Jessica Grounds

Jessica N. Grounds is an internationally recognized leadership expert and visionary executive with over two decades of experience in developing the next generation of leaders across business and politics.

She is the CEO of Corporate Directors Forum, equipping board directors and executives with the tools to enhance leadership effectiveness and corporate performance. Jessica also co-founded Mine The Gap to create more inclusive workplaces and has been involved in advocating for gender diversity in leadership roles.

Jessica has a strong background in training political candidates, advising Fortune 500 executives, and conducting research on leadership, specifically focusing on gender diversity as a strategy for innovation and impact.

Her educational background includes studying Leadership at Georgetown University, Women, Policy & Political Leadership at American University, and Political Science at Pepperdine University.

Jessica's diverse professional experience spans roles such as Adjunct Lecturer at Georgetown University, Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor at Mine The Gap, Director of Women Ready for Hillary at Ready for Hillary, and Co-Founder of Running Start, an organization empowering young women to run for elected office.

She has been recognized with prestigious awards like The New Guard: America's 50 Most Influential Women, '40 Under 40' recipient, and the 2022 Magis Award. Jessica's work and expertise have been featured in known publications and media outlets such as Bloomberg, Fast Company, NPR, and Forbes.

Jessica Grounds is a sought-after speaker on advancing women in leadership and gender equity, having trained women leaders globally, including in regions like Sub-saharan Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe.