Lisa Jaster

In September of 2015, the U.S. Army officially opened one of the most difficult combat training courses in the world, Ranger School, to female candidates for the first time. Army Major Lisa Jaster, at that time 37 and working a great corporate job complete with first-class airfare and five-star hotel rooms, immediately signed up for the intensive, 61-day-long leadership course. Months later, sleep-deprived and carrying an 80-pound rucksack for miles on end alongside 23-year-old trainees, the wife and mother of two would reflect on one simple question: Why?

Jaster’s speech takes audiences through her personal story and the lessons she learned through becoming one of only three women to ever graduate the program. The presentation touches on themes of commitment, perseverance, tuning out doubt, “walking the walk,” and what leadership really means. It is an inspiring story about becoming a better leader, serving others, and, above all, understanding that only you can decide what you are capable of achieving.