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Speaking Topics
The Power of Authentic Leadership, Accelerating Equity in Team,Building Inclusive Cultures in the Workplace, Empowering Women in Leadership, From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Lessons in Resilience and Adaptability, Mindful Leadership: Leading with Purpose and Intention, The Intersection of Sports and Social Justice, The Transformative Role of Storytelling in Leadership, Servant Leadership: Leading with a Heart for Service, Building and Sustaining High-Performing Teams, The Importance of Allyship in Leadership, Women’s Leadership in a Changing World, Navigating Difficult Conversations in Leadership, NIL, Early Stage Fundraising, Executive leadership, Body Confidence
OJ's LEARDERSHIP THEORY
empowerment. equity. leadership.
1
Empowerment Through Self-Awareness
True empowerment begins with self-awareness. Understanding one’s strengths, weaknesses, biases, and values is the foundation for personal and professional growth. Self-awareness enables leaders to align their actions with their authentic selves, fostering genuine connections and inspiring others.
2
Equity Through Education and Action
Equity is achieved not only by educating oneself and others but also by taking deliberate action to dismantle systemic barriers. Leaders must commit to continuous learning about the social and economic factors that create inequity and actively work to create environments where all individuals have equal opportunities to succeed.
3
Leadership Through Authentic Connection
Leadership is most effective when it is based on authentic connections. Building trust, fostering open communication, and creating a sense of belonging are essential for leading teams and organizations successfully. Authentic leaders inspire others by being transparent, empathetic, and consistent in their actions.
ABOUT ME
NOTHING CAN STOP YOU!
Odessa ‘OJ’ Jenkins is a successful coach, executive, and CEO of the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC). Jenkins is the winningest head coach in women’s tackle football history, with a staggering 91–5 career record, and a seven-time national champion. She is also an in-demand global speaker and leadership coach, and the founder of multiple nonprofits, including Got Her Back, dedicated to uplifting girls and women in football.
She previously served as the CEO of Bonfire, a leadership development company focused on empowering women leaders through transformative programs and experiences. A disruptor in tech, Jenkins was part of the executive team at YourCause, a Texas-based tech and philanthropy company that exited to Blackbaud for $157 million.
In addition to her leadership in business and tech, Jenkins has built one of the premier women’s sports leagues in the country, creating unprecedented opportunity, visibility, and equity in football for women and girls. She was an inaugural participant in the NFL’s first Women’s Careers in Football Forum and one of the first women to earn the coveted Bill Walsh Diversity Internship in an on-field coaching position.
Jenkins is a proud member of the Dove Body Confident Collective, an all-star squad of influential female voices in sports assembled by Dove to support its Body Confident Sport initiative. The campaign aims to help young female athletes feel more confident in their bodies and on the field. The collective includes icons like Billie Jean King, Venus Williams, Sabrina Ionescu, Tara Davis-Woodhall, Kylie Kelce, Emma Navarro, and Jenkins.
She has been featured on The Today Show, NBC, Sports Illustrated, Essence, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, NFL Network, and more. Jenkins was named one of Sports Illustrated’s most influential and powerful women in sports, voted Culture in Sports’ 2022 Sports Leader of the Year, and received the 2023 Leigh Steinberg Denicola Humanitarian Award. In 2024, Essence recognized her as one of the Top 25 Black Women Changing the World of Sports, and in 2025, she was honored on the urve Power List, recognizing LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary leaders making lasting impact in their communities.
Heralded as one of the top inclusive leadership experts in the country, Jenkins is fiercely committed to building a more equitable world for all.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT OJ?
"If you haven’t heard this amazing person speak, you’re missing out. Odessa Jenkins
I had the privilege last week to hear an hour from her and it was not long enough. Have you every been around someone that just makes you feel good, makes you think deeply and feel deeply ( outside family)? Very profound, knowledgeable, uplifting, encouraging and inspiring. Look her up!!" - Work Shop attendee
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