Her Story
About Kendra
Kendra Jones serves as the CEO and founder of KJ Jones Consulting, a firm she launched in March 2023 after identifying unmet needs in workforce systems. Drawing on 16 years of experience since 2010, she began her career through roles monitoring residents in group homes and community facilities, managing teams, and working with at-risk youth in after-school programs, all informed by her lived experience in the justice system. Her work centers on career readiness training and reentry support for young people in juvenile rehabilitation facilities across Washington State through the My Journey Out Beyond program, which helps participants build career plans, develop workplace skills, and prepare for employment while still in custody. Jones holds a bachelor's degree in law, government, and public policy from the Evergreen Tacoma campus. She maintains active involvement with the Black Collective in Tacoma, the Washington State Partnership Council on Juvenile Justice, and the Juvenile Justice Coalition, while partnering with organizations including the Pierce County District Court, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Freedom Education Project of Puget Sound, Leveled Up, the Institute for Black Justice, the Evergreen Empowerment Group, the Foundation of Washington, and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kendra
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Definitely don't wait for somebody to validate that you're ready. There have been plenty of rooms that I've entered where I could have convinced myself that I didn't have enough experience. The right title, or all the answers, pretty much that imposter syndrome. But I've learned that you can be confident and still be learning. Ask questions. Build relationships. Do good work, and just keep your word. And when an opportunity comes that scares you a little bit, don't automatically assume that, you know, that means you're not ready. There's a quote that I live by. You don't have to know everything to know that you belong in the room.
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