Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa-Michelle Jackson.
Hi Teresa-Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my career as a theatre kid having the dream to play for a living. This began with getting a BA in Communication Arts and Theatre from Georgia Southern University and then a MFA in Media and Performing Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design. The dream started with wanting to be an actor, only for me to realize that I like being in charge and overseeing the vision of a play which led to me becoming a director. Upon graduation from grad school, I got the opportunity to immediately begin teaching at the collegiate level and became a professor at 24. This path led to be working in higher education for 16 years as both a professor and dean. I eventually realized I wanted to do more of the things that I taught and left my tenured position to work in film and television for a number of major companies. From there, I began executive coaching which ultimately led to me starting my own boutique firm, Walker J Consulting.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think outsiders would describe my path as adventurous but I feel it has been smooth. One thing I am adamant about, is betting on myself and that is exactly what I have done over the years. Of course, struggles exist but I have always landed on the mindset that my work ethic will speak for itself. The biggest struggle in working in the arts is the constant rat race that you can be on a huge project today only to have nothing in the chamber for tomorrow. This career path requires a constant hustle which can be challenging for a lot of people. I am a creative at the end of the day, so I welcome the chaos.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Walker J Consulting is a boutique leadership and strategy firm based in Savannah, GA and we help leaders and organizations do their best work, from the inside out. I always introduce myself as a storyteller, because I believe in telling really hard stories. And the hardest one? It’s the story of yourself. That belief is at the heart of everything I do.
Most days, I’m an executive coach and strategist. And when a client needs more than advice, I roll up my sleeves and step in as a fractional executive, working right alongside their leadership team to turn big ideas into real progress.
Here’s what that looks like:
– Strategic + Creative Direction:
helping organizations get clear on their vision and turn it into plans, priorities and messages people actually want to rally behind
– Executive Leadership Development:
one-on-one and team coaching for executives and emerging leaders, focused on communication, accountability, emotional intelligence and presence
– Keynote + Workshop Facilitation:
talks and interactive sessions on leadership, storytelling and human-centered growth
What makes Walker J Consulting different? I’ve sat in the same seat as my clients. I started in higher education as a professor and associate dean, then spent years in film and television, before becoming an executive coach. And now I’m finishing my PhD in Psychology. So when I walk into a room, I bring the executive who has carried real responsibility, the educator who knows how people grow, and the storyteller who knows how to make a message land.
If there’s one thing I want your readers to know, it’s this: leadership isn’t a title. It’s a story you tell through your choices every day. Whether you’re a CEO getting ready for a tough conversation, a new manager finding your voice or an organization ready for its next chapter, I’d love to help you tell that story with clarity and courage.
You can reach me at teresa@walkerj.co or find us at walkerj.co.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
This year, I bet on myself by jumping head first. After years of building other people’s visions, in classrooms, on boards, on film sets and in my community, I decided it was time to build my own and that is just what I did. Starting Walker J Consulting was one of the scariest and most meaningful choices I’ve ever made, and it taught me something I now share with every client: you are worth investing in.
I spent so much of my career waiting on permission to grow. Think about it, we wait for promotions, the right titles or someone else to notice what we’re capable of. But what if you chose to demand your growth. What most people don’t realize is so much of your growth is based on how you show up, how you lead, how you communicate and how others see you. They’re choices you can make with intention through coaching.
That’s what my work is about. Whether it’s coaching a leader to find their voice, helping an organization tell its story more clearly or standing on a stage to remind a room full of people what’s possible, I help people invest in the version of themselves they have always dreamed of.
Betting on yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the first step to becoming who you were meant to be. And you don’t have to do it alone!
Pricing:
- Email teresa@walkerj.co for pricing
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @walkerjconsulting
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresamichellewj
Image Credits
Lisa Marie Lovett, Jonathan Chick, and Shot by Somi
