Jane Hight McMurry

Jane Hight is a global empowerment strategist, educator, and motivational speaker whose work bridges academic rigor with real-world transformation. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies and English, with international study at Oxford University. Her passion for language and cross-cultural connection led to the creation of North Carolina’s first English as a Second Language program for Research Triangle Park—commissioned by a visionary college president.

Jane’s career spans over a decade of university teaching, corporate consulting, and international outreach. She has presented programs on four continents, equipping audiences with evidence-based tools for success. Her Socially Smart® tips were broadcast across the People’s Republic of China in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, and her insights have been featured in print and broadcast media worldwide.

Her work draws from deep research, cross-cultural interviews, and lived experience—including her climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, where she demonstrated the power of grit, planning, and follow-through in high-stakes environments. Whether coaching executives, mentoring young professionals, or speaking to global audiences, Jane brings clarity, charisma, and practical wisdom to every engagement.

She is the author of several books, including: - The Winning Difference - Navigating the Lipstick Jungle: Go from Plain Jane to Getting What You Want, Need, and Deserve - The Etiquette Advantage® - The Dance Steps of Life and

Co-author of Success is a Team Effort and Etiquette for the Christ School Gentleman

Jane’s programs are customized, research-backed, and designed to meet the specific needs of each audience. She speaks at conventions, universities, corporate events, and enjoys one-on-one coaching. She also welcomes opportunities to support causes that uplift women and children in the U.S. and abroad.

Her message is clear: success isn’t reserved for the lucky—it’s earned by those who know what to do, how to do it, and have the courage to begin.

⭐ Editorial Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEWS

Hight presents a new kind of plan for achieving fulfillment in work and life in this nonfiction guide.

What makes the winning difference? Asking this question throughout her latest book, the author looks at famous examples

of winners and attempts to break down the elements of success, with surprising results. “I discovered that winning is a

learnable skill,” Hight reports. “You can learn to win at anything.” She examines the stories of athletes, CEOs, actors,

musicians, and many others to provide her readers with a “step-by-step playbook for peak performance.” Unlike many

other motivational books, Hight’s includes examples from the life stories of a truly eclectic variety of figures—everybody

from Yogi Berra to the Beatles to nationally syndicated radio personality Bobby Bones, who “studied, tuned out people who

degraded him, didn’t drink or use drugs, and determined to be a success with his heart set on being a radio broadcaster.”

In each case, seeking to support her central contention that success is learnable, the author highlights the ways her

subjects dealt with frustration and overcame defeat. She mentions how many times Margaret Mitchell and J.K. Rowling

had their manuscripts rejected, and she quotes Richard Branson confessing that “I have failed so many times that I

couldn’t list them all. But it is because of those failures that I have enjoyed success.” Hight is an energetic and optimistic

champion of the potential of her readers, and in some cases her advice is pointed, as when she warns readers not to

“aimlessly walk around” at business conferences and gives tips on the kinds of questions to ask. Too often, her precepts

are cliched and self-evident, informing readers that “good things don’t come to those who wait. You have to go get what

you want” and that “people by nature love power.” But, on balance, the upbeat spirit of this motivational guide is engaging.

An appealing, anecdote-supported plan for learning the habits of success.

“A motivational masterpiece. Hight’s voice is clear, confident, and deeply resonant. This book doesn’t just teach—it transforms.” —Diane T., NetGalley Reviewer ★★★★★

“Jane Hight delivers an evidenced study of excellence, drawing on 70+ stories from athletes, CEOs, and celebrities. Her insights into failure, growth, and self-talk are both practical and inspiring. A must-read alongside The Millionaire Mind and Tools of Titans.” —Ricardo Santiago Soto, MBA, The Journal for Innovation Corporation ★★★★★

“An engrossing, comprehensive guide to personal and professional success. Hight’s well-researched insights and practical advice are game changers. I’ve already applied her networking strategies with great success. This is a book I’ll read again—and share widely.” —Debbie S., Media/Journalist ★★★★★

“Everyone should own a copy of this book. Through stories and quotes from icons like Muhammad Ali, Jane Hight offers eight actionable steps to help readers become winners. Specific, insightful, and deeply motivating.”—Virginia Callaway, NetGalley Reviewer ★★★★★

“Insightful and practical. Jane Hight understands her audience and delivers a book that educates, inspires, and empowers. Every page is a call to action.” —Mike M., NetGalley Reviewer ★★★★★

“The Winning Difference is a powerful guide to getting what you want, need, and deserve. Jane Hight’s storytelling is bold, brilliant, and beautifully human.” —Reviewer 1344433, NetGalley ★★★★★

“A groundbreaking, plural-perspective book by internationally renowned motivational speaker Jane Hight. Through vibrant interviews with global icons like Princess Diana, Lady Gaga, Brandi Chastain, and Oprah Winfrey, Hight celebrates the power of women and the triumph of winning.” —Lejla M., NetGalley Reviewer ★★★★★

“Motivates, inspires, and skips the fluff. This book helped me realize the importance of connection—and how to do it. Solid 4.5!” —Reviewer 1191677, NetGalley ★★★★☆

“A self-help playbook for peak performance in business, sports, and entertainment. Draws on icons like Michael Phelps, Oprah, and Warren Buffett. Inspirational and practical, with themes of transformation, negotiation, creativity, and legacy.” —Reviewer 294918, NetGalley ★★★★☆