Dr. Jessica Schloemp

I attribute my success to my focus on satisfaction over success, which is something that really stuck with me. Satisfaction is more internally driven - being financially, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically good with who I am. I don't really care what other people think I am successful in or what their opinion is of me. It's more about being satisfied with myself and continuing to grow within myself. I really took that approach when getting my doctorate - I wanted to do it for me, not for professional requirements. I had tons of naysayers, even people at my company asking how it would help me in my current role, but leadership is everywhere. My perspective has shifted over time. When I was really young, I was extremely externally motivated - many people told me I couldn't do a lot of things, and it really fueled my fire. But in my late 20s, I shifted to living for myself, being the best version of myself, and putting energy into what I wanted to do and learn and grow from. Then it shifted again when I had my first little girl, and I started thinking about what they're going to think of me and how I can show them and influence them. It's leadership, right? How can I influence them and show them all the things? One thing I live by is satisfaction over success, and I constantly try to sharpen my sword so I can show up better for my team.

You can keep learning and growing as she loves educating herself and with her skillset she has found her calling in Leadership and empowering others for success as she starting with a basketball scholarship at Youngstown State University, followed by a master's degree at Franklin University, and finally completing a doctorate in strategic leadership with a concentration in coaching and consulting at Regent University, which she pursued for personal growth rather than professional requirements.

My advice to young women entering the financial services and operations industry is that you can absolutely build a successful, meaningful career while also empowering yourself and those around you. Be willing to learn every part of the business, even the roles that feel small at first, because they often become the foundation for your leadership strength later. Don’t be afraid to say yes to opportunities that stretch you, even when they feel uncomfortable or unexpected, and trust that growth often comes from those moments. Advocate for yourself, but also advocate for others, because strong leadership is not just about individual achievement it’s about creating space for people to contribute, grow, and succeed alongside you.

Right now, one of the biggest challenges in my field is balancing the growing demands for operational efficiency, rapid scaling, and performance with the need to build and sustain healthy, people-centered cultures where employees feel valued and supported. At the same time, there is a significant opportunity to redefine leadership by moving away from reactive management styles and toward more intentional, transparent, and empowering approaches that improve both results and employee engagement. On a personal level, I am navigating this work as a mother of two young girls and a wife while continuing to grow in my executive career and preparing to launch my own consulting and coaching business, which has deepened my perspective on the importance of alignment, boundaries, and purpose-driven leadership. This season has reinforced my passion for helping organizations and leaders create environments where high performance and real life can coexist, and where people do not have to sacrifice one for the other.

The most important values to me are continuous learning and growth, empowerment, and being intentional. I really try to focus on learning and growing and continuing to sharpen my sword so I can show up better for my team. Whether it's listening to podcasts, reading articles, or even looking into getting my black belt, I'm constantly trying to figure out how I can better show up for my team. I constantly tell them that if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here, so why wouldn't that be my priority? They're definitely my priority in making sure that their ideas are heard and advocating for them. I'm always giving them kudos and credit and making sure their ideas are heard, whether it's talking to my direct boss or taking it up to one of the three CEOs. After I got my doctorate, my mindset changed in regards to what really fulfilled me and how I wanted to be intentional moving forward. I live by satisfaction over success - being satisfied with who I am internally, not what others think. My perspective has shifted over time, and now with two little girls, I think about how I can show them and influence them through leadership. It's about being the best version of myself and showing them everything that life has in store for them.