Jeannie Zappe is an inspirational speaker and English Channel swimmer.

She swam the English Channel at age 55, and completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at age 56.

She asked herself, “What if I can?”, and she shares her message of saying yes, setting big goals, overcoming adversity, and walking up onto the shore of France after 15 hours.

A woman standing on the beach with her hands on her hips, wearing a swimsuit with a lightning bolt and star flag pattern, a yellow swim cap, and goggles, smiling at the camera.
Jeannie Zappe, wearing a black textured top, jewelry, and sitting against a dark background.

Jeannie Zappe is the Eternal Optimist.

At 55, she trained for and successfully swam the English Channel solo. At 56, she became the 112th woman to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. She inspires people to listen to their hearts, figure out what they want to do in their lifetime -- no matter how big or small -- and have the courage and confidence to say yes to those things. Jeannie is a motivational presenter, marathon open water swimmer, and swim coach. She presents to companies, organizations, conferences, banquets, educational settings, and teams -- you name it. Read more about Jeannie.

What people are saying.

  • "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

Meet Jeannie

Jeannie shares her message and tailors it to your group.

Jeannie Zappe on stage, wearing a black blazer over a magenta blouse, with a dark background.

Contact us.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.