Meet Jamelle Sanders

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

Jamelle, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

As an entrepreneur and a trailblazer in my industry, I came to the realization quickly that I was going to have to blaze my own trail and set my own standards. When I started in business, it did not take long to realize that I was going to face obstacles and hurdles along the way. This is not anything new for me. I have been overcoming adversity and confronting challenges my entire life. In fact, because of my bullet-proof mindset, I truly believe that in life we can either accept our fate or become the architect of the future that we have always desired. In other words, you can sit back and wait for opportunities to come to you. Or you can go out and create your own opportunities. For the sake of time, I cannot begin to explain to you the number of doors that have been slammed in my face, the number of people that have told me that I was out of my mind and that I would never be successful, or the number of tables that attempted to deny me access. Yet, I have been able to build a global brand, and I have become a highly respected thought leader. First of all, I would say that I have been successful because I have focused less on being seen and more on displaying silent strength. What do I mean by silent strength? Instead of trying to impress everyone and begging to be seen, I have walked into rooms with the confidence that when I speak, I can add depth and width to the conversation. Most people are so busy talking about their resumes that they miss out on the opportunity to engage in robust and meaningful conversations. This is one way that you will stand out in any room. In addition, I would say do not try to see how many cards you can collect and how many hands you can shake. If you ask any of my closest friends and family, they will tell you that I hate networking, but I am a highly connected person. How have I done this? I’ve been very intentional about being more interested than interesting. Instead of dominating the conversation by talking about myself, I have looked for opportunities to defer to the other person and to find ways to be more interested in their lives. As a result, people have let down their defenses, leaned in, and started to open up to me for deeper conversations. People want to know that you are genuine and that you are genuinely interested in the things that matter to them. Most of all, I want to say that in a world where everyone is looking for viral moments, I have made a conscious decision to add value to every environment that I enter. From decades of experience, I can tell you that I am never the loudest person in the room. On the other hand, when I open my mouth, people listen because they know that I am going to share insights that will add value to their lives. When you speak with intention and add value, it will be impossible for people to forget you.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am the CEO of Jamelle Sanders International LLC. JSI is a global, management, consulting, and advisory firm that provides consulting, advisory, training, and leadership development services to solve some of the most complex global problems. Through my work, I have the privilege of working with leaders in the public and private sectors, training, developing, consulting, and advising leaders as they navigate the complex challenges, crises, and currents of change. Some leaders do not believe that they need help in their roles. However, other leaders understand that leadership is challenging and that every season of leadership is different. To navigate the complexities of leading change in the twenty-first century, leaders seek me out to help them navigate change, transition, and even moments of crisis. Most of all, I am often called upon to train, develop, and empower leadership teams to best harness their resources and capital to meet company objectives. achieve organizational goals and to empower organizations and nations to reach their full potential. In addition, I write books, provide training programs, teach courses, and serve as a chief advisor to some of the most powerful leaders in the world. While my vision is alive and well today, I can still recall a time when I was frustrated and confused about the vision and direction of my business. Today, I wake up every single day excited to serve my clients and customers all around the world. Essentially, I know that I am doing more than providing products and services to clients. I am serving leaders and making significant contributions in their lives that will have ripple effects for generations to come. The thing that I am most humbled by is the fact that I have been able to have a global reach and a global footprint. My ideas and insights are respected around the world. In addition, governments and institutions have implemented many of my strategies, and they are seeing remarkable results. Everyone thinks that entrepreneurship is just about making money. However, for me, it is so much more than that. I believe that whatever you build can be leveraged for impact and to create an enduring legacy. Ultimately, I started this organization many years ago to bring solutions to complex global problems, unlock human potential, and move the world forward.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Well, that is a very loaded question for someone like me. However, I will try to be as succinct as I can in my answer. First of all, I would say that my passion for learning has served me well. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved to read and to research. At the time, I thought I was just passionate about my education. However, in the work that I do today, I realize that it was all preparation for the meaningful work that I get to do every single day as I serve my clients around the world. To this day, I still read tons of books, subscribe to a ton of research publications, and I even have memberships to some of the largest research databases and libraries in the world. Learning is very important to me, and I made a decision a long time ago to be a lifelong learner. Maybe that is one of the reasons I have written so many books and written so many pieces for some of the largest media platforms in the world. Secondly, I would say that my love for communication has served me well. Honestly, I have always been shy and reserved. This is really hard for a lot of people to believe about me now. Everyone always says that I seem so confident and comfortable on the stage, talking to audiences. However, I remember a time when I was afraid to talk in front of people, and I had no desire to speak on public stages. My childhood friend tells me to this day that I have always had a way with words. In fact, we were talking one day, and he said that anytime I talked, people listened and paid attention to what I had to say. I will not lie to you and tell you that I have always enjoyed communicating and connecting with people. However, I have come to love it, and few things thrill me more than connecting with people and sharing insights that I believe can add value to their lives. I truly believe that some of life’s greatest breakthroughs begin with a conversation. Lastly, I would say that my obsession with leadership has been a great advantage in my life. Even though I have always preferred to be in the background, I have always ended up leading teams, groups, and projects. etc. For some reason, people want me on their teams, and they have always felt comfortable with me representing them. Clearly, people seem to trust me, and I now know that it is because they saw the qualities of a leader in me even before I could see these qualities in myself. Today, I am a highly respected thought leader and a leadership expert recognized around the world. I still have an obsession with leadership, and it is reflected in my life and work. At the time, I thought I was just fascinated with the subject. I had no idea that I would one day be leading in my industry and a leading voice in the world. To anyone who may come across this interview, I want you to listen to me very carefully. Pay attention to your life. From almost four decades of life experience, I can tell you that life is always trying to give you signposts to your purpose. Unfortunately, most people lack awareness and they do not realize how purpose has been speaking to them since the day they were born. Pay attention to the things that excite you. Discern the things that move you. Most of all, perceive the things that make you feel alive. When you identify these things, you will find your purpose and you will find your zone of genius.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

Honestly, I can give you a plethora of answers to this question. However, the most impactful thing that my parents did for me was to believe in me. While this answer may not sound deep and profound, it is the truth and a simple truth that we often forget as time goes on. The older I get, the more true this statement becomes. As I finished college and started to transition into adulthood, I learned quickly that people will laugh with you, hang out with you, and even spend a little bit of time with you. On the other hand, in your lifetime, you will find very few people who really believe in you. When I started my business years ago, it was my parents’ belief in me that gave me the push to get going and the strength to stand when I wanted to give up. When I experienced some of the darkest and most painful seasons of my life, my parents were there to remind me that I was loved and that they still believed in me. It is the love and belief of my parents that have kept me going, challenged me to live with higher standards, developed in me the conviction to be a person of excellence, and provided me with the courage to unlock my greatest potential. I am who I am today because of the love, belief, and support of my parents. When people see excellence in my life, it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of two giants who sacrificed so much for me. So the most impactful thing that they did for me was to believe in me and remind me of what was possible for my life.

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