We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Sato. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.
Hi Jessica, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I love this question because I didn’t “find” my purpose. I figured out what I’m passionate about through a process of excavation and discovery.
When you look at your life that’s still to be lived, it’s rare that you can see the through-line and what will be. But when you look back, that through-line becomes increasingly clear.
My lived and learned experiences have shaped and uniquely positioned me to do the work I was called to do in the world. Here’s how I pulled it all together:
Moving to Egypt with my family when I was ten, learning Arabic, and falling in love with Middle Eastern culture.
Walking the streets of Cairo, Egypt with my study abroad peers years later, going to bat against the smack talk and harassment of an obnoxious group of teenage boys in Arabic, a language I was studying formally in college, when others didn’t feel like they had the words or the voice to combat it.
Facilitating my first leadership development workshop at The Boeing Company, being terrified that I’d somehow mess it up. I didn’t feel like I was an expert until a dear friend and colleague reminded me that I didn’t have to have all the answers, but to ask good questions.
Walking away from my corporate career to start a business and seeing just how powerful and life-changing it was to be able to provide new opportunities for my family and others.
Standing in front of a classroom of managers at Ethiopian Airlines and realizing that what I was sharing and how I was sharing it, was making an impact. That this information that seemed so humdrum in the U.S. was new, powerful, and could literally change the trajectory of these individuals’ lives and the company’s strategic future.
Leading a bullying prevention parent and guardian workshop at a school in downtown Minneapolis to a group of Somali moms. Standing next to the interpreter, staring at the moms who were desperately trying to raise their kids in a foreign place with hopes and dreams of a better life, I found myself deeply empathetic and desperate to give them the tools they needed to be successful here.
Asking for my contract to be honored when a massive job was canceled well within the cancellation window. This was the first time in my life, in all my years of owning a business (nearly 6 years at that point), I realized how powerful it was (and is) to say what you want to say, to ask for what you want. It was also when I realized that there are countless business owners struggling to do that very thing.
Saying yes to an opportunity to be a TEDx speaking coach and realizing how deeply inspiring and powerful ONE big idea can be… and how that can be applied to businesses.
Seeing firsthand what it’s like to have your voice suppressed and how life-altering it is when you find the strength and courage to finally say what you want to say.
Any of these experiences on their own are interesting, but when put together as a whole, tell a critical story about who I am as the leader of my business, what has shaped me into who I am and influenced my worldview and opinions, and how I’ve been uniquely equipped to create the impact I really want to make in the world.
This is how purpose is “found.”
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At Jessica Sato Consulting, we believe that your mission is your competitive advantage, and when you say what you want to say, you can change the world.
We do this by equipping and empowering female founders and small business owners to grow profitable and sustainable businesses, engaging in robust strategic and execution planning, and providing the support and accountability they need to be successful.
This work is informed by my personal vision: I dream of a world in which women, globally, are free to use their skills and abilities, talents, expertise, and voice to create opportunities for themselves and others.
When I was growing up, I spent some of my most formative years in Egypt, and I saw how powerful entrepreneurship was and how challenging it can be for women to speak their minds, gain access to needed resources, and what even a small amount of money could do for their families.
That belief was further reinforced with my work in Russia and Ethiopia.
Entrepreneurship uniquely affords women, especially in the developing world, with opportunities they may not otherwise have, things as basic as food, shelter, and education for their families.
Over the years, a deep desire to serve and support women in their quest for more autonomy and financial freedom has only grown, and I can easily say there is nothing more exciting than watching women thrive and shine. If I can be even a small part of that growth, I consider it a privilege.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
This is a great question!
I believe humans are inherently good and that we’re all trying to do the best we can. Despite the craziness we often see on the news, I’ve seen this belief reinforced over and over again in most of my interactions and travels around the world,
Strategy and having a strategic mindset has really served me well in all aspects of my life. As a business owner, a solid business strategy and a balanced internal-external perspective has allowed me to make important and educated decisions.
When I work with clients, that same mindset has enabled me to see beyond the challenges and look to solutions. I can clearly see interconnections, understand the heart beneath the business, and a path forward.
And lastly, I don’t know what to call it except for “warmth.” This is the word I’ve been using for years to explain my unique ability to engage with and hold space for people in such a way that they are easily able to let down their guard and get to the heart of the matter. This is a skill that has been essential as I often need to help people settle in quickly, so we can dive right in.
Funny story. I was facilitating a class at The Boeing Company, and I was paired with someone relatively early in my career. My partner was introducing herself, and she was listing out her credentials. The longer she went on, the more that sense of imposter syndrome started to creep in. When I got up to do my own introduction, I said, “Hi. I’m Jess Sato, and I’m a space creator.” My jaw snapped shut, and I could hear all the craziness chatter in my brain saying, “What the heck is a space creator.”
Later that week, an older engineer approached me and said, “When you said you were a space creator, I was certain I was in for a lot of fluffy nonsense. But actually, you really were a space creator, and I appreciate it.”
Belief in humanity, a strategic mindset and an eye for detail, and warmth have been really impactful on my journey.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
In the fall of 2022, I started getting the nudge to provide support for female entrepreneurs in Egypt. This idea seemed to come out of nowhere, and yet, it felt absolutely right.
I can see now, that it wasn’t actually out of nowhere. Growing up in Ismailia, Egypt, studying Arabic at the American University in Cairo, and traveling and working throughout Africa had given me unique insight into and a heart for women in the developing world.
The path forward still seems a bit nebulous, but I know there’s a big need and rich opportunity to provide mentorship, support, and training for Egyptian women.
I welcome a conversation with anyone who is interested in supporting women in the developing world, particularly Egypt, who recognizes the power of entrepreneurship as a mechanism for creating opportunities for more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessicasato.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicasatocoach
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessicasatoconsulting
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jess-sato
Image Credits
Amy Wright Chris Gosnell
