Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Kennedy, EdD.
Jacqueline, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Service has always been at the foundation of who I am and what I do. I started my career as an educator, and have served in multiple roles in counseling, non-profit, learning and organizational development, consulting and higher education. The common thread being helping people, teams and organizations use learning as a vehicle to achieve overall effectiveness, continuous improvement and professional growth. I am what some would call an “accidental” entrepreneur. While I have worked since I was 16 years old, starting a business is not something I always felt destined to do. My first exposure was an unexpected side hustle that started early in my career when I was tapped by several organizations after speaking at a state conference to serve as an independent consultant. I loved it and continued until I returned back to school several years later.
Having that experience, I soon discovered, made it easier when the opportunity rolled around again. Only this time, the catalyst was a family emergency. Although I loved the kind of work I was engaged in every day and had no plans to give it up, it all changed when my teenage daughter’s health started to deteriorate. I decided to step away from my career and an executive role to place a greater focus on the health and well-being of my daughter. It led me to design and launch a one-year sabbatical-style career break. It was that scary and unsettling break from full-time employment and a steady paycheck that my entrepreneurial ambitions were rejuvenated.
Leading into my career break, I received lots of inquiries from other women leaders asking for my help to figure out their own career path while keeping family a priority. They were aspiring, emerging and experienced women leaders – all wrestling with similar decision points and desires for coherence and greater fulfillment in their work life. So, that’s where I initially started.
I took 25 years of life and work experience and combined it with my coaching training, strengths, love of strategy and learning and set out to support other women to understand their relationship with work better. With a focus on how to develop a sense of agency and confidence to redefine how they measure success and grow their impact and wellbeing. And as I continue to study and learn from and with clients, I’ve applied new approaches along the way.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While it has been so rewarding, it has certainly not been smooth all the time. Initially, the learning curve was quite steep! After establishing the business, attracting new clients and managing startup costs were tough to balance in the beginning. Along the way, there has also been technology to learn, including web design, marketing software, accounting programs, and client management systems.
Throughout my learning and growth, one thing that helps me is to ask clients for feedback. It helps me understand their needs better and informs me about what is working and where to focus my attention for revisions. As much as possible, to mitigate some of my own discomforts, I try to stay nimble and resourceful, seek alternative ways to do things, embed time to play and reset, and build my business network.
Please tell us about your work.
Strategy & Grace is a leadership development and coaching consultancy offering a range of individual coaching services and organizational programs. My mission is to support women leaders manage the stresses and uncertainty of change and master the period of transformation and evolution that follows. Along the way women discover their personal power to reimagine their work, life and impact.
As a leadership coach and strategic partner, I primarily focus on leadership development, career change, and work life design. Additionally, my experience working with clients has taught me that how we view life and ourselves has a significant influence on their views about what work is and what it means to work. So, in many cases, I get to explore both aspects with clients.
My greatest joy is supporting early leaders and mid-career women to navigate decisions, untangle career moves, and integrate work and life. What I am most proud of is the opportunity to serve a diverse population ranging between ages 35-55, from a wide range of professions and backgrounds. It’s a constant reminder that women’s lives everywhere are ever-evolving — and at any point, along the journey, they have full permission to modify and adjust their destination. No explanation owed. Guilt-free.
What sets me apart is how I work. I bring an enthusiastic, responsive and practical approach to each partnership. Based on established goals, I use powerful principles from four different approaches to change; neuroscience, coaching, personal leadership and strength-based development. Together, we establish a focus and monitor progress along the way.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I love this question! It has to be taking cross-country road trips with my parents and siblings. My dad always made sure we learned a lot along the way too – about what it means to be a family, our culture and that of others, enjoying the outdoors, how to have a lot of fun with just a little bit of money and how important it is to get out and travel to new places. We still talk about those trips whenever our family is together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.strategyandgrace.com
- Phone: 214-989-6572
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Professional photos by Asbury Lane Photography
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Sponsor Shoutout:
Got goals?
Kierra Anderson produces stunning, custom, made-to-order goal-setting planners and tumblers to ensure you achieve all of your 2020 goals and resolutions. Check her out at http://www.
