Jade Blanco
Jade Blanco is a dynamic recruiter, sales consultant, public speaker, and life coach based in Houston, Texas, whose work centers on developing people into high-performing leaders. The daughter of Filipino immigrants, Jade was raised with a deep appreciation for opportunity, discipline, and service. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, initially following a traditional path toward a stable corporate career. However, her trajectory shifted in 2020 when she discovered the Southwestern Advantage internship—an experience that redefined her understanding of leadership and success.
Through Southwestern Advantage, Jade found her passion for what she calls “human engineering”—the process of building people through mentorship, sales training, and leadership development. Over the past seven years, she has grown from an 18-year-old intern into an Organization Leader, leading teams of college students across multiple states and helping them unlock their potential. She has recruited, trained, and coached hundreds of students, many of whom entered the program with no prior sales experience and went on to become top performers. Her leadership is rooted in leading by example, fostering accountability, and building a culture of belief, resilience, and growth.
Today, Jade continues to make a significant impact as a full-time recruiter and mentor, balancing the demands of running a high-performing sales organization with her mission to serve others. Known for her energy, authenticity, and ability to connect, she emphasizes that true leadership goes beyond results—it’s about the lives changed along the way. Guided by a mission to help others develop the skills and character needed to achieve their goals, Jade ultimately measures her success by the number of people she has empowered to grow, lead, and succeed in their own journeys.
• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
• The University of Texas at Austin - BS
• Bronze Lifetime Recruiting Achievement
• Top Team Leader
• Silver Lifetime Sales Achievement
• Top Organization Leader
• Growth Award
• Top Experienced Salesperson
• Gold Seal Gold Award
• I Wanna Win Award
• Top First Year Salesperson
• Certificate of Merit
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a relentless and consistent work ethic, along with strong persistence in the face of early challenges. Recruiting and developing people skills did not come naturally to me, and I experienced several years of failure before I was able to successfully guide even one individual through the full program. However, my commitment never wavered because I was deeply driven by the mission of Southwestern Company, which focuses on helping young people build the skills and character needed to achieve their goals. Having personally benefited from this experience, I remained determined to help others succeed, and that sense of purpose ultimately fueled my growth and success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was from my female mentor, Virgie Sandford. She advised me to always evaluate my options in terms of where will I learn, earn, and grow the most. She also advised me to live a life based on principles. She encouraged me to think about which path will get me closest to the woman of integrity, work ethic, and impact that I want to be known rather than focusing on the short-term things I want to do or have.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering this industry to recognize that their emotional intelligence and compassion are powerful strengths. Because recruiting is deeply people-focused and personal, it can be discouraging when individuals do not align with the vision or choose not to follow through. However, being in tune with your emotions allows you to build genuine connections and trust, which ultimately sets you apart and contributes to long-term success.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is overcoming students’ risk aversion, particularly when it comes to sales roles or committing to a summer program that involves stepping outside their comfort zones. As a full-time recruiter, building trust is essential, especially when starting as a stranger. To address this, I focus on shifting from a transactional approach to a relational one—prioritizing genuine connections and adding value to students’ experiences. I engage with campus organizations through speaking opportunities on topics like goal setting, problem-solving, and public speaking, which not only builds credibility but also creates meaningful pathways for students to learn about the program through trusted peer recommendations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are persistence, a relentless work ethic, and being mission-driven with compassion. I believe in staying committed even when faced with challenges, consistently putting in the effort required to grow and succeed, and leading with a genuine heart for the people I serve.