Speaking Engagements
Captivating Your Audience
Jessica has experience with audiences big and small from intimate group conversations to large conferences. Her love of travel shines through as she shares her story about visiting every country in the world, the lessons she has learned and the amazing people she has met along the way.
With her captivating storytelling style, Jessica inspires her audience to travel, experience the world and create the life that they want to live. Her honest stories and anecdotes bring her learning points to life and will no doubt stick in her audience’s mind for years to come and will be shared all over social media.
She presents topics related to traveling, solo traveling, plastic pollution, entrepreneurship and more.
She is available for the following engagements:
Conference keynotes
Panel discussions and moderated sessions
School and college sessions
Business events and retreats
Jessica’s TEDxDetroit talk, "The World is Our Neighborhood" was inspired by her commitment to increasing cultural awareness and encouraging people to think positively about other countries and the world at large, so that we do not miss out on opportunities to have amazing experiences with our neighbors.
Jessica has spoken at:
Past Speaking Engagements
2024
Fireside Chat: The Catch Me If You Can - Detroit Public Library - Detroit, MI - December, 2024
Keynote Speaker: DPS Social Studies Kickoff - DPSCD - Detroit, MI - August, 2024
Keynote Speaker: Fireside Chat: The Catch Me If You Can - Highland Park - Highland Park, MI - August, 2024
Keynote Speaker: The Value of Global Travel - Grosse Pointe Public Library - Grosse Pointe, MI - July, 2024
Keynote Speaker: The Road to Entrepreneurship - Remarkable Voices - Virtual - May, 2024
Panelist: Redefining Luxury - Excelerate HER - Miami, FL - May, 2024
Keynote Speaker: Presentation: From everywhere, to here - National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions - onboard - February, 2024
2023
Keynote Speaker: Stories Beyond Borders - Royal Caribbean World Cruise - onboard - December, 2023
Co-Host: American Express Travel Brunch - American Express - New York, NY - November, 2023
Keynote Speaker: Negotiating Brand Deals - Remarkable Voices - Virtual - November, 2023
Keynote Speaker: Stories Beyond Borders: Intentional and Ethical Storytelling - GX World Community Tourism Summit - Cusco, Peru - September, 2023
Moderator: From Traveler to Change Maker - &Beyond Speaking Engagement - New York, NY - July, 2023
Moderator: Opening Night Artist Talk "Impressions" - Fotografiska - New York, NY - July, 2023
Moderator: Living Well: Creating Your Best Boss Life - Excelerate HER - Miami, FL - May, 2023
Panelist: Sustainability Talks - Travel Writer's Conference - Maldives - May, 2023
Keynote Speaker: Stories Beyond Borders: Unveiling Our Shared Humanity Through Travel and Storytelling - Travel Writer's Conference - Maldives - May, 2023
Keynote Speaker: The Importance of Financial Planning as an Entrepreneur - Remarkable Voices - Virtual - April, 2023
Moderator: Vice President Harris Reflects on a Historic Trip to the Continent of Africa - White House - Washington, DC - April, 2023
Keynote Speaker: McSwain-Walker Lecture: Intentional Travel - William & Mary - Williamsburg, Virginia - April, 2023
Keynote Speaker: Navigating Traditionally Male Dominated Industries - Day One Agency - Virtual - March, 2023
Moderator: Narratives in Noir: Telling Black Stories, Globally - Essence Hollywood House - Oscar's - Los Angeles - March, 2023
Keynote Speaker - Amazon Fishbowl - Virtual - March, 2023
2022
Keynote Speaker: Black History Month Panel: Journey Home: Passport to Africa - Estee Lauder NOBLE Travel Retail - Virtual - February, 2022
Keynote Speaker: Women's History Month: Black@WhatsApp - Meta - Virtual - February, 2022
Panel: Fireside Chat: Jessica Nabongo - Booking.com - Virtual - March, 2022
Panel: The Price Went Up!: A conversation on setting your rate and charging your worth - CultureCon - Brooklyn, NY - October, 2022
Keynote Speaker: Remarkable Voices Guest Speaker - CafeMedia Remarkable Voices - Virtual - October, 2022
Keynote Speaker: NABJ Academy Guest Speaker - CafeMedia NABJ Academy - Virtual - October, 2022
2021
Course: Travel Writing: Responsible Storytelling for a Mainstream Audience - British Library - Virtual - January, 2021
Panel: Black History Month Travel Panel: Traveling While Black - Estee Lauder - Virtual - February, 2021
Panel: Backstage Live Series - National Geographic - Virtual - March, 2021
Host: Earth Day Eve 2021 celebration - National Geographic - Washington DC - April, 2021
Keynote Speaker: Leadership Summit - Jack and Jill of America - Virtual - April, 2021
Keynote Speaker: Diversity & Inclusion Speaker Series - Disney Diversity & Inclusion - Virtual - September, 2021
Moderator: IUCN World Conservation Congress: Restoring Ocean Health - IUCN - Marseille, France - September, 2021
Moderator: IUCN World Conservation Congress: Sea the Future - IUCN - Marseille, France - September, 2021
2020
Keynote Speaker: Create the Life You Want To Live - New College of Florida - Sarasota, FL - March, 2020
Panel: Building Our Future: A Conversation with Jessica Nabongo and Shelly Bell - Let's Work Speaker Series - Virtual - July, 2020
Panel: Photography + Travel: Life Through a Lens - YOU LOVE Speaker Series - Virtual - August, 2020
Panel: Diversifying Travel Panel - Facebook - Virtual - September, 2020
Keynote Speaker: Revenge Travel - LAC Mastercard Innovation Forum - Virtual - November, 2020
Keynote Speaker: Virtual Professional Development Day - Field Trip - Virtual - December, 2020
2019
The World is Our Neighborhood - TEDxDetroit - Detroit, MI - November, 2019
Shop Talk - Forbes Under 30 Summit - Detroit, MI - October 2019
Next Generation of Ocean Innovation Panel - Global Citizen - New York, NY - June 2019
Women’s Travel Fest Keynote - New York, NY - March 2019
Dinner for Winners: History Re-Imagined - Wayne State University - Detroit, MI - February 2019
2018
Traveling Outside The Lines - Impact Travel Immersion - New York, NY - July 2018
Creative Social Mixer and Creators Discussion - Creators of Color - Los Angeles, CA - February 2018
Study Away Luncheon Keynote - Missouri State University - Springfield, MO - February 2018
Women on the Rise Panel | NYU
Jessica will be a panelist on the Women on the Rise event organized by the Organization of Black Woman at New York University.
