901-754-9404
My List0

We've now made it easier for you to research and save your favorite keynotes speakers. Click on the + sign to add a speaker to your Speaker List and email your favorites to colleagues and friends.

using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
Jill Blashack Strahan keynote speaker

Jill Blashack Strahan

    • Founder & CEO, Tastefully Simple, Inc.
    • Top female entrepreneur and an inspiration to women across the nation
    • Won numerous awards for her achievements and unique philosophies
Full Bio
In Person-Fee 🛈

$15,000 - $20,000

Virtual Fee:

Please Inquire

Travels From

Minnesota

Jill Blashack Strahan Keynote

Jill Blashack Strahan Keynote

Jill Blashack Strahan Speaker Biography


Jill Blashack Strahan, Tastefully Simple Founder & CEO, is a top female entrepreneur and an inspiration to women across the nation. Blashack Strahan grew up on her family’s farm in rural Minnesota during the 1960s, where she was inspired by her father’s work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Following her high school graduation, Blashack Strahan set off to college, but after an unsettled year at the University of Minnesota-Morris, she moved back home and enrolled at Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC), uncertain of her career and life direction. However, this would soon change.

As an ATCC project, Blashack Strahan developed a state-award-winning business plan, leading her to discover her passion: business – more specifically, entrepreneurship. After graduating from ATCC in 1979, Blashack Strahan began managing her father’s local café and in 1989 opened a retail gift basket shop.
In 1993, she liquidated her retail business but continued to sell gift baskets to corporate and direct-mail clients. Blashack Strahan then got an opportunity to promote these baskets in a holiday crafters’ home tour. She set out samples of gourmet food items and experienced remarkable sales. When the same results occurred later, she realized the power of sampling and the idea for Tastefully Simple was born.

In 1995, Tastefully Simple became the original national home tasting party company, offering delicious, easy-to-prepare foods and gifts. It wasn’t a simple start. Blashack Strahan and her young family had no money to risk on such a venture. Determined, she bootstrapped the business with personal savings, a $20,000 Small Business Administration loan and an investment from acquaintance Joani Nielson, who became Blashack Strahan’s silent Founding Partner and served as Tastefully Simple’s Founding Partner and COO until October 2014.

Blashack Strahan spent the first years juggling the responsibilities of home, motherhood and entrepreneur – managing business tasks by day and holding tasting parties by night. She operated out of Nielson’s 1,200 square-foot shed with no running water, packing orders on a pool table.

Within eight years, Blashack Strahan grew Tastefully Simple to a $100 million company. Now in its third decade, Tastefully Simple’s innovative focus on meal and entertaining solutions has poised the company for new growth and an exciting future.

Just three years into developing the company, Blashack Strahan was rocked by tragedy. Her brother was killed in a fall, and only a few months later her husband died suddenly. Blashack Strahan was faced with raising her 5-year-old son and the decision of whether (and how) to continue a business that consumed most of her time, energy and resources. She chose to persevere, using the deaths of those she loved as inspiration to live her dreams.

Recognized as an exceptional CEO, Blashack Strahan has won numerous awards for her achievements and unique philosophies of positivity and abundance. She published a book about her life lessons and inspirational journey with Tastefully Simple called Simply Shine: Stories That Stirred the Fire.

  • Burning Bright: How to Move Past Fear & Overcome Obstacles
  • Small Beginnings & Big Dreams: Three Success Factors (Entrepreneurship)
  • Turn 'Em On … Turn 'Em Loose!™ How to Build a Winning Culture
  • Dream It, Believe It, Work It: Setting Goals to Get What You Want

Related Speakers

Rory Vaden, Peak Performance Speaker

Rory Vaden

Motivational Speaker & Self-Discipline Strategist

Peter Voogd

Peter Voogd

Labeled world’s leading authority for millennials and entrepreneurs by  Entrepreneur.com

Mark Sanborn Speaker

Mark Sanborn

Developing Leaders in Business and in Life

Bob Sullivan keynote speaker

Bob Sullivan

Negotiation Keynote Speaker

Chet Garner

Chet Garner

Creator

Avish Parashar keynote speaker

Avish Parashar

Motivational Improviser and Certified Speaking Professional

Erica Orange, Woman in Tech Speaker

Erica Orange

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of The Future Hunters

Jim Knight, Business Speaker

Jim Knight

Business Culture Catalyst

Debbie Goldstein keynote speaker

Debbie Goldstein

CEO and Partner of Triad Consulting Group

Pandit Dasa, Happiness speaker

Pandit Dasa

Mindful Leadership Expert and Motivational Speaker

Scott Parazynski, Innovation Speaker

Scott Parazynski

Astronaut with Over 8 Weeks in Space

Matthew Emerzian

Matthew Emerzian

4-Time Best-Selling Author with Over 350 Keynotes Delivered

Reviews

Testimonials

Everyone on the ESB team has been great to work with for our events. Looking forward to keep working with ESB!

Plexus Worldwide

We had a positive experience with ESB. Matt Meyer is a great communicator and easy to get a hold of. His helped us through the process to mak..

BNSF

ESB was patient, thorough, and responsive during the planning process. Thank you for making this such a great experience for us!

ConnectWise

ESB supported our needs and the needs of our speaker throughout the entire process. I highly recommend working with ESB to find your next spe..

DogWatch

"It's always a pleasure to work with ESB. Very professional and personable staff. Thanks!"

Testimonial | Texas Society of Architects

"Excellent! Thank you for being a true partner to our organization and its development."

HCA Healthcare

"They are the only speakers bureau I will even consider using!"

Testimonial | Youth Villages

A wonderful bureau to work with! Big ups to everyone who helped make our event a success. Fingers crossed we get the chance to collaborate fo..

MDRT | Testimonial

"As always, you are the best most responsive speaker bureau I've ever worked with!"

Image Media

Angela Schelp was a great partner in finding the right kick-off speaker for our conference. This was my first conference identifying the keyn..

CubeSmart
Need Suggestions? Have Questions?

Need Suggestions? Have Questions?

Call to discuss how we can you help find the right speaker(s) for your organization.

© 2024 Executive Speakers Bureau. All Rights Reserved.

Design and Developed by eBiz Solutions

Get Ideas in 1 hour or less

Executive Speakers Bureau consistently receives praises about our speed and efficiency. From the beginning of your event planning, our extensive online speaker database and resourceful staff allow us to quickly equip you with the best speaker for your event.

Need a last minute speaker? No worries. Our speed and efficiency help us give you ideas for speakers in one hour or less.

Please fill in information below