We were lucky to catch up with Jacqueline Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jacqueline, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I am happiest as a business owner; I have worked in corporate America for the past 37 years and now that I have “retired” I decided to lean into my passion which is helping minority businesses and people to grow. This is something that I did “on the side” while I worked but now that I have retired, I have the pleasure of doing this full-time. Is it sometimes challenging? Of course it is, but it is so rewarding!

Jacqueline, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I fell into my profession .. as a young person, I was a secretary to a senior leader who pushed me to reach further. He honed my ability to think strategically by breaking large problems down into bite sized chunks so that we could apply solutions that could be delivered in increments. I then took on roles of greater and greater significance, becoming the first black Senior Vice President in Cybersecurity at a large regional bank in Columbus Ohio. In corporate America, I was known for being firm but fair; in ministry I am known for being firm but always compassionate; in business, I am known for being firm and always pushing people to greater heights. I am a product of foster care, and was always pushed to excel, I therefore want to see everyone in my sphere grow and excel in everything they do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I mentioned that I was raised in a foster home; I was 3 years old when child protective services picked us up and it was because I was left at home alone. I wanted to go to school with my older brothers and sisters and when they took me back home and told me I was too small to go to school, I sat on the porch and cried. A neighbor came out and asked why I was crying and I explained that I wanted to go to school but was too small. Our mother was never around and I later learned that she felt we could take care of ourselves because that is how she was raised. In that foster home, I never knew love but I my needs were taken care of .. food, shelter, water, and teaching of what was right and what was wrong. I had to stand in the face of adversity, being bullied because I was one of the smart kids, being laughed at because I wore hand-me-down clothing … these things seemed to roll off me like I was teflon, but the residue was one of rejection. Through much healing I have come out of the stain of rejection, which is why I am passionate about seeing people accepted and succeed in the thing they put their hands to do

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Networking in various venues and having conversation with small business owners (since they are my client base) I offer techniques or solutions to help their businesses succeed. This opens the door for us to partner with them on specialized projects that will help them to scale.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beyondtmconsulting.com
• Instagram: @beyondthemargins_consulting

Image Credits
Terry Gilliam for the JT1 photo. Others were taken via cell phone (either mine or a co-worker)