Influential Woman · Catering
Patricia Jackson
SHRM-CP
Owner, Board Affairs Charcuterie
Houston, TX
Her Story
About Patricia
Patricia Jackson is the owner of Board Affairs Charcuterie, a catering business specializing in custom charcuterie boards and experiential offerings that she runs with her husband as a passion project. She entered the catering industry after her full-time role in healthcare administration leadership at a nonprofit organization was eliminated last year, prompting her to turn a long-standing hobby of creating and gifting charcuterie boards into a licensed and certified business. Jackson continues to offer leadership development and coaching services through her rebranded consulting practice, applying skills honed over eight years in the nonprofit healthcare sector. A member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, she emphasizes authenticity, exceeding client expectations, and delivering personalized experiences rather than mass-produced items. She also grows her own vegetables and flowers to support her work and advises others to bet on themselves and take leaps of faith when pursuing new paths.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Patricia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, faith, and a willingness to reinvent myself when life doesn’t go according to plan. I’ve learned that sometimes an unexpected ending can create space for a new beginning. I also believe strongly in relationships, continuous learning, and not being afraid to start again—even when the path looks very different from the one I originally planned.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Always be true to yourself and authentic, and always give people more than they expected.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just jump. Sometimes in life, you have two choices: you can jump, or you can wait until life pushes you. Have enough faith in yourself to take the leap. Trust that you’ll figure it out along the way. It may not be easy, and it may not go exactly as planned, but don’t let fear keep you from taking a chance on yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the charcuterie and catering industry is standing out in a crowded market. People have so many options, so you have to offer more than great food. For me, that’s also the opportunity. Customers are looking for experiences, not just products. Whether it’s a grazing table, a build-a-board class, or our mobile charcuterie cart, I’m always thinking about how Board Affairs can create something memorable. I see a lot of opportunity in corporate events, real estate, weddings, and other celebrations where people want food to be part of the experience.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, humility, faith
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