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  1. Home
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  3. Jessica Cox
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Jessica Cox

CEO/Founder
Jessica Cox Motivational Services
Country or state 
United States (Arizona)
Available to 
Global
City 
Tucson, AZ
Fee 
Languages 
English
Volunteer
No
Timezone 
America/Phoenix

Personal Details

Bio

Born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. There were many questions at the time about whether Jessica would be able to live a “normal” life. However, Jessica’s father has said he never shed a tear about her birth condition. He had full confidence in her potential. With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet.

At the age of 14, Jessica earned her first black belt in the International Taekwondo Federation. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. When talking about her degree, she frequently explains that psychology credits the way people think with having a greater impact on their lives than a physical limitation. During college, Jessica joined an ATA Martial Arts club and became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the ATA.

Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, three flight instructors, and three years to find the right aircraft: a 1946 415C Ercoupe Airplane. In 2008 Jessica earned her Light Sport Pilot Certificate. She received the Guinness World Record for being the first person certified to fly an airplane with only their feet in 2011.

In May 2012, Jessica married in the beautiful city of South Pasadena, CA. In the fall of that same year, Jessica became a Goodwill Ambassador for Humanity & Inclusion, a Nobel Peace Prize winning NGO, and advocated for disability rights in Ethiopia, the Philippines, Nepal, and the US Senate.

Flying continues to be a passion for Jessica as she attends many of the largest aviation events in the world. Along the way, she has been recognized for numerous awards, including Woman of the Year from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber, an honorary doctorate from Universidad Santander in 2023, and a distinguished speaker award from Egypt’s President at the World Youth Forum in 2019.

In 2019, a generous fan donated a 1946 415C Ercoupe with tail number N26R (“two-six-romeo”) for Jessica’s use. With an 85 horsepower engine, two seats for a pilot and a copilot/passenger, a cruising speed of around 90 miles per hour, and a flying time of a little over three hours, N26R is a fair-weather airplane designed primarily for local daytime flights. Because of the performance limitations, Jessica plans to build The Impossible Airplane, a 200 mph four-seat RV-10 airplane with custom controls for Jessica to use.

Website: www.jessicacox.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JCMSofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jess_feet

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rightfooted

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rightfooted

Youtube: www.youtube.com/rightfootedwoman

Toe Talks: www.youtube.com/c/toetalks

Specialties: Motivational Speaking, Adaptation, Motivational Workshops, Public Speaking, Mentoring, Media Appearances, Television, Radio, Documentary Films

Current position (3)

CEO/Founder

Jessica Cox Motivational Services

Goodwill Ambasador

Humanity & Inclusion

Executive Director

Rightfooted Foundation International

Achievements (4)
First Armless Pilot

In 2008, I became the first person in aviation history certified to fly an airplane with just their feet.

4th Degree Black Belt

In 2019, I earned my Fourth Degree Black Belt in ATA Martial Arts.

Internationally Award Winning Documentary Released

Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Nick Spark, "Right Footed" premiered in 2015 and went on to win numerous awards including Best Social Action Film, Best Documentary, and Audience Choice. After more than 50 festival appearances, Right Footed was released on NatGeo in more than 80 countries.

Armless Scuba Certification
Degrees (1)
Psychology
University of Arizona
2000 to 2004

Presentations

Presentations (3)
Achieve the Impossible

Adaptability is the key to survival. As industries face constant flux, the ability to adapt hinges on embracing a mindset shift. By fostering a culture of openness to change, resilience, and innovation, businesses can effectively navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities with confidence.

In this keynote, Jessica ignites a spirit of innovation and underscores the transformative potential inherent in setbacks—they serve as pivotal moments for resilience to flourish. This paradigm doesn’t only endorse resilience, creativity, and adaptability but actively cultivates them, laying a sturdy foundation for navigating the ever-changing landscape.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Recognize adaptability as a cornerstone of success and develop the mindset needed to thrive in dynamic environments
- Capitalize on emerging opportunities and leverage setbacks as catalysts for innovation
- Develop a sturdy foundation for navigating change with resilience, creativity, and adaptability

Think Outside the Shoe

Organizations must adopt a problem-solving mindset as a driving force for change, recognizing challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for growth. When teams build a culture that encourages proactive problem-solving, businesses can effectively navigate complexities, adapt swiftly to evolving landscapes, and thrive in dynamic environments.

In this keynote, Jessica sheds light on the power of unconventional thinking by urging audiences to embrace innovative solutions. By thinking outside the shoe, teams can reframe their perspectives to approach problems with curiosity, ingenuity, and boundless creativity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Understand the importance of a problem-solving mindset as a key to overcoming challenges
- Learn to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth and development, seeing obstacles as catalysts for innovation
- Discover techniques for embracing unconventional thinking and fostering a culture of creativity within teams and organizations

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate

Navigating change involves prioritizing three actions: aviating, navigating, and communicating. “Aviating” involves maintaining a steady course amidst turbulence, similar to a pilot ensuring the stability and control of an aircraft during flight. “Navigating” entails charting a clear path forward by assessing the current landscape, identifying potential obstacles, and plotting the most efficient route to reach desired destinations. Finally, “communicating” is essential to ensure alignment, foster collaboration, and maintain morale throughout the change process.

Drawing from her own experiences, Jessica shows how setbacks can be reframed as opportunities for growth. By accepting failure as a natural part of the journey, teams can cultivate a culture of resilience that allows them to bounce back stronger than ever before.

Past talks (1)
Possible Thinking
World Youth Forum
Egypt
December 14, 2019
  • All (3)
  • Videos
  • Photos (1)
  • One sheet (1)
  • Press information (1)
This speaker hasn't uploaded any videos yet.
This speaker hasn't uploaded any slides yet.
Information Kit
Former Sen. Harkin Flies with First Licensed Pilot with No Arms | NowThis

Books & Articles (8)

Disarm Your Limits
Jessica Cox Publishing,
2015
Engineering Opportunities for Pilots With Disabilities
Award Winning Documentary: Right Footed
World at My Feet by Jessica Cox
15 Filipino Motivational Speakers You Should Hear
Disarm Your Limits
ARMLESS PILOT CELEBRATES ADA ANNIVERSARY IN FLIGHT
Flying Over Adversity: Aspiring to Be a Pilot

Expertise (25)

Skills & Trades
Business
Sport & Hobbies
Inspiration Aviation Disabilities Creative Thinking Fearless Innovation Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Diversity Disability Awareness Speaker Disability disability awareness Adaptability Disability Inclusion Living with Disability Inspiration and Motivation Inspirational Speaker Motivational Motivational Keynote Speaker Motivational speaker Motivational Speaking Pilot Stories Women in Aviation

Clients

Boeing
AT&T
State Farm
Verizon
GE Aviation
Johnson & Johnson
NASA
Smithsonian
Nestle
IBM
Young Presidents Organization
World Youth Forum
TEDx
American Health Care Association
Mahindra
National Air and Space Museum
Baylor University
Boehringer Ingelheim
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Embassy of the Philippines
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Pinnacle Leadership Conference
Logitech

Awards & certifications (15)

Sport Pilot Certification
FAA
2008
First woman to fly an airplane with her feet
Guinness World Records, Italy
2011
Top 15 Filipino Motivational Speakers
WhenInManila.com
2014
Honorary Doctorate
Universidad Santander
2022
Grand Marshal
Tucson Rodeo Parade
2023
Most Watched Female Aviator
AOPA LIVE, Pilots Choice Award
2010
Featured in the "We All Fly" Exhibit
Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
2022
Woman of the Year
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
2022
Most Aspirational
Inspiration Awards for Women (USA)
2012
Inspiration International
Inspiration Awards for Women (UK)
2013
10 Best Pilots: Best at Overcoming Obstacles
Plane & Pilot Magazine
2013
Taekwondo Certified Trainer
ATA Martial Arts
2013
Special Commendation, House Resolution #907
Philippine House of Representatives
2014
Outstanding Global Pinoy
SM Supermalls
2014
Arizona State Champion, Forms
ATA Martial Arts
2014

Reviews

Testimonials (3)
  • Jessica was a guest speaker for an event I was hosting to encourage girls to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. She provided a safe environment for the girls to freely ask questions and provided them with support and guidance on how to pursue their dreams. Jessica also leaves her audience inspired, as well as giving the participants confidence to move forward and not let anything or anyone get in their way. She is an amazing woman, that I am thankful I have had the opportunity to meet and to also see how her passion for building people up continues to grow!
    Carole Glenn
    Verified
  • Think you're having a bad day? Try being born without arms! This young woman has accomplished more in her short lifetime than many more than doubled, or tripled her age. She's a wife, a pilot, scuba diver, world traveler, author, motivational speaker, and an all around inspiration to all! I'm sure I missed many of her attributes, but hearing her speak was such an eye opening experience. And the kicker...speaking to her after her talk, she actually thanked me for what I do! She is an amazing person! It was such an honor to be on her audience!
    Janet Stiegler, OTR/L
    Verified
  • Presented a perspective of disabled people that challenged your perception of what was possible......11/10
    Dustin Millar
    Verified
Recommendations
6 Audience
Show More
Why choose me? 

I'm the world's first pilot without arms. Let me show your team that nothing is impossible.

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