MONICA ORTEGA
How years of hearing "no" as an actress and travel host became a sales method that helped grow a business from $600K to $4M.
Read the Monica Ortega Spotlight →
About Monica Ortega
Monica Ortega has been told "no" by casting directors, tourism boards and, by her own count, a dozen middle school crushes. She turned every one of them into material. Today she is an award-winning keynote speaker and emcee, bestselling author and award-winning travel host who helps audiences embrace change, face their fears and turn rejection into results.
Her career has been a series of pivots. After years as an actress, she created the online travel show Monica Goes in 2014 to inspire people to leave their comfort zones and go on adventures. Her company, Pivoting Productions, has produced more than 200 episodes, and her work has been featured in Thrive Global, Medium, USA Today's 10Best and more. She has also appeared in more than 20 commercials.
Then she made the pivot she swore she never would: into sales. Four years later, she had helped take the business from $600K to $4M. That experience became the backbone of her R.O.C.K.S.T.A.R. Method of Rejection™, a framework that gives sales teams a rejection-proof mindset and tactics they can use on their very next call.
Monica has spent more than 20 years on stage and emcees some of the biggest music festivals in the country, including Stagecoach, Country Thunder and Country 500. That festival-stage energy is exactly what she brings to business conferences, sales kickoffs, association meetings and women's events: she keeps the program moving, turns the in-between moments into highlights and gets even the most reserved rooms on their feet.
In 2021 she released the bestselling book The Power of Pivoting: How to Embrace Change and Create a Life You Love. Monica is based in Denver, Colorado, and speaks and emcees at events across the country and around the world.
- Award-winning keynote speaker and emcee with more than 20 years on stage
- Bestselling author of The Power of Pivoting: How to Embrace Change and Create a Life You Love
- Award-winning travel host and creator of Monica Goes, with 200+ episodes produced by Pivoting Productions
- Grew a sales business from $600K to $4M in four years
- Festival emcee at Stagecoach, Country Thunder and Country 500
- Featured in Thrive Global, Medium and USA Today's 10Best, and seen in 20+ commercials
- Creator of the R.O.C.K.S.T.A.R. Method of Rejection™ and the Resilience Recycle Framework
Watch Monica In Action
Speaking Topics
Sales • Rejection Resilience • Mindset. Perfect for sales kickoffs, team offsites and conferences that want a talk that is equal parts data, story and stage energy.
Every "no" is a rep. Rockstars keep playing.
As a former actress and travel show host, Monica heard "no" constantly before pivoting into sales, the one field she swore she would avoid. Four years later she had helped grow the business from $600K to $4M. Now she teaches sales teams the same mindset shift that took her from stage fright to sold out. Set to a soundtrack of classic rock anthems, this keynote blends data with stories from cave kayaking to channeling your inner Beyoncé, and leaves audiences with a rejection-proof mindset and real tactics to use before their very next call.
Program Takeaways
- Act like a rockstar to boost confidence, presence and sales results
- Break down the R.O.C.K.S.T.A.R. acronym: Rejection Opens Confidence Knowing Strong Tactics Accumulates Resilience
- Shift the team's mindset from resistance to rockstar
Change • Resilience • Wellbeing. Ideal for organizations navigating transitions, reorganizations or new directions, and for career, leadership and women's events.
Change can be scary. Done right, it is where purpose shows up.
When unexpected change hits, too many people fall into the comparison game and the endless list of "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts." Based on her bestselling book, Monica shows audiences how to step back, evaluate their progress without the emotions attached and use the pivot to move toward something better. It is honest, funny and practical, and it gives people a plan for the next change instead of a pep talk about the last one.
Program Takeaways
- Understand where the fear of change comes from and how to overcome it
- Recognize when it is time to pivot
- Follow five steps to turn a vision into reality
- Build a Mental Health Toolkit to navigate life's pivots
Resilience • Confidence • Growth. Built for teams and audiences being asked to stretch, take on more or step into the unknown.
On the other side of fear is confidence and strength.
Everyone carries fears and insecurities. Monica's argument is that you don't have to get rid of them to move forward. You have to learn to lean into them. This keynote shows audiences how to build their "fear muscle" one small step at a time, so they are ready when the big moments arrive and more resilient to whatever comes next.
Program Takeaways
- Answer the real question: do you ever get over fears, and if not, how do you change your emotions around them?
- Apply the Resilience Recycle Framework
- Use four steps to building confidence
- Learn the number one way to get over the fear of facing fears
- Stretch out of the comfort zone in small steps to prepare for the big ones
Monica tailors each program to your audience and event goals, and she is also available to emcee your full conference, festival or awards program, keeping the energy high from open to close.
What Event Organizers Say
We had a blast working with Monica as our MC for the WITS Travel Creator Summit in Utah! She was exceptionally organized, never missed a note, and had an amazing can-do attitude. But the best part, of course, was her delightful stage presence! She really brought the energy, made all of our attendees feel fantastic, and set the stage (literally) for a wonderful weekend. We'd highly recommend her as a speaker for any event that needs a burst of enthusiasm!
Beth Santos, CEO, WanderfulWe've worked with Monica for over a decade in various capacities. While she has several great qualities, one of our favorite qualities is her consistency. Whether commanding a crowd or one-on-one, we can count on the same cheerful, passionate, down-to-earth Monica we worked with from day 1 and that shouldn't be overlooked in this industry.
Hilary Van Messel, Reach / ToyotaMonica Ortega is the ultimate professional. She understands her audience well and went above and beyond. Her enthusiasm, love of adventure and her fun personality shine through everything that she does. We would highly recommend her.
Tempe TourismWorking with Monica Ortega was an absolute pleasure. Her professionalism is unparalleled and the quality of work provided was outstanding. Monica was so friendly and approachable.
Visit BillingsFrom the planning to the production Monica was a joy to work with. Her enthusiasm is contagious.
Traverse City TourismMonica was fantastic! I could relate to her words and gained a new perspective on my life and career.
Attendee, Women in BankingMonica is such a powerful and engaging speaker!
Attendee, Women in BankingBooks and Resources
Monica's bestselling book The Power of Pivoting: How to Embrace Change and Create a Life You Love gives attendees a practical guide to keep using long after the event.
Where Monica Appears
Monica Ortega is featured on these Amplify Speakers rosters: