Why should I book Jesse?
Jesse’s life and career are a masterclass in navigating profound change. Diagnosed with Rod-Cone Dystrophy, a degenerative genetic condition at the age of 5, Jesse hasn’t just faced a static obstacle; he has been forced to continuously adapt his entire life, as his vision progressively shifted from severely limited sight to total blindness. His story is fundamentally about the mindset required to evolve and excel when your circumstances are drastically altered.
During his education, Jesse navigated one of the most extreme and impactful personal changes imaginable. He lost the remainder of his vision, and with it the literal ability to read and write. He seamlessly navigated this additional adversity to earn a doctorate in Materials Chemistry from an elite institution, ranked in the top 10 of UK universities and in the top 10% globally. An outstanding achievement considering the magnitude of the additional impediment Jesse had to overcome.
In the business world, the barriers faced by visually impaired people are glaring. Only around 10% of severely visually impaired or blind people have any form of employment. Recognition of these barriers illustrates Jesse’s exceptional nature and the value of his distinctive perspective and corporate experience. He has risen to a senior position in a global clean energy engineering firm, working as a subject matter expert in Intellectual Property at the cutting edge of technology, in an industry fundamentally built on driving global change. This experience allows Jesse to relate the key principles that empower growth amidst disruption to the challenges corporates face.
However, it is his rock climbing that best demonstrates Jesse’s mastery of the ability to navigate change. Climbing inherently requires extreme levels of strength, fortitude, and adaptability both in a physical and psychological context. As his primary faculty—his sight—faded, Jesse had to entirely reinvent his approach to the sport. Relying now on his sense of touch and teamwork, he adapted his methods rather than lowering his ambition. By embracing this new way of operating, he continues to lead climbs. What is more, Jesse hasn’t simply borne the loss of his sight. In fact, he has enhanced his abilities. He is the best in the world at his discipline and has repeatedly surpassed his own benchmarks, as well as establishing world firsts in some of the most hostile and remote environments on the planet.
Jesse has unparalleled, cross-domain credibility in managing and mastering transition. He doesn’t just endure change; he provides audiences with a unique mindset and practical framework to adapt, innovate, and achieve the seemingly impossible with the resources they have. His extraordinary journey makes him a definitive global authority on successful transformation in an ever-changing world.
Jesse Dufton speaks on change to corporate clients in the UK and globally.
Jesse Dufton 