending on what’s inside.

I think this is an important reminder for leaders. When people face change, pressure, or new responsibilities, they don’t all respond the same way. And expecting everyone to simply push harder isn’t always the answer.

People need the right conditions to succeed: the autonomy to take ownership, the connection to build trust, and the skills and support to do their jobs well.

As organizations grow, leaders must look beyond individual performance and ask whether their teams have what they need to adapt, make decisions, and deliver results.

At 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐋𝐋𝐂, I work closely with leadership teams to provide the infrastructure and tools needed for success. Because sustainable performance doesn’t happen by chance. It takes aligned teams, clear expectations, and the right support for people to do their best work.

Thank you, Jess Ekstrom, for sharing a perspective that leaders can bring back into the workplace.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬.

💬 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞. I’d love to hear what your team is working through and exchange ideas on how leaders can better support their people and business goals.

#leadershipdevelopment #changemanagement #teameffectiveness #L2LSFL #solutionsbymaya

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I just attended the Live2Lead Conference hosted by @kelly_merbler_motivation, and had so many takeaways! A lot of it aligns with what we preach @eigrisk

Your legacy is people! It’s not what you build, it’s who you build.

You haven’t developed a leader until they have developed one themselves.

Roughly 90% of people have great intentions but only 10% act on them

Many times leaders are put into a leadership role because they are good at certain skills. But they might not know how to lead people. So, sometimes the promotion becomes punishment.
They haven’t learned how to handle conflict.

“Someday doesn’t build the future. The future is now.”
“Leadership is the greatest responsibility… but also the greatest gift.”
“The leader you’ve been looking for is already sitting on your payroll.”

Here are the 5 levels of developing people:

1. I do it. You have a skill worth teaching. Identify what it is (everyone has one).
2. I do it, and you’re with me (Modeling). They watch you perform the skill.
3. You do it, and I’m with you (Mentoring). They perform it while you watch and coach.
4. You do it (Empowering). You step back and get out of their way. This is where many leaders struggle, because they let go too early or never let go at all.
5. You do it and teach someone else (Multiplying). The cycle restarts. This is how you lead through others.

The world needs more leaders! Take it upon yourself to learn these skills. You will make contribute to a better society.

#live2lead #leadership #supervision #management #riskcontrol

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Just because you CAN do it all doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I see this with incredibly talented women leaders all the time. We take on too much, struggle to delegate, and then wonder why we have nothing left in the tank.

And I'm guilty of it too.

Especially when it comes to saying no. Why do I feel the need to give someone my entire life story when I turn something down?! 😂

Say it with me now... "No."

That's it. That's the whole sentence.

Loved talking about this with Jess Ekstrom. It's also a big part of what we explore at The Edge: how to lead with intention, protect our energy, and make room for what matters most.

If you're ready to have more conversations like this with other ambitious women leaders, tap the link in my bio to learn more about The Edge.

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𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍!

I left 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝟐𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 with fresh perspectives, meaningful connections, and plenty to reflect on!

Leadership development isn't just about attending events or collecting great ideas. It's about taking what we learn and putting it into practice. How can we communicate better? How can we strengthen our teams? And how can we turn good intentions into systems that actually work?

Because inspiration is a great starting point, but action is what moves things forward.

I'm grateful to Tahany Saadeh of Paycor for the invitation and Kelly Merbler for creating this space for leaders to connect, learn, and grow together.

Want to hear more about what I took away from the experience? Comment 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 below, or reach out to me directly. I'd love to share some personal insights and reflections from the event!

#leadershipdevelopment #executiveleadership #organizationaleffectiveness #Live2Lead #solutionsbymaya #L2LSFL

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What a freaking awesome experience! ❤️🔥

After following @jess_ekstrom for years, I finally got to meet her at Live2Lead and help with her book signing! Making It Without Losing It.

Funny, genuine, and such a beautiful soul. Jess truly cares about hearing other people’s stories.

Her Mic Drop program has helped me build confidence, find my voice, and take a huge step forward writing my first book, The Rescue.

Holy shit! Who would’ve thought?! 😂

And the icing on the cake? My signed copy of Making It Without Losing It with the sweetest message:

“Lisa — Thank you for being you!” ❤️

Thank you, Jess, for the laughs, inspiration, and encouragement!

Still curious. Still learning. Still figuring shit out! 😂❤️🔥

#JessEkstrom #Live2Lead #MicDrop #TheRescue

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Quail Ridge was honored to host LIVE2LEAD, a Kelly Merbler Company event, bringing together professionals for a meaningful experience centered on leadership, personal development, and inspiration.

We were especially proud to have members of our own Quail Ridge team in attendance, investing in their professional growth, gaining fresh perspectives, and strengthening the leadership skills that help us deliver an exceptional experience to our membership every day.

At Quail Ridge, we believe excellence begins with our people, and great leadership is a journey of continuous learning.

Thank you to Kelly Merbler Company for bringing this inspiring experience to our Club!

#theclubatquailridge #live2leadsouthflorida

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“Helping leaders bridge the growth gap”. ASM

That was the thought that came to mind as I left Live2Lead South Florida, last Friday, October 16th.
 What a powerful and unique experience of learning, reflection and growth! I’m still processing everything I learned.

Thank you @kelly_merbler_motivation and The Kelly Merbler Company team for creating such an intentional and transformative growth experience. Thank you to my traveling friend Nancy Fernandez for the time we invested in each other.

I did not spent time at Live2Lead. I invested in myself, in my growth, and in becoming a better leader to serve my family and clients. I left feeling refreshed, inspired and ready to take action.

As I reviewed my notes to write this post, I’m reminded of the importance of being in the right rooms and surrounding ourselves with people and environments that challenge us, inspire us and foster continuous growth.

Here are a few key “aha” moments I took away from the speakers:

Kelly Merbler : Someday does not build the future. The future is shaped by what we do today. We must be intentional in everything we do.
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Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP: Make time for what matters and lead with empathy. When we lead with empathy, we create space for people to be heard, valued and understood.
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Joanie Bily: Leadership is creating the opportunities for others to succeed. Listen. Ask questions. Learn. Remember that sometimes, leadership means having the courage to writing the next page.
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Jess Ekstrom: True connection starts when you stop looking for a hand and you start offering one. Thank you for being a lighthouse. 😉
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Roddy Galbraith: Leading with influence. When was the last time you gave something everything you had?

Growth happens when we are intentional about becoming intentional leaders and creating opportunities for others to thrive.

If you are ready to bridge your growth gap, strengthen your leadership or invest in your personal and professional development, I would love to help you.

Let’s connect and explore how we can turn your goals into action and meaningful growth.

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Eight years. Two incredible women. One full-circle moment. ❤️

Eight years ago, after losing my job and having my childhood stutter return, I met @kelly_merbler_motivation at a LinkedIn Local event.

Kelly encouraged me to tell my story, step outside my comfort zone, and learn something that scared the hell out of me, and asking for what I wanted instead of being afraid to ask.

She saw confidence in me when I couldn’t quite see it myself.

Fast forward to Live2Lead, where Kelly brought in @jess_ekstrom , someone I’ve followed for years and whose Mic Drop program is helping me grow as a speaker and find the confidence to write my first book, The Rescue.

And suddenly, there I was, standing beside both of them!

Holy shit. Talk about full circle! 😂

What I admire most about both Kelly and Jess is their genuine curiosity about people. They listen, they care, and they make you feel like your story matters.

Thank you, Kelly, for believing in me when I was still learning to believe in myself. And thank you, Jess, for inspiring me to keep pushing beyond what I thought was possible.

Eight years ago, I was finding the courage to speak up. Today, I’m finding the confidence to write my story.

Still curious. Still learning. Still figuring shit out along the way! ❤️🔥

#Live2Lead #KellyMerbler #JessEkstrom #MicDrop #TheRescue

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The STEEL Experience.

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The kind of day that fills your cup & reminds you why you do what you do. Yesterday’s #Live2Lead was one of those days 🤍✨

A room full of people who care about growing, leading better, and making a difference. Conversations that stay with you. Ideas that make you think. And reminders that leadership is about who we get to build along the way.

A few lessons I’m taking with me:

✨ @kelly_merbler_motivation A powerful reminder that even when difficult decisions have to be made, people deserve to be treated with dignity.

✨ my mentor & favorite speaker @jess_ekstrom True connection starts when you stop looking for a hand & you start offering one.

✨ Joanie Bily Be intentional about how you design, experience, execute, and persevere. Leadership doesn’t happen by accident.

✨my speaking coach @roddygalbraith The future of influence starts with connection.

✨ @johnnyctaylorjr Make room for what matters and never lose sight of the people who make the work meaningful.

And beyond the lessons, it was the people, the conversations, the food, attention for detail and the opportunity to be in a room full of leaders who genuinely care that made the day SO special.

Kelly, congratulations on such an incredible event!

The heart and intention you bring to this work are evident in the experience you create. Thank you for bringing people together and reminding us what leadership can look like when connection stays at the center.

So grateful I got to serve at this incredible event!

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If I had to describe #Live2Lead hosted by @kelly_merbler_motivation, I’d call it FEEL GOOD LEADERSHIP! 🧡✨🙌

Years ago, Kelly spoke into my life through a message that shaped the speaker I am today. This year the stars finally ALIGNED (my word of the year! 🙌🏾), and I got to be there to celebrate her.

Nuggets I’m holding onto:
✨ @jess_ekstrom: “True connection starts when you stop looking for a hand and start offering one.”
✨ Joanne Bily: Dive In D.E.E.P. (Design, Experience, Execute, Persevere) and lead by intention, not by accident.
✨ @johnnyctaylorjr “Make time for what matters and value your people.” An honor to put The HR Compass in your hands!
✨ Kelly: No one should ever lose their job and their dignity on the same day. 🙏🏾 just powerful!

So good to see my #JMT family, Roddy and Susan Galbraith! 💙 @impactfulimprints was also honored to donate to Kelly’s Senior Citizens Care Project.

Kelly, your heart is pure and your calling is undeniable. Congratulations on another SOLD OUT event. Everything was A+! 👏🏾

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