Former Top 100 tennis pro turned leadership speaker, Jeff Salzenstein helps leaders and teams thrive under pressure and perform at their best when it matters most.
5.00 of 5
Top rated!5 of 5
“A strong endorsement for Jeff if want to compete at a really high level in business and in life.”
JP Flaum
Founder, Green Peak Partners
Jeff Salzenstein is a former Top 100 world-ranked tennis player, Stanford All-American, national champion, and team captain who knows exactly what pressure feels like. After years of competing at the highest level of professional tennis, Jeff discovered a powerful truth: pressure itself doesn’t break us. It’s how we carry it. Today, he brings this insight to leaders, teams, and organizations around the world, helping them unlock excellence, resilience, and sustainable performance. Through his Own Your Zone framework, Jeff shows how leaders can expand their capacity, stay grounded in the moment, and lead with clarity, composure, and purpose, even when the stakes are high.
Jeff Salzenstein spent more than a decade inside one of the most demanding performance environments in the world: professional tennis. Competing at Grand Slams such as the US Open, Wimbledon, and the French Open, he practiced and played alongside legends including Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, and Pete Sampras. Ranked among the Top 100 players globally, Jeff lived daily with expectations, scrutiny, and relentless pressure.
Those years taught him lessons that go far beyond sport. Jeff learned that excellence is not about grinding harder or pushing endlessly. The true edge comes from expanding our ability to handle pressure while staying present, focused, and aligned. This insight now forms the foundation of his work as a leadership speaker and executive performance coach.
After retiring from professional tennis, Jeff dedicated himself to understanding what allows people to perform at their best under pressure. Backed by more than 25 years of peak performance experience and deep study of psychology and neuroscience, he developed a holistic system that blends rest and recovery, mindset training, emotional regulation, and human-centered leadership strategies.
As a speaker, Jeff connects instantly with audiences because his message is lived, not theoretical. He understands the internal battles high achievers face and speaks directly to leaders who are expected to deliver results without burning themselves or their teams out. His sessions are practical, engaging, and grounded in real-world application.
At the core of Jeff’s work is his Own Your Zone framework, a powerful approach to leadership, performance, and well-being. He teaches that the next level of leadership isn’t unlocked by more hustle, but by stronger fundamentals across three essential performance zones:
Restore the Body – optimizing energy through rest, recovery, and sustainable rhythms
Rewire the Mind – strengthening focus, mindset, and emotional regulation under pressure
Reconnect the Heart – leading with purpose, values, and authentic human connection
When organizations apply these principles, they often see measurable results, including higher profitability, increased productivity, and significantly greater creativity, alongside improvements in culture, engagement, and overall well-being.
Jeff works with high achievers, executives, teams, and organizations that operate in high-stakes environments. His tools help leaders stay composed during uncertainty, make better decisions under pressure, and model calm, intentional leadership for their teams.
Organizations that embrace his approach report stronger energy, healthier cultures, and more consistent performance. Jeff shows leaders how to create conditions where people can do their best work without sacrificing their health, relationships, or sense of purpose.
Jeff’s message is deeply personal. His “why” was shaped by watching his younger brother Erik struggle with mental health challenges and addiction, including 52 days spent in solitary confinement in a maximum-security correctional facility. Against all odds, Erik made an improbable comeback and transformation.
That journey revealed a profound truth that Jeff now shares with audiences worldwide: success without fulfillment and inner alignment leads to stress, anxiety, burnout, and disconnection. True excellence comes from alignment between performance, purpose, and well-being.
When you book Jeff Salzenstein for your event, you bring in a speaker who doesn’t just talk about pressure, but teaches how to transform it into purpose. His message empowers leaders to own pressure, instead of being owned by it, and to perform at their best when it matters most.
5 of 5
“A strong endorsement for Jeff if want to compete at a really high level in business and in life.”
JP Flaum Founder, Green Peak Partners
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“I brought Jeff in as a gift to my team to help us strengthen our culture. He’s a powerful speaker who makes complex ideas simple and actionable. His tools help you think clearly, lead with heart, and create positive impact at work and at home. I highly recommend him to any organization looking to reduce pressure, improve communication, and build a culture rooted in purpose.”
Greg Peters CEO and President, 4B Marketing
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“I brought Jeff in because stress is always part of the journey. His message helped me and our franchise owners reconnect, reset, and refocus. He gave us powerful tools to get out of your head, connect heart and mind, and fill your own cup first. The hop and shake and deep breath reminder were game changers. I highly recommend Jeff to any leader or team.”
Katie Gillberg Founder and CEO, Hydrate IV Bar
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“Jeff is an amazing speaker who brings both energy and heart. We invited him to our annual faculty and staff retreat to address burnout, and his message was exactly what we needed. His authenticity and personal stories deeply resonated with our team. I highly recommend Jeff and his Own Your Zone message to any organization looking to help their people manage stress and perform at their best.”
Rachel Bingham Senior Director of Accreditation and Professional Development, UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“Jeff’s ‘Own Your Zone’ session was powerful, relatable, and energizing. He blended inspiring stories with practical tools our team could use right away. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Jeff truly connects with people and helps them perform, lead, and live better.”
Coulter McMahen Executive Director, Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“We wanted to proactively address mental health and anxiety in our company. Construction is an anxiety-rich industry, and we wanted to get ahead of it. I brought Jeff in to speak, and the results were awesome. He delivered an incredible talk, and I highly recommend him.”
Matt Huelskamp President, Hyder Construction
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“Jeff was a game-changer for our event. His Own Your Zone keynote was powerful, practical, and inspiring—delivering real tools to reduce stress, elevate focus, and build resilience. His energy and care deeply impacted our audience. I highly recommend Jeff for your next event.”
Rod Clough President, HVS Americas
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“Jeff is a pro’s pro on stage. His tennis background and real-world insights help leaders perform under pressure with more calm and clarity. If you’re looking for a speaker who inspires, teaches, and truly cares, Jeff’s your guy.”
Kyle Krpata Partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
“Jeff was a phenomenal addition to our Summit. He was authentic, insightful, and completely in tune with our audience. Attendees left inspired and ready to lead under pressure. He was low maintenance, highly professional, and made a real impact. No surprise multiple credit unions followed up. Highly recommend.”
George McDonald President/CEO at Dakota Credit Union Association
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff is a wonderful speaker who delivered an incredible message to our team at Transform Wealth. His insights on mindset, stress reduction, and performance were powerful and practical. Jeff is a true expert in these areas and genuinely cares about what matters most in life. I highly recommend him as both a speaker and a coach.
David Kubik President, Transform Wealth
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
"We wanted a speaker who could help us become a better organization by helping our people become better humans. Jeff did exactly that. He inspired action with tangible tools,and the way he delivered the message was revolutionary. It challenged us to think deeper and lead differently. Thank you, Jeff!
Darius Wise CEO, Red Rocks Credit Union
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
I have been a Vistage Member and Chair for a combined total of 25 years, during which time I have heard hundreds of keynotes at Vistage and other venues. The two hours we spent with him were moving, vulnerable and had very high "take home value". Perhaps the most valuable part was the absolute simplicity of the "Pro Tips" that anyone can implement without delay or complexity.
Nigel Alexander Vistage Chair | Peer Advisory Group Facilitator | Investor
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
We asked Jeff to speak with our leadership team about resilience during uncertain times, and when things don’t go as planned. With his advanced preparation, Jeff was able to connect with our leaders and provide tools to help each of us address the challenges we are experiencing.
Beth Strickland Chief HR Officer, PDI Technologies
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff has a gift for connecting with people’s hearts and minds. As a world class athlete and coach of executives his story of discipline, overcoming life-altering adversity, and commitment to well-being resonates at the deepest levels. I recently had the opportunity to learn from Jeff with 30 of my CEO coaching colleagues. I will continue to work with him!
Steve Sager CEO | Entrepreneur | Chair, Vistage Worldwide | Listen. Connect. Believe.
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Delivered a captivating and memorable speech; he also taught pragmatic methodologies we can all use to manage stress and optimize our performance.
Ronni Klaypas Chief Integration Officer, U.S. Radiology Specialists
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff is a special human being who has an amazing story to tell. I learned a great deal from him and I look forward to learning more! I highly recommend him as both a speaker and a coach! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Lance Vieira Vistage Chair | Change Agent | Team Builder | Executive Leader | Coach
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff exemplifies grit, has a process, and has a really positive outlook on what it takes to push through hard times. If you get an opportunity, have him come out and do a keynote or spend time with you and your team.
Brian Thomas CEO, Lightspeed Systems
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff is a ‘can’t miss’ speaker. Jeff powerfully addresses the fascinating topic of managing counter-productive stress and more, drawing from his experience as a top professional tennis player and also from some quite difficult life challenges. He integrates the best of the most current research into a very interesting, motivational, and easy to grasp presentation.
Randy Welsch Vistage Chair | Growth Catalyst
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everybody walked away as a closer team. All of us walked away with skills that we didn’t have before and Jeff helped us maximize our team performance and individual performance. I couldn’t recommend Jeff more highly. He really, really provides a unique and valuable perspective.
John Perkins CEO, U.S. Radiology Specialists
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff has a heart of gold, and it comes through in his presentation…He gave the room an extra boost of energy…so pleased with the message that he shared.
Faith Howard Mooney SVP, Mortgage Collaborative
Jeff Salzenstein
5 of 5
Jeff's presentation was truly outstanding, a solid 9.5 out of 10. He absolutely hit it out of the park, bringing a refreshing energy to our event that captivated the audience. What made Jeff's keynote even more impactful was his thoughtful integration of our company’s core pillars in a way that resonated deeply with everyone. Jeff’s presence extended beyond the stage, making a lasting impression. Highly recommended!
Brandon Wells CEO, The Group Real Estate
Jeff Salzenstein
Keynote by Jeff Salzenstein:
The Elite Performance System For Winning Leaders
Pressure. Stress. Deadlines. Distractions.
For high achievers, leaders, and teams, these aren’t going away. They’re increasing and we’re expected to stay on our A-game in every role we play. What if we commit to living and working like elite athletes skilled at staying calm under fire, focused under pressure, and resilient through setbacks?
Excellence isn’t measured by high output alone. It’s about building capacity to perform through pressure without burning out. We don’t need more hustle. We require better fundamentals. Simple, powerful practices to restore the body, rewire the mind, and reconnect the heart.
The Own Your Zone framework delivers exactly that. Created by former top 100 world-ranked tennis pro , Stanford All-American and national champion, leadership speaker, executive performance coach, Jeff Salzenstein, this system brings elite level performance tools into everyday leadership. Jeff’s human centered, grounded, science- backed approach transforms how high performers respond to pressure, turning stress into strength and making resilience the norm, not the exception.
This keynote is ideal for leaders and teams who are:
Navigating high-pressure environments and seeking greater resilience.
Struggling with burnout and looking to restore energy andfocus.
Prioritizing mental health and emotional well-being in the workplace.
Committed to leading with clarity, calm, and consistent professionalism.
The audience will leave with:
Practical tools to access peak performance even in high- pressure moments.
Mindset strategies to lead with authentic confidence and clarity.
Emotional regulation techniques to boost energy, focus, and creativity.
Recovery habits to prevent burnout and sustain long-term excellence.
A personal resilience framework to thrive through stress, setbacks, and uncertainty.
Keynote by Jeff Salzenstein:
Lead, Perform, and Stay Resilient Through Pressure and Uncertainty
In The Champion’s Way, leadership speaker and executive performance coach Jeff Salzenstein delivers a transformational playbook for leading through adversity, performing through pressure, and building resilience that lasts.
Drawing on his experience as a top 100 world-ranked tennis player, two time Stanford All American, leadership speaker and elite performance coach, Jeff reveals what the world’s best competitors know: champions don’t just win, they prepare, adapt, and rise no matter what life throws at them.
This keynote introduces the SOARS Framework, a proven system for cultivating clarity, alignment, and emotional strength when it matters most. It is not about pushing harder. It is about leading smarter, deeper, and more intentionally through pressure.
This keynote is ideal for leaders, teams, and high performers who:
Are navigating pressure packed environments and need to stay grounded and composed
Want to build personal and professional resilience in uncertain times
Are ready to shift from reactive to responsive leadership
Seek purpose driven performance without sacrificing well being
The audience will leave with:
A powerful mindset reframe: Real champions do not avoid stress. They work with it to unlock growth and impact
Strategies to align actions with core values, especially under pressure
Emotional regulation tools to rebound quickly from setbacks and lead with clarity
Practical techniques to expand capacity, access peak states, and perform with confidence
A lasting sense of purpose and permission to win big without losing yourself in the process
The Champion’s Way isn’t about having it all together. It’s about building the inner readiness to rise no matter what.
Keynote by Jeff Salzenstein:
The Culture-First Sales Playbook to Attract, Inspire, and Grow
In today’s competitive landscape, talent is the real differentiator and culture is the magnet. Sales success isn’t just about scripts, quotas, or compensation plans. It’s about building a team that believes, belongs, and brings their best when it matters most.
In this keynote, former top 100 world-ranked tennis pro, two-time Stanford All-American, leadership speaker, and executive performance coach, Jeff Salzenstein shares his proven, human centered system to create resilient, high-performing sales teams that thrive through pressure and lead with integrity.
Drawing from decades of experience in elite sports, entrepreneurship, and executive coaching, Jeff reveals how to build a winning culture that attracts top talent, inspires aligned action, and grows sustainable success, without sacrificing well-being.
This keynote is ideal for sales leaders and teams who:
Want to attract top performers through an authentic, values-driven culture.
Are committed to building team cohesion and emotional resilience.
Seek to unlock higher energy, connection, and collaboration in high-stress environments.
Are ready to grow performance without burnout.
The audience will leave with:
A blueprint for building a culture-first sales team that inspires trust, ownership, and loyalty.
Emotional regulation and mindset tools to help teams stay focused under pressure.
Recovery and energy management techniques to increase resilience and drive.
Leadership insights that shift culture from reactive to responsive.
Simple practices to fuel consistent performance and deeper team connection.
Winning isn’t just about closing deals. It’s about building a culture where people win together.
Keynote by Jeff Salzenstein:
The New Bottom Line for Leadership and Team Success
What if energy, not effort, was your team’s greatest competitive advantage?
In today’s pressure-filled world, leaders and teams are burning out at alarming rates. The old model of grinding through stress is broken. Sustainable performance now depends on a new bottom line, one rooted in energy, resilience, and well-being. Former top 100 world ranked tennis pro, Stanford All-American, leadership speaker, and executive performance coach Jeff Salzenstein shares a practical, science-backed system to help high achievers fuel long-term success without sacrificing their health, clarity, or fulfillment.
In this energizing keynote, Jeff reveals how the same recovery and performance strategies used by elite athletes can help leaders unlock peak energy, reduce overwhelm, and lead with greater calm, focus, and consistency. It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters most, with the energy and presence to do it well.
This keynote is ideal for leaders, achievers, and organizations who want to:
Build a foundation of health and vitality that supports high performance
Prevent burnout by increasing capacity mentally, emotionally, and physically
Create a culture where energy, engagement, and achievement go hand in hand
Shift from stress-based leadership to sustainable excellence
Lead and live with more clarity, balance, and purpose
Audiences will leave with:
Simple energy habits to improve clarity, focus, and physical stamina
Mindset shifts that prioritize well-being without lowering standards
Tools for rapid stress regulation and emotional composure
A modern blueprint to perform at a high level—without running on empty
The Energy Edge isn't a luxury. It's an essential leadership skill to master.
Watch Jeff Salzenstein in action!
