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

Jacqueline , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

As an entrepreneur and creative through and through, taking calculated risks is part of my DNA. When you operate this way for years, it’s easy to forget that not everyone moves through the world with the same instinct to leap, build, and iterate.

As the 2024 election drew closer and the air grew thick with political and economic uncertainty, I felt called to show up with greater boldness and intention, in my work and in my life. I made a quiet promise to myself: say yes to the risks that make me uncomfortable, the ones that stretch my skills, expand my reach, and deepen my impact.

One of the clearest manifestations of that commitment was stepping out from behind the scenes as a PR strategist and founder to become the host of Radical Acts Uncut, a podcast produced by Glow Stream TV. The show dives into the moments when entrepreneurs, experts, and creatives meet life’s unexpected tests—and find the faith and inner strength to rise above.
Once we committed to launching the show, things unfolded in ways I could have never orchestrated alone. I secured guests before we even had a title, which eventually arrived—quite literally—in a dream. And the stories that emerged on the mic echoed many of the themes my social-impact clients at Mpact PR navigate daily. That alignment reinforced something I’ve long believed: taking action, even imperfect action, always moves the needle. Small risks can spark big momentum.

Even though the election didn’t turn out as I’d hoped, I found myself looking at that moment with fresh eyes and a renewed ethos—one that the podcast now lives by: Radical Acts Uncut uncovers the moves and mindset shifts that transform challenges into opportunities. These conversations are about resolve, bravery, and finding beauty in the mess. And in a bit of poetic justice, the season finale featured comediennes Jasmine Burton and Elizabeth Booker Houston’s “Together We Might” D.C. stop, which took place on Election Night Eve.

Embrace discomfort. The growth is always waiting on the other side.

It’s a posture that serves all of us—in our work, our relationships, and our wild, unpredictable lives. And although Season 1 has wrapped, this bold energy continues to fuel how I lead at Mpact PR and how I move through the world personally and professionally.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Jacqueline Lara—a proud boy mom x2, Ugandan-American storyteller, and the Founder and CEO of Mpact PR, as well as the host of Radical Acts Uncut. For more than 15 years, I’ve worked in progressive communications, helping mission-driven leaders, creatives, and organizations clarify their message, grow their visibility, and share stories that create real-world impact.

Mid-career, I expanded into contributing journalism, covering art, identity, and social justice for outlets like Adobe Create, 99U, i-D Magazine, OkayAfrica, Big Cartel, and mater mea. That work reinforced what I already felt intuitively: storytelling isn’t just content—it’s connection, power, and possibility.

That belief is at the heart of Mpact PR. We’re a Black woman–led communications firm that uses PR to amplify Black and underrepresented voices in media, wellness, and the arts. What sets us apart is how we work: we build nimble, purpose-driven teams by bringing in consultants who operate in their lane of genius. This collaborative model ensures clients receive top-tier strategy and execution tailored to their needs—whether they’re navigating national media, refining their narrative, or preparing for a major moment.

Present and past clients include the American Marketing Association, Blindian Project, Spiritual Essence Yoga, Abigail E. Disney, Dr. Nicole Cutts, Living Cities, CapEQ and AIGA, among others. Our approach has helped secure features in The New York Times, Forbes, PBS NewsHour, NPR, ABC Nightline, CBS Sunday Morning, ESSENCE, and more. I’ve also shared insights on storytelling and creativity at places like Adobe MAX, the World Bank, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.

What I’m most proud of—across Mpact PR and Radical Acts Uncut—is the through-line of purpose. Whether I’m advising an executive, training a team, or hosting a conversation about resilience, my work is rooted in empathy, cultural fluency, and a sociological lens.

At its core, Mpact PR leads with joy, collaboration, and intention. We believe storytelling is a radical act—and when done well, it expands visibility, shifts culture, and makes room for more voices to rise.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After the election, several of my clients were hit with federal funding cuts, and business slowed almost overnight. It pushed me into a necessary pivot, and one of the first places I had to look was my own foundation: my website.

I’d avoided updating it for as long as possible—I’m not the business owner who enjoys tinkering with web design—but the landscape shifted dramatically, and my digital presence needed to reflect where Mpact PR actually was. The site still showed our earliest chapter, when I operated as a solopreneur, even though the firm had grown into a collaborative consultancy supported by a diverse team of strategists and creatives.

Refreshing the site became a chance to realign our presence with our reality: a nimble, multidisciplinary firm delivering purpose-driven work. A friend and colleague connected me with a web designer known for clean, easy-to-maintain builds, and partnering with him made the process far smoother than I expected.

Opportunities always exist, even in challenging seasons. And this season reminds me that pivots—especially the uncomfortable ones—create clarity.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
Michaela Coel’s “Misfit”
Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling by Matthew Dicks
Farnam Street’s Brain Food Newsletter and podcast
Following neuroscientists work including Joe Dispenza, Phillippe Douyon, MD, and Emily McDonald, among others

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mpactpr.com/
• Instagram: @radicalActsuncut
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlara/
• Other: Mpact PR’s LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mpact-pr-llc
  Subscribe to Mpact Musings (monthly newsletter): https://mpactpr.substack.com/

  Radical Acts Uncut podcast link on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-acts-uncut/id1773099445

Image Credits

Hero Image Photo Credit: Lawrence Green of Time Traveling Media