We recently connected with Nicole Jackson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

Spring 2019 – A New Chapter
In the spring of 2019, after stepping away from a large environmental NGO to focus on my health, I felt both anxious and strangely liberated. By late summer, I was itching to travel again, something I hadn’t done since falling ill in 2017, and spent the rest of the year rediscovering my sense of adventure. But when January 2020 brought me back home for my daughter’s performance, family worries quickly grounded me: my sister, suddenly very sick, turned out to be one of the early COVID cases, and soon my father’s health was declining too. As the world locked down around us, I found myself back in my hometown, pondering what came next professionally.

Spring 2021 – Volunteering with Purpose
By spring 2021, I decided to trade in uncertainty for connection: I volunteered with environmental groups purely to meet people. Helping my cousin run a Maryland park event, exploring local ecosystems, and kayaking the Potomac was meant to be low‑stakes fun. Instead, it introduced me to the chair of a major social‑justice nonprofit’s environmental committee. Over lunch, she’d already done her homework on me and praised my past work; when she asked me to collaborate on an upcoming environmental justice event, I surprised myself by hesitating. After digging into the organization’s mission, which is to help communities of color tackle pollution and inequity. I said yes.

June–July 2021 – From Zero to First Project
That June, I co‑hosted an environmental and climate justice gathering, meeting smart, passionate women of color leading the charge, a rare sight in my 20‑year career. Impressed by the connection we made, in July, she invited me to spearhead a legislative‑education initiative for college students. Though I’d never formally “consulted” before, I treated that project as my trial run: crafting plain‑language curricula, building stakeholder buy‑in, and delivering tangible outcomes.

Sealing the Deal – The First Dollar
When the scope wrapped in February 2022, I nervously proposed a fee that felt audacious for a first‑timer. To my delight, she said “yes” immediately, no haggling, just trust. Seeing that first payment clear, my account wasn’t about the dollars; it was confirmation that I could turn my passion and expertise into a sustainable practice. I celebrated by investing part of the funds in a professional website and Climate Chronicles Unleashed, a global storytelling project advancing UN SDG 16, proof that my work could fuel not just my business, but my community’s voice.

Lessons Learned
That first project taught me two lasting lessons: never undervalue what you bring to the table, and choose collaborations where your values truly align. Today, that client remains a mentor and champion, opening doors, singing my praises, and helping build a pipeline of mission‑driven work that still excites me every time a new contract comes in.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I first felt something was missing in my professional life even though I’d been working in the environmental field for years. It wasn’t until I started volunteering at environmental events in 2021 that I finally understood what was lacking. At one of those gatherings, I listened to community members share firsthand stories of how climate disasters and environmental harms had upended their lives, and my heart clenched. When I dug into the data, I was stunned to learn how communities of color and low to moderate‑income neighborhoods suffer some of the highest rates of illness directly tied to environmental damage.
That awakening pushed me to leave traditional roles inside NGOs and fellowships and strike out on my own as a consultant. After completing my second project, I knew I’d found my true calling, and I stopped looking for office‑based jobs.

Today, I provide bespoke consulting services that help small to medium‑sized nonprofits and local governments advance their environmental and climate justice missions. I’m best known for my hands‑on workshops, like my “ECJ 101” series, and for Climate Chronicles Unleashed, a global storytelling initiative that amplifies voices too often unheard.

Every engagement begins with an in‑depth assessment and interview so I can tailor my work to each client’s unique goals. Many struggle with limited funding, so securing grants to expand their impact is often our first win. For example, I helped one city win funding to plant over 2,500 native trees by 2025 and launch a community garden at an elementary school where every child receives free or reduced lunch.

I measure success by what happens after I step away—when communities sustain and grow the projects we’ve started together. As a Black woman with decades in this field, I bring both expertise and an authentic connection that builds trust quickly. I always begin by listening deeply to residents, then guide them in crafting powerful narratives to influence decision‑makers.

One of my proudest achievements is Climate Chronicles Unleashed, which united storytellers from more than 11 countries. I’ve been honored to receive praise from peers and clients like Staci Hartwell, former Chair, of the NAACP Maryland State Conference Environmental and Climate Justice Team and Teresa Ball of Regent Professional Services, who’ve commended my passion, collaborative leadership and ability to communicate the intersectionality of environmental issues and social justice.

At my core, I’m a veteran sustainability professional whose skills in green‑building operations, sustainable sourcing, project management, and environmental justice advocacy empower organizations to reduce their carbon footprint and champion social responsibility. I want potential partners to know three things: understand the roots of environmental racism, embrace inclusive, community‑driven strategies, and recognize how environmental, health, social, and economic factors intersect to shape outcomes.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Having a great work ethic and delivering on my promises have helped me to build my reputation within this space. Additionally, relationship building is key in this work, and sharing resources. I enjoy connecting others to new partners; If I meet someone who isn’t a great fit for my work, I’m happy to recommend an acquaintance who I think would be best for them to work with. This type of sharing is often reciprocated with people sending clients to me.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

So far, word of mouth and LinkedIn have been great sources of new clients. I do realize that I’ll eventually have to develop a comprehensive business development strategy. But, at the moment, I’m enjoying how my clientele is being organically built because of my reputation for transparency, honesty, and organization.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monarchpsg.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Monarch_PSG/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/npjackson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MonarchPSG

Image Credits

All photos shared were taken by me, Nicole Jackson, or by a friend using my personal device.