Forged by Fire

With the vision of ways to create change, Jackie took the leap of trust to start Inspired Journey Consulting in October 2019. “It was fueled by my own healing journey to take my superpowers and use them for good,” she states. Her professional success was just one part of this development.

Many years ago, after she fell into the profession of hospitality sales, Jackie’s director quit leaving her in a sink-or-swim scenario. Undeterred and focused, she swam to a promotion within three months followed by an award for Director of Sales of the Year. “I’d love to say that things kept rising from there and in some ways they did. What really got me to this space as a solopreneur and leader are the bumps in the road,” she states.

“As a Latina, I’ve faced prejudice. As a woman, sexism and sexual harassment were consistent. I didn’t always stand up for myself. I’m a trauma survivor, which compounded the belief that I deserved that treatment and that somehow it was my fault. My healing journey brought me to a space where I could build my own table, share an authentic narrative, and encourage others to be empowered by their voices.”

Additionally, being a person of color in America, Jackie did not come from generational wealth. The success of her organization and her services are a result of the sheer resilience and clear vision that Jackie demonstrates toward mental wellness. “Once I saw that gaslighting was happening in business, it changed my perspective on how I wanted to show up in this world. My confidence came from my own healing, recognizing how valuable my voice is, the desire to create change, and wanting to support others.”

Having shattered several glass ceilings along the way, today Jackie leads IJC to share proper knowledge with people, starting or continuing their healing journey, while being supported by rejuvenating experts.

The Power of Vulnerability

Recalling some of the hardest moments of her life Jackie says, “I’ve also grown to adore my vulnerability and see it as a significant strength.” While initially her hotel job gave Jackie a quick promotion and moved her to Boston to take over a boutique hotel. She soon re-relocated to a smaller property across the country. “It was embarrassing and heart-breaking,” shares she.

Meanwhile, Jackie had just moved, left her first love, flew her dog from Denver, found a roommate, and rented an apartment all over again. “I took the severance, my box of belongings, and my shattered confidence. I was determined to stay in the city I had already fallen in love with. Now the challenge was to find a great position in an industry that’s all about relationships… in a city where I barely had any yet.” Before the year ended, Jackie was recruited by the coolest hotels in Boston, some of which her previous employer looked to as the standard of excellence. “Karma was killing it that year.”

Having fought and won various battles over her career, at IJC Jackie believes in empowering people with the tools needed to thrive on their own, prioritizing their mental wellness, and celebrating often. “Each person has their own style which I like to embrace and use their Human Design to lean into those unique traits. My style has always been innate though fine-tuned by experiencing too many mediocre and downright horrible bosses over the years. The few extraordinary leaders I had modeled care, interest, and commitment to my success. I’m grateful to them still.”