Kristy Jackson, ED. S.
Kristy Jackson, Ed.S., is a dynamic executive leader, entrepreneur, and educator known for her impact at the intersection of innovation, faith, and professional development. She serves as the founding Executive Director of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harris-Stowe State University’s Anheuser-Busch School of Business, where she leads strategic initiatives that foster entrepreneurship and create opportunities for Black and Brown scholars and community members. Under her leadership, the CIE has launched transformative programs, including early-stage accelerators and facilitator training initiatives, positioning the center as a catalyst for economic empowerment and innovation in the St. Louis region.
With more than 20 years of experience, Kristy is a sought-after consultant, coach, speaker, and best-selling author who specializes in developing purpose-driven leaders and organizations. Known as the “G.P.S. Coach,” she helps entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their goals, align with their purpose, and implement actionable solutions. Her expertise spans professional development, leadership training, curriculum design, and business consulting across startup, corporate, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. Through her relatable and engaging style, she has empowered countless individuals to move from vision to execution.
Kristy is also the founder of the SheCan Connect Global Network, a faith-driven community that equips women with the tools, connections, and inspiration to grow in both business and life. Her work extends globally through curated travel experiences that connect leaders to international markets and cultures. Recognized as a St. Louis Titan 100 CEO, a St. Louis Business 500 leader, and one of the SBA’s National Emerging Leaders, Kristy continues to influence audiences through media appearances, speaking engagements, and her published works. Guided by her faith and a passion for service, she remains committed to helping others dream bigger, lead boldly, and create lasting impact.
• Travel Advisor
• Social and Behavioral Research
• GEENIUS Leadership Lab: Empowering Women to Lead with Technology
• Center Leader Academy
• Frame Up For Funding Non Profit Leader Intensive
• Facilitator Training
• Agilities Coach Facilitator
• Sigma Nu Tau Entrepreneurship Honor Society
• Ice House Entrepreneurship Facilitator
• 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business
• SBA Workshop In Business Opportunities
• 2020 Class Greater Mo Leadership Challenge
• SBA Emerging Leader
• Leadership Essentials Series
• Marketing & Creativity Masterclass with Seth Godin
• Webster University - ED.S.
• People On The Move
• St. Louis Business 500: Q&A with Kristy Jackson, Harris-Stowe State University, SheCan Connect
• Kristy Jackson 2026 St. Louis Titan 100 Recipient
• How the Harris-Stowe Center for Innovation supports new entrepreneurs
• The Fire Awards
• Titan 100 Ambassador
• 2025 Most Enhanced Awards
• 100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed in Business
• Black History Reflections & Resilience Leader
• Delux Magazine 314 Day Cover
• Top 100 St. Louisans To Know To Succeed In Business
• Exploring Life & Business with Kristy Jackson, Ed. S. of SheCan Connect Global Network
• Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know
• Golden Hornet Award
• Connections to Success Tribute to Success Honoree
• 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business
• Founder’s Award
• Greater Mo Leadership Challenge Class of 2020
• 2019 Class of SBA Emerging Leaders
• SBM Most Admired CEO's List
• Delux Magazine's 50 Most Intriguing Women
• Phenomenal Woman Award
• TEDxStLouis
• SCORE Mentors
• Girls in the Know
• Grace Hill Women's Business Center
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God being faithful to me and letting Him lead my life. I start every day with prayer - that's for sure. I've been blessed to follow my faith and have the autonomy to think creatively. That creativity and faith is my passion that drives really all of my entrepreneurial success, along with my love for connecting with people and learning from them and growing together. I'm trusting the path of scaling and trusting the path of my network growing at a rate that I can handle it. Things are happening organically, and I'm not looking for new business - I'm just trying to stay in my lane and manage what God has given me to manage, but He keeps sending amazing opportunities.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to work in your passion and ask for what you want. I have followed that advice completely. The work that I'm doing is right in my sweet spot of following my faith, being able to have autonomy to think creatively. That creativity and faith is my passion that drives really all of my entrepreneurial success, and my love for connecting with people and learning from them and growing together. I've never applied for a job - it's always been through relationships, someone seeing something creative or unique that I've been able to do, and I've been able to negotiate what that looks like for work for me. For example, I'm the inaugural executive director of the only HBCU here in St. Louis, and we built the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship through Harris-Stowe State University. That was building upon ideas that I had about space and programs to serve our scholars and communities, and that's just a blessing that I've been able to serve in that role.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to pursue work that aligns with your passion, confidently advocate for yourself, and always keep your faith at the center of everything you do.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the biggest challenges, especially around professional development, is deciphering the quality of the content. Everybody's got - everybody's a consultant, everybody's a speaker, everybody's a - so just really doing your research to make sure that you're presented with quality presenters, quality facilitators, and quality content. I think that's one of the challenges because the market is a little oversaturated with folks that are just kind of doing it. But I can flip that to also an opportunity. If you have a unique skill set or you're working in a unique space, especially now around AI - and where I lean into AI is more the human-centered approach - those are opportunities that you can start today. If you have a unique story or a unique way of learning about a particular topic, a framework, things like that, that's something that you can offer to the market right away. So that's a huge opportunity, but it must be done with excellence and integrity.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Putting God first in everything I do is the most important value to me. I always start my day with prayer - that's for sure. I prepare breakfast for my husband that I've been married to for 28 years, and we're both entrepreneurs. My typical day involves starting with prayer, and then having various partner meetings, working on either resources for entrepreneurs and leaders, or projects that we can collaborate on. Whatever it is, the ultimate goal is to help businesses and leaders to either improve their careers or move their businesses and scale their businesses more successfully. Excellence and integrity are also critical values for me - the work I do must be done with excellence and integrity. I'm also driven by my passion for faith, creativity, connecting with people, learning from them, and growing together. The pillars of She Can Connect reflect my values: faith, business, and generosity.
Locations
SheCan Connect Global Network
3021 Texas Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118