Jess MacDonald

I attribute my success to my ability to bring people together and help them realize their own passions, talents, and skills. Whether it's in my current role bringing organizations along on their journey so they can make meaningful change, or in my previous work as a teacher and HR leader, I've always been driven by helping others shine. I'm able to strategize in situations that can feel overwhelming, and I use my teacher mentality by taking what I know and applying that to equip organizations or people with the tools they need to really excel. What brings me the most joy is giving people the space to do what's best for themselves organically, not necessarily guiding them through every step, but providing them with options and knowledge so they can base decisions off their own instincts. That's what truly fulfills me, whether it's with an organization or helping others through volunteer work or other opportunities.

The best career advice I can share is to think about what brings you joy and what skills come naturally to you. I've learned that the skills that made me a great teacher are the same ones I used in HR, and the same ones I use in my current role. We're so often locked into thinking that if you're a teacher, that's all you can be, but we don't think about the actual skills and talents we have and how they can cross over and be applied to all these different roles. Looking back, I realize that the skills I gained as a teacher and as a stay-at-home mom would have made me a great project manager, but I didn't know how to articulate that at the time. So my advice is to think about what you're good at and how to advocate for yourself and speak to your own skills and talents in a way that employers understand. Find ways to apply those skills by thinking outside of the box. You're never locked in, you're never stuck, and you're able to pivot.

When asked about the people who have made the greatest impact in Jess's life, she highlighted that the leader in her previous positions care and empathy while setting boundaries was one of a kind. His leadership style was exactly what type of leader Jess aims to be, He was patient, as a human he was approachable, and he also had the willingness to really jump in and assist in any way needed. He would ask Jess if he could jump in while she would be out of town, and volunteer himself to take over her role. She remembers making colossal mistake at one point in her career and being really nervous while taking accountability, and he said to her, "we will figure this out, I've got your back-thank you for letting me know, now what did we learn from this?" and really walked her through the process of how to move differently Looking forward. He never shamed her, and he turned the entire situation into a learning experience. He led with empathy, and that was really the key. Jess is extremely grateful for his approach and support, and would love to recognize him for his incredible efforts and the amazing leader he was and continues to be and how that inspired her in her career as a leader.

Jess will be jumping in to add more detail regarding her career journey has inspired her throughout the years she will also add additional detail regarding those who have inspired her and impacted her life, her interests and hobbies outside of work including her family and what brings her joy, How she would like to connect with other amazing women within our network and how she would like to inspire our readers, Any additional accomplishments or accolades you would like us to highlight and any causes or foundation she would like us to shine a light of awareness on.

The value most important to me is empathy. I know that in leadership, especially, empathy is sometimes viewed as a flaw, but I believe there's a way to lead with empathy that helps you be a better leader and a better human being. Early in my career as a manager, I tried to model my management style off my leader at the time, who had very low empathy and was very business-minded and strategic. I was struggling with that approach until my leadership coach told me I have extremely high empathy and asked why I wasn't leading with that. She helped me understand that even in uncomfortable situations, like when you have to fire someone, you can be authentic in your compassion. You can tell them that you're heartbroken about having to let them go, and that authenticity really matters. I think empathy, understanding, patience, and giving others grace and the benefit of the doubt are more important to me than anything else. You can have tough conversations and still be really empathetic and honest about how hard it is.