Vanessa Jenkins

I attribute much of my success to being a natural connector, problem solver, and someone who genuinely cares about helping people grow. As the oldest sibling and cousin in a large family, I learned early how to lead, support others, navigate different personalities, and create direction through uncertainty. That experience shaped both my leadership style and my belief that success can look many different ways. I’ve always believed in carving your own path rather than simply following what others expect, and that mindset has driven me to become a trailblazer in both my personal and professional journey.

Early in my career, I noticed that senior leaders often opened up about challenges, vulnerabilities, and leadership pressures, which ultimately led me toward coaching, facilitation, and leadership development as my true calling. Pursuing coaching certifications and professional credentials allowed me to combine intuition and relationship-building with evidence-based frameworks, behavioral science, and actionable strategies that create meaningful and sustainable impact.

My experience supporting both military and civilian leaders within government and consulting environments taught me how to empower leaders operating in highly demanding systems—helping them strengthen self-awareness, replicate leadership capability across teams, maintain accountability, and communicate more effectively. I’ve been successful at building trust and driving innovation because I approach challenges with curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to think differently rather than rely on cookie-cutter solutions.

What continues to drive my success is my ability to evolve, challenge conventional thinking, and co-create solutions with clients and teams. I believe meaningful transformation happens when people feel ownership, connection, and the confidence to grow beyond perceived limitations. I also view leadership as being a force multiplier—helping others build capability, confidence, and long-term success rather than positioning myself as the only person with the answers.

At the core of my work is a passion for helping people realize they do not have to follow the “expected” path to create fulfillment, impact, and success. Some of the most meaningful growth happens when people have the courage to challenge assumptions, trust themselves, and create a path that is authentically their own.

The best career advice I’ve received has come through mentors and peers who helped me expand my perspective and recognize possibilities I couldn’t always see for myself. One mentor shared something simple but powerful with me: once you realize you are capable of doing anything, many of the limitations you once believed in start to fall away. That mindset shifted how I approached growth, opportunity, and risk throughout my career.

I’ve also learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people who inspire and stretch you—not for comparison, but for possibility. The most meaningful mentors in my life haven’t told me to “be like them” or follow a prescribed path. Instead, they’ve championed me, helped elevate my visibility, checked in on me as a person—not just professionally—and challenged me to stay connected to myself in the middle of ambition and achievement. One mentor in particular has a gift for pausing tactical conversations simply to ask, “How are you really doing?” That level of presence, care, and authenticity has had a lasting impact on me.

I’ve learned that leveraging peers and mentors should be about compelling ourselves toward growth and possibility, not comparing ourselves against others. The right people help you think bigger, challenge limiting beliefs, and recognize strengths you may overlook in yourself. Having champions who genuinely support your success while encouraging you to carve your own path is one of the most valuable aspects of leadership and personal growth.

Women in leadership, consulting, and transformation roles are often encouraged to adapt to existing systems, but some of the most important growth comes from defining your own path and trusting your own voice. You don’t need to mirror someone else’s career or wait for permission to step into opportunity—your perspective, lived experience, and leadership style are strengths, not things to dilute.

I encourage women to advocate for themselves early and consistently. Ask for what you need—clarity, resources, support, opportunity, or feedback. This is not about offloading responsibility; it’s about owning your path and being intentional about what you are working toward. When you are clear on your goals, asking for what you need becomes a leadership skill that creates alignment, focus, and momentum rather than confusion or burnout.

Remember that leadership is not defined by having all the answers. The most effective leaders build trust, create clarity, elevate others, and foster environments where people can grow. Empathy, collaboration, curiosity, and authenticity are not soft skills—they are core leadership strengths that drive lasting impact in any organization. #bettertogether mentality is about progress not perfection.

#ClearisKind

I am a natural problem solver who operates as both a builder and connector—creating programs, building communities, coaching individuals, and driving transformation across multiple domains. While this enables meaningful and far-reaching impact, it can also lead to overextension and being recognized more for broad contributions than for ownership of a clearly defined strategic focus area.

A recurring challenge has been navigating environments that are not always open to new or differentiated approaches, where innovation may be perceived as “different” rather than valuable. This can create friction when introducing ideas that require greater flexibility, openness, or structured process improvement, even when those changes are intended to strengthen outcomes, efficiency, and development.

The values most important to me are innovation, pushing boundaries, and making opportunities and knowledge accessible to everyone- these are career and life values. I believe that once people realize they are capable of more than they think, growth becomes possible—and I don’t want to be the only person who knows how to do things. I am motivated by being a force multiplier: enabling others to build capability, confidence, and independence so access and opportunity are shared, not concentrated. I am drawn to situations where people feel stuck or unsure of where to start, and I help remove barriers—especially when it comes to clarity, structure, and getting momentum. I value turning complexity into action and making growth feel achievable and practical.

I also deeply value community, inclusion, and empowerment. Serving as the Colorado Event Coordinator for SheJumps is especially meaningful to me because it increases participation of young girls and women in outdoor sports—aligning directly with my belief in access, confidence-building, and shared opportunity.

At the center of everything I do is a belief in empowerment—helping people see what is possible, remove what is in the way, and create pathways that allow others to succeed too.