Hi, I’m Joi, the Founder, Salonnière, Head Client Cheerleader, and Community Leader at Audacious Communication Collective (ACC) — the one-of-a-kind community that combines the vibe of the intellectual salons of the Enlightenment era, the wisdom of a community of practice (CoP), scientific method and research, nerdy passions, and personalized learning paths to transform communication, interpersonal, and social skills. (I know, it’s a mouthful!)

I love that Salons were gatherings where the best and brightest from different backgrounds shared wisdom and insights and created ideas, art, and theories. We’ve reimagined that spirit of creation, communication, and deep connection for the modern age. Our members develop the confidence, social intelligence, and authentic self-expression to thrive in any setting. Whether they want to level up leadership, work on relationships, or find their true voice, ACC provides a transformative personal experience.

Since the company falls under so many industries, picking just one is hard. But I can tell you, we are passionate about doing things differently. Many traditional upskilling, training, or coaching classes come with a hefty price tag and no follow-up. So, you pay a lot of money and go to the class, and then what? How do you use the skills? How do you practice? I wanted more, a new approach because I think it’s not just about the initial training but also about how you can continue to grow and apply what you’ve learned daily, especially in today’s rapidly advancing industries, where personal development is crucial for a balanced life and healthy relationships.

Here are the six things that are different about Audacious Communication Collective:

For example, in their testimonial, one of my private coaching clients, Jane, shared how her comprehensive training plan included hands-on practice, like going on a trip and planning a party, that helped her go from feeling out of her element to truly owning her presence when entertaining high-end clients. And there was a company I worked with that thought they were struggling with generational conflicts; Hale, the CEO, was initially skeptical, but my unique approach made all the difference.

Every day, I have the privilege of witnessing people embarking on exciting journeys of growth and empowerment. My favorite journeys are always the people who didn’t become what was in their hearts as children because of outside influence. Seeing child-like excitement come back in people’s eyes still fills my heart with happiness. I’m passionate about developing emerging leaders who love what they do. Leaders create leaders, not followers. We’re helping people become better communicators and building a community ready to change the world! The audacity of it all.

Joi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, I’ve always been a bookworm with an insatiable curiosity. Since childhood, my dream job was to be a professional student and own a bookstore. As a restless, formerly gifted kid, a multipotentialite, with a portfolio career, I never felt I fit anywhere. I was constantly told I was too much – too smart, too nosy, too big, too loud. And I believed every word of it. I transformed from knowing exactly what I wanted and being the life of the party to someone with anxiety, barely existing day to day. Despite my many achievements, I never found a job or place where I felt I could truly be myself.

My passions lie in solving mysteries, strategy, negotiation, and personal development. I could find parts of jobs that I enjoyed, but not one job or career felt right. I started teaching and training because I loved helping people. Then I discovered Dispute Resolution (ADR), and I knew it was what I was supposed to do—helping people fight productively seemed perfect for me. Suddenly, my background, education, and nerdy side allowed me to bring a unique perspective to personal development, communication, and continued education. As I do with everything I want to master, I created and began to execute my brilliant plan based on lots and lots of science and research.

Of course, life, as it does, had other plans. Three days after my birthday in July 2022, I was out of town with friends and woke up in a hospital bed to a doctor telling me about a kiwi-sized brain tumor and the need for immediate surgery. As I lay there helpless, waiting for surgery, I promised myself that if I survived this adventure, I’d become the person that my fears, people-pleasing, family legacy, and obligations kept me from letting myself become. I knew If I could survive brain surgery, I could survive anything, right?

Post-surgery, with a new lease on life, a head full of ideas (minus one tumor), giant medical bills, and recovery to deal with, I had to figure out what was next for me. I did not know or care about my limitations; anything was possible. In that spirit, I applied for and received a fellowship with the American Bar Association; I’m not a lawyer. Suddenly, I was surrounded by new possibilities and people who love learning as much as I do; I knew I’d found my place. I attended all the workshops, webinars, and conferences I could fit into my schedule. Not long into the fellowship, I noticed a common theme: basic interpersonal and social skills were consistently discussed, no matter how advanced or accomplished the group. My research revealed communication and relational skills are among the core competencies in the top 20 career fields. Ok, I can expand my training to include communication, interpersonal, and social skills. That sounds fun.

Only there are a billion trainers out there. What would make me different? What did I really want to do?  I wanted to teach and create a space where people can learn, grow, and practice communicating while figuring out who they are. I wanted to offer personalized assessments to identify interests, unique styles, and areas for growth. I didn’t want to be like a typical training center. I wanted a place where we use everything to help us relate, from what your favorite fandom can teach us about cross-cultural communication to the secrets of how to use nonverbal communication to make more money at a job interview. At ACC, we are only limited by the collective’s imagination.

I wanted to create a laboratory for life skills where you can experiment with everything from spy techniques to dinner party etiquette. Want to learn how to negotiate like a diplomat or speak the language of design pros? We’ve got you! Let’s learn, grow, practice communicating, and figure out who we are. This is the place I longed for while I was recovering. Having a “medical break” and trying to jump back into your career is terrifying. I just wanted a place where I could talk to people and test new personas, personally and professionally, without damaging my reputation. A place to find out who New, New Normal Joi is.

I’m still working on who I am. It took me a long time to be comfortable with my appearance after surgery, and my photos represent a turning point in the journey. They capture how I look and who I am—confident, resilient, and ready to take on the world. Through my posture, expression, and environment, these images silently speak volumes about my transformation and the brand I’ve built.

I love my company; I’ve built a place full of crazy charm that celebrates your brand of uniqueness and understands how big and scary it is to move to the next chapter of life. We’re here for the underdogs, the late bloomers, and anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite fit in. We are here for intelligent, confident, resilient people; show us how it’s done. All of us have a story to tell and a lesson to teach. As a woman, disabled, Black, Ally, and proud Nashville unicorn, I want people to celebrate who they are and the labels they embrace.

So, when you are ready to embark on a journey of personal development, learn how to communicate your needs, thrive in any situation, and be part of a community that’s changing the world one conversation at a time – we’ve got a spot saved just for you. At Audacious Communication Collective, we believe that if you’re bold enough to try, we’re audacious enough to help you succeed. We got you.

My life is divided into two chapters: Pre-Tumor (PT) and Real-Time (RT). After surgery, as I acclimated to my new normal, I had to unlearn several ingrained behaviors and beliefs and be open to trying new things. My recovery was easier than it could have been, so I kept my promise to myself to become the Bold, Crazy, Fun Business Leader I’ve always wanted to be.

First, I let go of perfectionism. PT, I was paralyzed by the fear of not getting things perfect the first time. Now, I’ve adopted a ‘theater approach’ – if it looks great on the public-facing side, is perfect for the client’s world, is on time and budget, and creates a wow experience, I can live with it. It’s about progress, not perfection.

Second, I had to let go of the need to be the smartest person in the room. My collection of over 160 certifications was driven by a desire to be an expert in everything I learned. If I studied it, I wanted to master it for me, not for the accolades. But I didn’t believe in myself enough to think I could create something and be an expert to other people. I thought I was good enough to teach other people’s stuff, but why would anyone listen to me? Things changed when professors, top executives, and people I consider experts told me that I was good at what I was doing ask why I didn’t want the spotlight. I am good at what I do, and it took a long time to be comfortable with that. Now, I don’t have to be an expert at everything. I realize the value of calling on others’ expertise. I am proud to recognize and own my power. My strength is in listening, making crazy connections, and creating different ways of doing things. A way that is uniquely mine.

Last but not least, I had to learn how to prioritize myself. I lived at the whim of prioritizing others’ well-being over my own. I wanted others to have the spotlight and felt guilty if I had to say no. As a natural caregiver, I worried about people like it was my job. I’ve now made balancing self-care and personal priorities one of my primary life goals. I have seen firsthand how the ability to connect with others, articulate thoughts and feelings clearly, and listen deeply is far more impactful than any degree or certification. I’ve hacked the communication code and created a company that can change the world, one conversation at a time.

I’ve never advertised; most of my business is word of mouth. I’m just a person who knows a lot about a lot. People know that if I don’t know something, I’ll know someone who does. This has served me well in my life. I’ve helped create, run, and expand businesses and worked with multimillion-dollar budgets, celebrities, and Fortune 500 companies with ease. Yet, I’m still working on my websites and LinkedIn profile, and talking about my accomplishments still feels like bragging. I know that if I want to expand my world and grow my business, there are uncomfortable things I will have to do. My strategy is simple: Be curious about them, not how to profit from them. This personal approach has been the most effective strategy. For me, it’s not about having clients; it’s about growing a world of connections, opportunities, and shared success.

Here’s how I approach it:

Meeting people and knowing people are different things. I pride myself on connecting people, listening, discovering pain points, and creating solutions. I make it a game to gather random information about people. And maintain an extensive and detailed dossier system with important information about people, focusing on who they are and what they love. This allows me to provide wow services and experiences. Wow, services don’t have to be big. My realtor friend Kate sent me a half-birthday card, and my chiropractor’s whole office signed a sympathy card when my dad died; this probably took a few minutes out of their day, but it meant the world to me. That’s all it takes to make people feel special!

Well, now I’ve told you all this about me. I would love to talk to you! What are you up to? Let me know at joi at chatwithacc dot com