We recently connected with Susan X Jane and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan X, thanks for joining us today. When you were first starting out, did you join a firm or start your own?

I started my consulting firm, Navigators Consulting, in 2017 after spending over a decade as a professor of communications and media literacy. As Director of the undergraduate program at Wheelock College, I spent years teaching students to critically engage with race, class, gender, and the cultural narratives that shape our lives.

As I was preparing to leave academia, I asked myself: What would it mean to take this work directly into the organizations my students were preparing to enter? I realized I didn’t just want to teach about systems—I wanted to help shape them. So I stepped into the field, determined to work with companies and institutions to deepen their understanding of culture and representation.

I couldn’t have predicted how urgent that work would become. After the murder of George Floyd, organizations across sectors were forced to reckon with issues of race, culture, and equity—not just as abstract ideas, but as urgent leadership imperatives.

In many ways, I was prepared for that moment. I had spent more than twenty-five years thinking about how power, identity, and representation shape our lives. But we are also living in unprecedented times, and I’ve had to evolve my work—translating theory into practice, and helping leaders embed cultural awareness into their organizations in tangible, lasting ways.

This work is no longer optional. It’s essential—not just for navigating crises, but for building the future we want to live in.

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?

Navigators Consulting is a culture-focused consulting firm that helps organizations navigate the complex social, political, and organizational dynamics shaping our world. We work with leaders and teams to understand culture at every level—from the larger cultural landscape that impacts their clients and communities, to the internal culture that shapes how their people show up, collaborate, and lead.

Our practice blends training, coaching, and long-term strategic partnership. I help organizations move through tough cultural challenges with clarity and care—whether it’s navigating internal tensions, addressing societal headwinds, or building future-focused strategies grounded in values and impact.

What sets us apart is our commitment to depth and nuance. This isn’t about performative gestures or policing language—it’s about seeing culture as central to everything your organization does. Whether you’re shaping a new product, reimagining your internal culture, or clarifying your leadership voice, you’re doing it in context. You’re doing it inside culture. And when we engage that context thoughtfully, we unlock real creativity, resilience, and impact.

I’m most proud of the transformations I’ve seen in my clients. Not just in their organizations, but in themselves. Watching leaders step into complexity with confidence—and seeing how that ripples into the communities they serve—is the deepest reward. From what shows up on the shelf, to what shifts in a community, to the ways leaders lead—I get to witness culture change in real time.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about my work, it’s this:
Culture is not optional. It’s not a side conversation. It’s the world we’re living in—and the future we’re making. When we attend to it with intention and imagination, we make real change possible.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve had a few major pivots in my life—each one its own season of transformation. I spent a decade in nonprofit work, then another decade in academia, and now I’m nearly a decade into consulting. Each shift has been both a leap and a deepening.

What I’ve learned is that I actually love a pivot. I love the challenge of stepping into something new, having to learn again, stretch again, grow again. But I don’t see it as starting over—I see it as a spiral. With each turn, I evolve. I carry forward the lessons, the relationships, the insights, and I build something new from a stronger foundation.

I know that pivoting can feel scary—especially when you can’t see the whole path ahead. But in my experience, the path only lights up after you take the first step into the dark. That’s the truth of it.

When I talk to others who are considering a major shift, I tell them two things:
First, be clear on your goals—and also on your tolerance for discomfort, because change will test you. And second, give it time. Real pivots don’t resolve overnight. You need humility, patience, and a strategic mindset to navigate the unknown and land somewhere strong.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I’ve been fortunate to build long-term relationships with many of my clients—some going back years. That continuity has been essential, not just for impact, but for trust. I don’t see myself as just a consultant; I aim to be a strategic partner. Someone who’s there when the flashpoints hit, and also when it’s time to zoom out and plan for the long game.

Culture isn’t something you fix overnight. It’s layered, shifting, and deeply embedded in how people work, relate, and lead. That means real change takes time—and it takes a trusted relationship. I want my clients to know they can call me anytime, and that I’ll be there to help them navigate whatever moment they’re in, without losing sight of their broader goals.

I think the most important thing for building a strong reputation is consistently showing up—especially on the hard days. When things are uncertain, or tense, or unclear, your clients need to feel your steadiness. You can’t fake that. You earn trust by being present, being prepared, and making their job easier through the quality of your thinking and support.

And of course, I stay immersed in the cultural landscape. That’s part of the job. Culture is fluid, and my clients count on me to read the shifts and give them a heads up when it’s time to trim the sails. That’s part of how I stay connected—not just with clients, but with the moment we’re all moving through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://culturenavigators.com
• Instagram: @susanxjane
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-x-jane/

Image Credits

Will J Hall