Molly Bloom’s bio:

A luminary in the world of inspirational keynote speakers, Molly Bloom is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, former member of the U.S. Ski Team, one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, and host of the two-time Gold Signal award-winning podcast, “Torched,” featuring the inspiring stories of world-class competitive athletes. She achieved fame as the subject of Aaron Sorkin’s Oscar-nominated film, Molly’s Game, based on her bestselling memoir. Molly’s Game chronicles Bloom’s journey from college student and former Olympic skiing hopeful to LA waitress to head of the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world. With no-limit stakes that could top $100 million and celebrity players such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, A-Rod, and Tobey Maguire, “Molly’s Game” was a Hollywood-worthy achievement for a 25-year-old small-town Colorado girl.

More About Molly Bloom

Bloom began her career as a world-class skier despite being diagnosed with severe scoliosis at age 12. After undergoing spinal fusion surgery, doctors predicted she would never compete again. Undeterred, she was back skiing within a year. By 19, she had made the U.S. Ski Team, and at 20, she was ranked third in North America for moguls. Bloom was on track for the Olympics when a frozen pine bough caused a ski to release during her qualifying run, leading to a crash and her retirement from the sport she loved.

Bloom completed her political science degree at the University of Colorado and, before applying to law schools, took a year-long sabbatical in LA. She worked as a waitress and personal assistant for a high-stakes poker organizer, learning the business and building key relationships. This led to the launch of "Molly’s Game." Over six years, she grew a multi-million-dollar business before being raided by the FBI, yet she remained committed to her integrity throughout.

With her millions gone and life in ruins, Bloom set her mind to write a book. Publishers were interested, but only if she named names. Keeping her promise to never again compromise her integrity or lower her moral standards, Bloom persevered until she found a publisher that would work with her on her terms. Molly’s Game became a bestselling memoir, one that convinced Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin to turn it into an Academy Award-winning movie.

Today, Molly Bloom is a highly sought-after speaker, podcast host, mother, mentor to other women, and advocate. She has appeared on shows such as Ellen, Vice, NPR, Vulture, and in The Los Angeles Times and Forbes. In 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic, she founded the One World Group with her husband, neuroscientist Devin Effinger. The online group seeks to connect people around the world, especially women facing challenges. In 2022, Bloom launched “Torched,” a podcast exploring Olympic controversies and the heat of competition. As host, she shares stories about the cost of greatness, both on and off the Olympic stage—from the Tour de France to Title IX to the World Cup.