Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Noble.
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, I never saw a clear path for my future. I knew I was expected to go to college, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I liked art, history, and literature, so I opted for a humanities degree. I wanted to work in a museum one day. It’s funny to see how different things turned out.
I graduated college during the Great Recession of 2008, and no one could find a job. I had been serving tables through college, so I stuck with that to pay the bills. I knew I needed to do something to get a leg up, so started volunteering at art museums, hoping to gain some professional experience and maybe even get a foot in the door.
It felt like the traditional career advice, just wasn’t working for my generation, so I tried to get creative. I just started talking about what I wanted with everyone who would listen. I remember telling my restaurant manager that I was looking for an office job if one ever opened up in corporate. He said those jobs never open up, but he’d let me know if one did.
In the most serendipitous turn of events, a job opened up the next month, and my resume was submitted. My new role was Secretary/HR Assistant and I was thrilled! I learned as much as I could, and I worked my butt off. But as many skills as I gained, and as many late days I worked, it was becoming clear there wasn’t room for growth- financially or professionally- if I stayed put.
So, I ended up applying for an HR admin role at a local bank. A role that I landed based on my very minimal experience with a specific payroll and benefits system. Thank God for that!
Again, I worked hard and learned everything I could. I was with the bank for 11 years and in that time, I had the opportunity to work in multiple areas of HR and was promoted into leadership roles over some incredible people. We all have our rough days (especially in HR), but this really was an awesome job.
As much as I loved the bank, my passion for coaching and leadership development was growing and I wanted to home in on that. That’s how the spark that ignited JBN Coaching & Consulting was lit.
I started putting together a development plan, had discussions with my leader, and signed up for a life coaching certification. I set the wheels in motion and officially started my company in 2024. Now, I have an office in Tampa and proudly offer in-person and virtual coaching and consulting services to professionals across the U.S.
I’m so glad I landed that first HR gig, I never dreamed it would get me here, and I’m so grateful it did.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know any successful entrepreneurs that would say the road to success was easy. The biggest struggle of my career, was probably finding a professional job just to get started.
As I mentioned, I graduated during The Great Recession and unemployment was soaring. I even had trouble finding different restaurant jobs while trying to accommodate my final semester of college, it was awful! I had moved to Orlando in the hopes of finding a job there after college. But I couldn’t find a job anywhere when I moved. I remember scouring job sites and applying for everything under the sun. It was not a fun time.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have good relationships with some of the managers I had worked with previously at a restaurant in Tampa and they found a way to get me shifts while I was in town. I barely made it through that final semester, and I owe a lot to the people that helped me get through that!
Further along in my career, my biggest struggle has been knowing what is worth fighting for. Some things…many things… just aren’t that important. But fighting for the really important stuff can make all the struggles worthwhile. Starting my own business was one of the things I decided was worth fighting for. It was hard figuring out how to pay the bills, get clients, file taxes, etc. But, every step of the way, I’ve known this was worth every bit of struggle because I’m doing what I love, and I believe in what I do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
JBN Coaching & Consulting is a value-led business. Every part of my business has to align with the values of integrity, curiosity, and authenticity.
While I have a fine collection of certifications and experience, my specialties are business and leadership coaching and Human Resources consulting.
I coach professionals that are ready to grow into their next chapter- whether that be through leadership development or finding balance and joy in their life. I take a holistic approach to coaching, focusing on fulfillment and success, rather than simply upskilling.
As for my HR consulting, I love working with small companies to build their HR foundation. Many companies start growing and aren’t sure what they actually need for HR, that’s where I come in. I help build the basics and determine next steps for having a compliant and efficient HR function.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I have to be true to myself. When I’m aligned to work that lights me up, everyone wins- myself and my clients. I’ve learned that if I say yes to opportunities that don’t feel right, no one is getting the best of me, and that’s just not the life I want to lead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jbncoachingandconsulting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbn_coaching_and_consulting/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-noble-cpc-shrm-scp-24661421/
Image Credits
Chelsea Noble
