she/her

Dessi McEntee

Motivational Speaker

Bold Doesn't Look Back

Country or state

United States (Connecticut)

Available to

North America

City

Uncasville

Fee

Languages

English

Volunteer

Yes

Timezone

America/New_York

Personal Details

Bio

Hi, I’m Dessi!

I’ve been through more adversity in my lifetime to carry me through several more. At 8 years old my mom died of pancreatic cancer, and my stepmom Janice raised me. At 15 years old, I was paralyzed with a near-fatal infection of endocarditis that came with a side order of brain seizures. At 18 years old I fell into a debilitating depression ending with a suicide attempt.

After that point, my life felt numb and motionless with intensive therapy and antidepressants suffocating my ambition.

In 2009, Janice met her future husband, Mike. He became an ally, a father, a best friend, and he taught me how to live life to the fullest. Using my past as fuel and my present as the engine, I soared to new levels of success. I became a firefighter, completed my Master’s in Toxicology, had a renewed vigor to learn and to do everything, and completely stopped taking antidepressants.

In 2021, Mike died unexpectedly of a fentanyl overdose. His death made me determined to live more than ever. I became a board certified toxicologist and saved billion dollar programs, I became a successful entrepreneur, I became a published author, and I became sober.

I became my most epic self.

Today, I’m a motivational speaker on a mission to free others just as Mike freed me. I’m here to be an ally, to teach others how to use pain as power and turn vulnerability into victory.

Let's dance.

Current position (1)

Motivational Speaker

Bold Doesn't Look Back

Degrees (1)

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Michigan State University

2016 to 2018

Presentations

Presentations (1)

How to Be a Bad*ss

Imagine an audience full of attendees who are enthralled, on the edge of their seats, and hanging onto every word of your keynote speaker…

How to Be a Bad*ss takes your audience on a journey through Dessi’s incredible story and her unique take on embracing adversity as the ultimate catalyst for success.

Your attendees may initially feel like:
- They’re on a hamster wheel with their lives hanging in limbo
- They’re afraid to try new things, or take a chance on themselves
- They dabble in self-loathing

And they will leave feeling:
- Inspired by the realization that they already have the potential they need
- Empowered to try new things, go back to school, build empires
- Powerful because of the adversity they’ve faced in life, rather than hindered by it

By the end of her keynote attendees will realize that they are ALREADY powerful, and that it’s time to become the main character in their story and lives.

All (1)
Videos
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One sheet (1)

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Dessi McEntee Speaker Bio

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Books & Articles (3)

365 Quotes for Overcoming Adversity Every Day of the Year

Ferae Projects,

2024

Thank An Animal

Ferae Projects,

2024

Dessi McEntee Of Ferae Projects On How Authenticity and Vulnerability Pay Off and Help You Win Personally and Professionally

Expertise (10)

Other

Leadership

Health & Well-being

Reviews

Testimonials (1)

Empowering. Inspirational. Moving. Heart felt and relatable. Its amazing to witness someone who has come back from such hardship and overcome them to be on top. It's amazing how proud you can feel for someone.
Chloe

Why choose me?

I show audiences how to leverage adversity to create success. Let's become true bad*sses, together.