What we believe... and why it matters now, more than ever
I have lived, worked, and studied in places where the rule of law is fragile, where authoritarianism is normalized, and where people learn, often painfully, what it means to operate without real agency, protection, or choice.
That experience stays with you.
It sharpens your understanding of how quickly rights can erode, how easily uncertainty becomes a tool of control, and how dangerous it is to assume that the systems we rely on will simply hold without active stewardship.
We are living through a period of profound political upheaval.
The rule of law is being tested, human rights that many of us assumed were settled are being rolled back, and democratic norms, constitutional protections, and basic freedoms are no longer guaranteed. At every turn they are being actively challenged.
The world we're living in right now makes doing our work especially hard... and in some cases, an act of rebellion.
When uncertainty becomes constant, one of the few stabilizing forces we have is clarity.
Clarity about what we believe.
Clarity about what we value.
Clarity about how we choose to act.
In moments like this, silence is not neutral.
I believe clarity is a responsibility, and that's why I want to be explicit about what I stand for.
What I Believe
Human rights are non-negotiable. Dignity, bodily autonomy, safety, and freedom from discrimination are foundational. They are not optional, nor are they political bargaining chips.
The rule of law matters. Democracy, constitutional governance, and accountability are prerequisites for any just and functional society. When these erode, everyone is at risk, especially women and marginalized communities.
Neutrality in the face of injustice is not leadership. Choosing comfort over clarity perpetuates harm. Silence protects power, not the people being harmed.
Women’s leadership is essential. Women’s voices, authority, and decision-making power are critical to resisting extractive, authoritarian, and dehumanizing systems. They always have been, and our voices and work are desperately needed now, more than ever.
Profit-at-all-cost is failure. Economic success that relies on exploitation, burnout, or the erasure of our values is not success.
I fundamentally reject hustling, self-abandonment, and “growth at all costs.” Doing business at the expense of humanity is no longer an option for businesses that are meant to last.
Values-aligned leadership produces better outcomes. Leaders who are deeply rooted in conviction make clearer decisions, build more resilient organizations, and create lasting positive impact in the world.
In times of instability, clear values are not a distraction from performance; they're what make performance sustainable.
Impact and profitability are not opposites. Ethical value exchange, fair compensation, and sustainable wealth creation are necessary and not mutually exclusive.
Responsibility matters more than rhetoric. Values- and impact-led work is not about performance or ideological posturing. It's about making decisions that reduce harm and expand agency in the real world.
Global awareness is required. Leadership does not exist in a vacuum. Systems of power, culture, and history shape what is possible, and as a collective, we need to willingly reckon with and challenge them when they no longer serve humanity.
How This Shows Up in My Work
These beliefs are not separate from my consulting and advisory work. They're the foundation of it.
I work with leaders who are navigating real professional inflection points. They're:
deciding whether to stay in systems that no longer align with their values
restructuring businesses that have outgrown extractive models
stepping into authority with integrity instead of fear
making decisions that account for both human impact and real-world consequences
You've heard me say this before, but clarity is not just a nice-to-have. It's a critical part of running a business.
When leaders choose to lead and run businesses and organizations that seek to create a kinder, more just, more equitable world, the ripple effects in our teams, businesses, communities, and beyond are real.
This work is not for everyone.
It's for people who understand that leadership carries responsibility.
It's for those who refuse to succeed by looking away from what's happening and the impact it's having on actual humans.
It's for those who believe that how we lead now shapes what becomes possible next.
If these values resonate, you're in the right place.
What Do You Believe?
If this letter stirred something in you, I invite you to pause and ask yourself the following question:
What do you believe?
This is not about theory or what sounds acceptable. What actually guides your decisions, your work, and the way you move through the world?
Consider this:
What do you believe about human dignity and human rights, and where are you willing to be explicit about that?
What are you no longer willing to normalize, excuse, or stay silent about, even when it’s uncomfortable?
Where has uncertainty or fear made you quieter than your values would ask you to be?
How do your beliefs show up in how you lead, build, choose, and participate in the systems around you?
And where is greater clarity asking something of you now?
I know these questions are big and hard, but they're worth the work.
Jess
