Spotlight on Dietitian Speaker Jessica Jones
If the name Jessica Jones rings a bell, it may be because she’s a superhero. Not the Marvel superhero Jessica Jones – this Jessica Jones is a superhero dietitian speaker, fighting cookie-cutter nutrition advice and spreading her wisdom across the nation through print, podcast and in person. Read on as she shares her origin story with DietitianSpeakers.com.
DS: You’ve developed an amazing brand in multiple media formats, most of which involve putting yourself “out there” in front of people. Have you always been confident in your skills?
JJ: I used to be terrified of speaking and sometimes still am. One thing that helped me through that was one of my nutrition professors saying I had a special gift when it came to public speaking. I had to give a presentation in front of the class and I was so nervous I felt like I could pass out. What I realized was how other people were viewing me was different than the narrative I was painting in my head. Also, working for the NYC department of health conducting hundreds of nutrition workshops in marginalized communities helped me learn how to mess up in real-time and still keep it going.
DS: Yes! That ability to press on through glitches is crucial. Do you have a particular blooper moment that stands out in your mind?
JJ: I was giving a talk to hundreds of people at the Today’s Dietitian Symposium about getting paid from brands and I accidentally blurted out some confidential information about the specific terms of a contract that shouldn’t have been shared. Oops! I was mortified. But I kept it moving and acted like I meant to spill the beans. Afterwards, people said they really appreciated the transparency! [Editor’s note: I was at that presentation, and it was fabulous! – JS]
DS: Thank you for sharing that. As much as you plan and prepare, real life can’t be scripted, can it? Hopefully it will take some pressure off our readers to know that they don’t have to be perfect to do a great job. Say more about what makes a great speaker in your eyes.
JJ: Someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. I like when speakers are clearly being themselves and not what they think they should be. Making jokes helps too. Not reading from slides and keeping slides simple is another plus.
DS: Authenticity, humor, and no tiny words on slides – this may become our Speaker Spotlight motto! To your point, it’s so different than what we think we “should” do. But the most memorable speakers are the ones that show their personality. Now tell us about your current speaking focus. How does speaking fit in to the other work you do?
JJ: I typically work with brands as an ambassador hosting and speaking at various events, both for the public and press. In addition to the brand work, I’ve spoken at conferences and conducted several webinars and hosted wellness retreats where I give multiple nutrition presentations. Last but not least, I co-host a podcast.
DS: It’s inspirational how you channel your speaking skills into so many venues and formats. You’ve become a leader in encouraging dietitians to charge appropriately for our work. How did you determine your pricing strategy?
JJ: I started realizing that “exposure” doesn’t pay the bills. I have a hefty student loan balance and live in one of the most expensive regions in the world. I started to add up the prep, travel, expertise, time spent actually speaking, and realized that I couldn’t afford to not get paid for that. Also, when you say yes to speaking you are inevitably saying no to something else that you could be paid for. Once I realized that, I stopped doing free events, unless it’s giving back to the community.
DS: That’s the Dietitian Speaker way. You’ve really reinforced so many of the foundations of The Dietitian’s Guide to Professional Speaking. Any final words of wisdom or experience?
JJ: I’ve learned that each of us is our own worst critic. That no matter what it will be okay. And that, for me, the nervous feelings before a speech never go away. However, I have the lived experience to know that even with those unsettling feelings, I will still be able to power through!
DS: Jessica, your authenticity at your level of success is really inspirational, thank you.
To invite Jessica to speak at your next event, connect with her through her website Jessica Jones Nutrition.
Get more genius from Jessica on LinkedIn @JessicaJones, Twitter @NutritionByJess, Instagram @JessicaJonesRD, and listen to her podcast @FoodHeavenThePodcast.
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