Jamie Kern Lima
From waitress to billion-dollar founder, Jamie Kern Lima inspires audiences to rise, lead with belief, and build unshakable self-worth.
From waitress to billion-dollar founder, Jamie Kern Lima inspires audiences to rise, lead with belief, and build unshakable self-worth.
Jamie Kern Lima is one of the most compelling voices in personal growth and modern leadership today. Her journey from Denny’s waitress to billion-dollar entrepreneur is a powerful story of resilience, belief, and courage. As the founder of IT Cosmetics, Jamie built a globally loved brand rooted in authenticity and customer trust, eventually selling it to L’Oréal in a landmark deal that made her the first female CEO of a brand in the company’s history. Today, she is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker, podcast host, and investor, devoted to helping people build self-worth and step fully into their potential.
Jamie Kern Lima’s life and career are defined by perseverance and belief. Long before billion-dollar success, she experienced years of rejection, uncertainty, and self-doubt. She waited tables at Denny’s, faced repeated “no’s” from investors, and questioned her own worth, appearance, and purpose. These experiences shaped her message and her mission: building self-worth from the inside out. On stage, Jamie speaks with honesty and heart, sharing lessons that resonate deeply with leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams navigating change and growth.
Jamie founded IT Cosmetics in her living room with a simple but powerful idea: real solutions for real women. Her unwavering belief in her customers and her vision led the company from early struggles to massive global success. When she sold IT Cosmetics to L’Oréal in a billion-dollar deal, she made history as the first female CEO of a brand in the company’s century-long legacy. Her story offers audiences a masterclass in resilience, customer-centric leadership, and leading with authenticity, even when the odds feel overwhelming.
Jamie is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, with her book WORTHY spending 14 consecutive weeks on the bestseller list. In this deeply personal work, she explores self-worth, belief, and the inner barriers that hold people back. She also hosts The Jamie Kern Lima Show, the number one self-improvement podcast in the country, where her first guest was Oprah Winfrey. Through conversations with influential voices and honest solo episodes, Jamie continues to elevate discussions around confidence, purpose, and personal growth.
As a keynote speaker, Jamie connects instantly with audiences through vulnerability, warmth, and clarity. Her talks are energizing, emotional, and practical, offering tools people can apply immediately. She recently hosted her live event Becoming Unstoppable, which brought together more than 260,000 women joining live from their homes. Iconic figures including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Robin Roberts, and Maria Shriver participated to support Jamie’s mission of building self-worth in every person. This same sense of connection and impact defines her live speaking engagements.
Beyond business success, Jamie is deeply committed to giving back. She is an active investor and philanthropist who has funded leadership training in more than 100 prisons and shelters across the United States. She has donated over $40 million in product and funds to support women facing cancer, helping them feel confident during treatment and recovery. Jamie is also donating 100 percent of her author proceeds from WORTHY, reinforcing her commitment to purpose-driven impact.
Booking Jamie Kern Lima means inviting a speaker who speaks from lived experience, not theory. She brings a rare blend of business excellence, emotional intelligence, and genuine care for people. As a mother of two, entrepreneur, and thought leader, Jamie understands the realities of balancing ambition, family, and personal growth. Her keynotes inspire audiences to trust themselves, lead with belief, and step into their fullest potential. Jamie Kern Lima is a powerful choice for conferences, leadership events, and organizations seeking inspiration that lasts long after the applause.
Keynote by Jamie Kern Lima:
Jamie Kern Lima is a self-made entrepreneur and co-founder of IT Cosmetics, the billion-dollar brand she built from her living room and sold to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion. That milestone made her the first female CEO of a brand in L’Oréal’s more than 100-year history. Her journey, from being underestimated and rejected to building one of the most iconic beauty companies of our time, has earned her a place on the Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women list and positioned her as an active investor in more than 15 companies.
What sets Jamie apart is not just what she built, but how she built it. Her keynotes are grounded in real experiences of doubt, rejection, faith, resilience, and belief. She speaks openly about turning every “no” into fuel, navigating seasons of uncertainty, and leading with authenticity when the stakes are highest. Jamie’s talks are deeply human, highly relatable, and designed to leave audiences feeling empowered, seen, and ready to move forward with confidence.
Every keynote is fully customized to the audience and the moment. Jamie draws from her entrepreneurial journey, leadership experience, and personal breakthroughs to deliver messages that resonate long after the event ends.
Popular keynote themes include:
Building a billion-dollar company from your living room
Going from underestimated to unstoppable in business, life, joy, and faith
Billion-dollar resilience and belief
Winning through authenticity
Creating momentum in business and in life
Entrepreneurship and visionary leadership
Leading winning teams with trust and clarity
Selling and leading with authenticity
Transforming your relationship with rejection
Overcoming self-doubt and stepping into confidence
Faith-led success and allowing God to fuel your journey
Jamie Kern Lima delivers more than inspiration, she delivers belief. Audiences walk away not only motivated, but equipped to trust themselves, lead boldly, and take the next step they’ve been putting off.