Jennifer Merrell is a keynote speaker, higher ed advocate, and inspirational leader dedicated to leading a life full of passion and continuous learning from making the right mistakes. Jennifer candidly addresses the common fear of the unknown and encourages an approach that has miraculously worked in her favor—to keep getting up again regardless of the circumstances. Jennifer describes her journey navigating a series of directional changes as “The Uncharted Trail,” where curiosity sparks self-discovery and the beginning of all great adventures. Offering a wealth of experience in multiple industries and positions, Jennifer’s story radiates perseverance, courage, and bravery. Her ability to captivate audiences ranging from young to tenured drives her message home—leaving behind nuggets of wisdom and a proposal for launching into action.
ABOUT JENNIFER
My life and career are intertwined in a series of directional changes that I best describe as ”The Uncharted Trail”—a trail in which I’ve used a machete to hack through, metaphorically, of course. Over the span of my 25+ year career, I have served in multiple leadership positions including operations, marketing, and sales, which gives me the ability to connect the dots between different stakeholders in an organization and recognize how each decision could affect the others. After decades of climbing ladders and falling off cliffs, I discovered that I’m insatiably curious, always wondering “why?” or having more questions than answers. I don’t know why my brain is wired this way, but I recognize it as an asset to solving problems while elevating the people and organizations around me. Through the ups and downs of life, I have learned to embrace my curiosity. It sparks the beginning of all great adventures.
Along my Uncharted Trail, I found my experiences, knowledge, and abilities were a perfect match to help create new pathways between higher education and industry. With an industry approach to higher education, I was afforded opportunities to exercise this across over a dozen institutions and nearly 75 industry partners as I listened, learned, and implemented intentional connections between the dots in my most recent role as Vice President of TechPoint. Today, I speak about the Uncharted Trail to university and women’s groups, as well as advise on strategic partnerships and advisory boards as I connect the dots for higher education.
A Hoosier at heart, I currently reside in Indianapolis, Indiana with my husband, Brett. Together, we have five (almost grown) children that I am incredibly proud of. In 2018, I faced a series of mysterious illnesses that prepared me to say “goodbye” to my family and life. This was not the first time I fell off the mountain of success but it resulted in the biggest comeback I ever had to make. I am extremely fortunate to recover and accept a second chance at life—taking full advantage of every opportunity I’ve found on The Uncharted Trail.
3 Fun Facts About Me…
I have driven supercars over 150 mph at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
I am a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher and have been teaching for nearly 20 years!
I have trekked to many mountain tops and will be hiking the Inca Trail in June 2025.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
KEYNOTES
THE UNCHARTED TRAIL
The Uncharted Trail is a story of resilience that will inspire those who have ever felt lost, who worry they might get lost, or those who find themselves lost somewhere along the trail of career and life. I challenge the audience to adopt a new perspective of loss—whether that is professional loss, relationship loss, or health loss (I’ve done it all) — and how to uncover the trail markers that help guide their way back. The Uncharted Trail provides inspiration to get up and climb your mountain—whatever that may be, as many times as it takes. Check out a clip here.
Custom keynotes upon request.
EMCEE
IMPACTFUL EVENTS
Elevate your event with an experienced and charismatic host who can ensure your audience is entertained and engaged. I’ve grown up on the stage. I feel my best in front of an audience. I, also, understand the job is to keep the spotlight on its stars and to help keep things moving smoothly and timely, even when something unexpected happens. I can manage the energy of the audience having both revived groups and calmed them down with experience ranging from a few hundred to several thousand. Check out a clip here.
PROFESSIONAL DOT CONNECTOR
What exactly is a professional dot connector? In essence, I can recognize patterns, build connections, and sense potential shifts within organizations. With over 25 years of leadership and a certificate in Leadership Coaching from Harvard University, I thrive in guiding both organizations and individuals through unique challenges.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Today’s higher education landscape demands innovation and agility. Strategic partnerships with businesses, non-profits, and other universities unlock new resources, expand reach, and enhance educational offerings. Advisory councils, composed of industry leaders and subject-matter experts, provide invaluable external guidance. However, navigating these processes can be complex. Uncharted bridges this gap.
I view higher education from an industry standpoint, drawing primarily from 13 years of experience in economic development-related fields where talent cost and availability are key drivers of corporate location decisions. My expertise resides in the gap between industry and academia with a specialty in the realm of tech talent. Understanding that institutions are facing a myriad of challenges in today’s marketplace, I come as a proven leader in connecting the dots to help ensure the preparedness of our future workforce while keeping mind the value of industry partnerships and community impact. In short, I help colleges and universities develop and implement successful strategic partnerships and advisory councils.
I’ve had the great fortune of working with leading universities large and small in creating programs, solving challenges, and bringing people and ideas together. Let’s talk about your challenges and find pathways forward for both students and institutions.
Testimonials
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Reach out to Jennifer via the submission form below, and connect with her on LinkedIn!