Founder/Athlete/Student/World Traveler/Public Speaker
Jakobi Davis is a 22-year-old senior at Cornell University, where he is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Renewable Energy Systems. Born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Jakobi is the son of Curtis and Michele Davis, whose unwavering support and adventurous spirit have profoundly shaped his life. From a young age, Jakobi embraced a diverse range of interests, excelling in sports and the arts. He played nearly every sport imaginable and was a dedicated member of the Sarasota Ballet’s Conservatory from third through eighth grade.
Jakobi’s worldview was significantly expanded when his parents took teaching positions at Oberoi International School in Mumbai, India, during his fifth-grade year. Living in India and attending an international school exposed him to a rich tapestry of cultures and ignited his passion for engineering. That year, his family traveled to 20 countries, sparking a lifelong love for exploration. To date, Jakobi has visited 60 countries across six continents, with Antarctica remaining on his bucket list.
A natural leader and athlete, Jakobi is the captain and starting center fielder for Cornell’s baseball team. His talent on the field earned him an early offer to Cornell as an engineering major during his sophomore year of high school. But Jakobi’s ambitions extend far beyond the diamond. An entrepreneurial spirit has driven him since his teenage years. At 15, he founded Novum, a bicycle-powered phone charger business, for which he developed comprehensive business plans, secured seed funding, and was nominated for Local Entrepreneur of the Year. In high school, he also launched a successful dog-sitting business.
Now, as a college senior, Jakobi has combined his passions for leadership, public speaking, and mentorship into his latest venture, Champion’s Voice. Founded in 2023, Champion’s Voice is a public speaking business dedicated to empowering individuals to harness the power of their inner voice in pursuit of their goals. Through keynote speeches and workshops, Jakobi has inspired youth across the globe, including Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. His talks draw from his own experiences, emphasizing the importance of community, resilience, and self-belief. Jakobi firmly believes that “it takes a village” to succeed, and through Champion’s Voice, he aims to be a guiding force in the village of today’s youth.
Looking ahead, Jakobi is set to graduate in May 2024 and will declare for the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or on stage, Jakobi Davis is a testament to the power of curiosity, hard work, and the courage to chase one’s dreams.