Speaking

Jefferson is a celebrated public speaker – from compelling TEDx talks, acclaimed commencement addresses, corporate gatherings, nonprofit fundraisers, and opening for the President of the United States. He has coached dozens of speakers to prepare for their own talk of a lifetime.

TEDx “The Problem with Thankless Jobs”

Specific positive feedback is the most valuable kind of feedback that can be given. Whose job is it to give feedback to the thankless jobs we all benefit from? While there is a cottage industry in attacking public structures and services, we too seldom celebrate the successes and positive impacts. We all have a stake in how public services are delivered, and we need collectively to be better managers. Not merely by criticizing less, but by thanking more.

Obama/Kitzhaber – “You are Priceless”

When President Barack Obama visited Portland on the trail for Governor John Kitzhaber, he asked the audience, “What is the Power in this room?” Having been hand-picked as the evening’s opener, Jefferson brought the house down with a speech what he called “Priceless Politics,” defining the power in the room that night as a set of history-making people and principles that are “not for sale.”

U of O Commencement Speech – “You Might be Screwed”

Jefferson delivered the commencement speech to his alma mater, which NPR named among “The Best Commencement Speeches Ever,” and offers a simple message: “You Might be Screwed.” The first generation not to do financially better than their parents, and facing the biggest wealth disparities since the gilded age. How might the next generation face that challenge as a call to service? How might we clarify what we mean by success? If each of us is defined by one sentence, what might your sentence say?

TEDx “Your Engagement Matters”

As we categorize the power leveraged on democracy, most is dedicated to advancing narrower issues or to advancing the financial self interests of the advocacy power – or both. But most of what democracy needs is multi-issue problem-solving for the public interest. How should we understand that, and what might we do about it? And whose job is that?

When President Barack Obama visited Portland on the trail for Governor John Kitzhaber, he asked the audience, “What is the Power in this room?” Having been hand-picked as the evening’s opener, Jefferson brought the house down with a speech what he called “Priceless Politics,” defining the power in the room that night as a set of history-making people and principles that are “not for sale.”

Obama-Kitzhaber Rally – “Priceless Politics”