Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Janell Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Janell, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

There is a story behind what motivates my mission to help others. While many people hide from their past narratives, over time I have learned that you can transform your experiences – even difficult ones – into something that benefits the wider world. The key lies in healing ourselves first. By working through our own stories with care and courage, we can shift from feeling like passive victims to embodying active agents of change. Our histories shape but need not define us. By reframing our relationships to the past, we become able to pay forward the learning into positive action today. My wish is to empower others likewise: to move beyond the wounds toward wisdom, from hurt toward healing. If I can support anyone to see their story anew in this light – as a source of strength rather than shame – then I feel my efforts have purpose. For in that space of self-compassion and hope, we are able to envision how our deepest gifts might seed new growth for society.

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?

My entrepreneurial journey began with my publishing company, Melanin Grace Publishing. I’ve always felt passionately about writing and telling impactful stories. This drove me to pen my first book, a children’s book called Beauty in Mahogany. Having lacked affirmations and struggled with low self-esteem myself as a young girl, I wanted to create a resource to empower the next generation of girls of color to see their inner and outer beauty.

This led me to establish my coaching business to support women in healing past wounds, discovering their sense of purpose, and stepping boldly into their potential. Seeing the power of building confidence through affirmative storytelling, I was compelled to broaden this mission by founding the non-profit Beauty in Mahogany. Its programs help equip young brown girls in grades K-12 to nurture healthy self-esteem, hone their leadership skills, and embrace the unique value of their experiences.

At the heart of all my entrepreneurial projects is a dedication to uplift and amplifymarginalized voices, like my younger self once struggled to find. By weaving personal narratives of overcoming self-doubt, I aim to spread hope and empowerment to girls and women of all backgrounds. If I can help even one more person feel seen and valued for who they authentically are, then these businesses serve their purpose. There is beauty in mahogany that deserves to be celebrated.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lessons from my backstory are that we all have unique gifts, yet also face adversity. The key is deciding how to move forward with both in reclaiming our sense of purpose. The goal is not merely to exist or try to do everything, but to discern specifically what we feel called to pursue – then go after that vision full-throttle, as if no tomorrow. Too often fear, doubt or comparison makes us quit prematurely.

What resonates now is that my narrative belongs to me alone. I possess the power to transform my experiences into wisdom that uplifts others. Alternatively, I can remain a victim of circumstances. This reinforces that my story is what I make of it going forward.

The learning here is that I need not be defined by the past, but rather can channel those lessons to make a difference today. My obstacle now lies only in how big I dare to dream. If I listen to my inner voice and allow it to direct my gifts outwards, I cannot fail even if I fall short. For the goal is not some external benchmark, but rather the courage to create meaning from my personal truth. My backstory equipped me with empathy and insight immeasurable to those uninitiated in adversity’s blessings. May I now pay that miraculous gift forward through serving my community and empowering voices like the one I fought to free within myself. If my story can awaken even one more person to see that power within themselves, then that is purpose enough for me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A key point that required a pivotal shift in my entrepreneurial career was three years into my publishing company journey. With some encouragement from a supportive friend, I took the bold step toward expanding my offering by taking on clients seeking to publish and become bestselling authors themselves. At first, I was nervous about any criticism or letting people down if I stumbled. However, I soon realized that my very learning curve was my offering – I could simply teach others the skills and strategies I’d painstakingly gathered over all my years immersed in the industry.

This realization is what ultimately gave me the confidence to branch out more fully into coaching. Here, I could empower aspiring writers by sharing my knowledge on how to take their passions, gifts and expertise and translate them into published books and coaching programs. By being open about my own process and journey, I found my experiences became assets and evidence to inspire others in establishing their purpose-driven businesses according to their own vision of success.

Today I take pride in having come full circle to pay forward the support I myself needed when first stepping out in faith to found my company. I still have much to learn without doubt, but now I appreciate how the very vulnerability implicit in seeking one’s calling can forge connections and elevate community. My fear of criticism has transformed into trust that together we learn exponentially. For what others see as shortcomings, I now recognize as opportunities to build each other up and celebrate collective progress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://janelljonesempowers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janelljonesempowers/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janell-jones/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjanelljones

Image Credits
Image Credit by Rosalind Rose of Artfully Images