Upcoming Women’s Open Water Camps…

Grand Cayman Island — March 21-25, 2025

Jeannie Zappe:
motivational speaker, marathon swimmer, coach, and eternal optimist.

At 53, she swam around Manhattan, crossed the English Channel at 55, and became the 112th woman to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at 56 by swimming from Catalina Island to Long Beach, CA.

How did she do it? She started by asking herself, “What if I can?”. After returning from the English Channel, Jeannie wanted to share the lessons she learned to help others ask and answer the same question, and founded Eternal Optimist.

What if I can?: Listen to Jeannie share her message.

Through her motivational speaking, Jeannie loves to share her message of saying yes, setting goals, overcoming adversity, persevering through the preparation, and, above all, remaining optimistic and confident.

Jeannie presents to companies, organizations, retreats, conferences, banquets, educational settings, and teams -- you name it. She will also tailor her universal message to your group to create the specific messages you would like to her to share and amplify.

More information about speaking engagements…

Testimonials

  • "It was truly my honor to host Jeannie for an International Women's Day inspirational talk for my fellow leadership colleagues. Jeannie was able to weave a message of how equity is needed not only in our workplace but in our personal lives as well. Her genuine passion for life and her love of open water swim came through in every word!"

    — Sarah Reed, Sr Manager, IT Infrastructure at Red Hat

  • “Jeannie’s ability to foster the courage and growth traits to approach her swimming mission is a true testament to how to approach some of the biggest challenges we face at home and at work.”

    — Brianda Freistat, Client Account Manager/Sector Lead, Deloitte Consulting LLP

  • “When she finished speaking, our athletes left the room wholly changed. They were inspired and poised to tackle challenges, dream big, and, of course, be eternally optimistic.”

    — Katie Wingert McArdle, Head Coach and Aquatics Director, Dickinson College

  • “You embodied your mantra: Eternal Optimist. You began with your adventure and then distilled the lessons you learned from it—lessons appropriate for your audience.”

    — Charlie Catalano, Ph.D., Brian Lamb School of Communication, Purdue University

  • Jeannie Zappe's recent motivational talk at Indiana Tech was truly inspiring and uplifting. Her positive message resonated deeply with our students, leaving them feeling motivated and empowered to pursue their dreams. Jeannie's personal achievements and unwavering optimism served as a shining example of how a positive mindset can overcome any obstacle and unlock limitless potential. Her talk was a powerful reminder that with determination and belief in oneself, no goal is too ambitious to achieve.

    — Karl W. Einolf, Ph.D., President, Indiana Tech