Jake Olson
Jake Olson is a history-making athlete, entrepreneur, and sought-after keynote speaker who inspires audiences to reframe adversity and break through limitations.
Jake Olson Booking & Availability
Speaking fees, availability and booking details for corporate events, keynotes and private appearances.
How do I book Jake Olson for a corporate event?
Use the Check Availability form above to send your proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. The Mollie Plotkin Group will follow up with availability and next steps.
What is Jake Olson’s speaking fee?
Jake Olson’s current speaking fee depends on the date, location, event format and scope of the appearance. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group for current pricing.
Is Jake Olson available for my event date?
Submit your proposed date and event details and the Mollie Plotkin Group will confirm current availability.
Who is Jake Olson’s booking agent?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about booking Jake Olson.
What types of events can Jake Olson be booked for?
Corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events and virtual programs may be available depending on the engagement.
Jake Olson Keynote Topics & Programs
Jake Olson speaks on business, disability, entrepreneurship, inspiration, motivation and overcoming adversity through keynote presentations and related programs. Additional themes are also available.
Finding The Setup In The Setback
Jake’s flagship talk shares his incredible life journey of battling cancer eight times, going blind at the age of 12, making history in college football, and winning the USGA Adaptive Open golf tournament. Using personal stories (including encounters with Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods), a lot of humor, and some unique life philosophies, Jake reframes adversity as an opportunity. He helps audiences realize that often, what feels like a significant setback can be a setup for something much greater if they take the right approach to confronting it.
During this talk, the audience will laugh, think, and maybe even cry a little. But above all, they will leave more grateful and with an entirely new way to perceive and tackle adversity. This talk is a great fit for any event planner trying to help their audience develop grit, improve their productivity, or improve their perspective and accountability.
Key Takeaways:
- How to reframe setbacks as setups for success.
- The mindset shifts that helped Jake overcome adversity.
- Why gratitude is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
Finding A Way – How An Inclusive Culture Makes Teams Better
Cancer may have taken Jake’s eyesight at age twelve, but it did not take his will to achieve. He simply needed to find a different way to achieve his goals. In this talk, Jake shares how teachers, coaches, and colleagues adapted to help him excel—and why inclusive environments lead to stronger, more successful teams.
Whether it was a math teacher learning braille to better teach him, coaches devising a whole new scheme for long snapping so he could play football, or his colleagues helping him use the latest technology so he could excel in his work, Jake knows firsthand how impactful being surrounded by inclusive people is.
Key Takeaways:
- How adaptability and collaboration fuel success.
- The power of inclusive leadership in driving performance.
- Why recognizing and supporting the potential in others strengthens entire teams.
Jake Olson Biography & Credentials
Jake Olson’s story is one of relentless determination and extraordinary achievement. Diagnosed with retinoblastoma as an infant, Jake battled cancer eight times before losing his sight completely at the age of 12. But instead of letting blindness define his future, he redefined what was possible.
Jake made history as the first completely blind athlete to play in a Division I college football game, long-snapping for the University of Southern California (USC) in 2017—a moment that captured national attention and inspired millions. Since then, Jake has built a successful career as a motivational speaker, captivating audiences with his humor, resilience, and unique ability to help others see opportunities where they once saw obstacles.
Today, he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, major sports organizations, and leading institutions, delivering powerful messages about perseverance, mindset, and pushing beyond perceived limits. Whether he’s sharing the lessons that helped him navigate blindness or recounting his incredible journey to the football field, Jake leaves audiences inspired, motivated, and ready to tackle their challenges head-on. Jake Olson is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Jake Olson’s fees.
Want to book Jake Olson for an event?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-995-0905 to book Jake Olson for a keynote speech, corporate event, leadership program, workshop, fireside chat, virtual appearance, or other private or professional event.
Our team will help confirm Jake Olson’s availability, speaking fee, travel requirements, and fit for your audience. To start the booking process, please share your event date, location, audience size, event format, and the type of presentation you are looking for.
The Mollie Plotkin Group is a full-service keynote speaker agency and entertainment bureau that helps organizations secure keynote speakers, entertainers, athletes, celebrities, and thought leaders for corporate meetings, conferences, fundraisers, and special events.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis, A Champion’s Mindset
At just 8 months old, Jake Olson was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer. Despite multiple treatments, he lost his left eye before his first birthday and spent the next 11 years fighting to save his right eye. But in 2009, after exhausting all medical options, Jake faced the reality of permanent blindness.
Rather than retreating in defeat, Jake approached this challenge with courage and determination. Inspired by an invitation from legendary coach Pete Carroll to attend a USC football practice, he learned firsthand the power of resilience, teamwork, and an unshakable mindset.
Making History at USC
Jake refused to let blindness sideline his dreams. While attending Orange Lutheran High School, he mastered the specialized role of long-snapping—proving that precision, practice, and adaptability could overcome any perceived limitation. He became the first completely blind athlete to play in a Division I football game, successfully long-snapping for USC in 2017 against Western Michigan.
His history-making moment was covered by nearly every major media outlet, from ESPN and The Wall Street Journal to CNN and The New York Times. But for Jake, this wasn’t about a moment of fame—it was about proving what’s possible when you refuse to accept limitations.
A Mission to Inspire Others
After graduating from USC in 2019, Jake focused on empowering others. As a full-time speaker, he has addressed audiences at Google, Microsoft, Bank of America, SpaceX, and countless other organizations. His talks blend humor (his team has actually measured that audiences laugh an average of 18 times during Jake’s 50-minute talk) with profound insights on perspective, resilience, and personal growth. Jake is also one of the top blind golfers in the world and a winner of the USGA Adaptive Open. Above all, Jake is most proud of his family. He and his wife, Audrey, recently welcomed their first child in January 2025.
Jake Olson’s journey is a testament to the fact that obstacles don’t define us—our response to them does. His keynotes deliver unforgettable moments of inspiration, helping audiences rethink their limitations and take action toward their biggest goals.