At the ripe age of 14 I was driven to figure out who I was and curious to understand why others acted the way they did. You could find me reading books about personal development or philosophy in the aisles of Barnes and Noble. As someone highly sensitive I could feel the anguish in people around me when they struggled to express themselves or couldn’t have their way. When people hurt, it used to hurt me too. I would get overwhelmed easily and wear my heart on my sleeve. My family jokes, ‘it's not a family party unless Janel cries.’ People often told me I was too sensitive as if this gift was a limitation. So I hunted for tools to help me cope with life and overwhelm. With a growth mindset I turned sensitivity into strength.

Here I am today having helped lead an award winning company with a vibrant and diverse culture through fast growth. Ruby Receptionists went from 26 team members to 500+ while I served as a cultural champion bringing a level of creativity to the workplace that challenges corporate norms to meet the expectations of today’s workforce. My leadership helps people feel connected to a common purpose, appreciated for who they are, and valued for the work they do. Managers learned how to motivate people and manage performance through the skills I taught in the leadership development programs I designed and led.

This life-long pursuit to be a role model and of service comes from a deep place within and has drive with no bounds. In my continued search for the best methodology and leadership tools I came across CliftonStrengths and it blew my world open to a new level of engagement with teams. Suddenly I found myself falling in love with people’s complaints. Yes, it’s possible to like complaints! As I listen - I hear talent - I can immediately translate what clients say into an understanding of what matters most to them. It’s one way to connect and inspire people to find the courage to go beyond perceived limits. Each person is a gift full of possibility beyond measure and CliftonStrengths provides a standard vocabulary to use when I am at a loss for words to describe how in awe I am of everyone.

I now incorporate CliftonStrengths, high performance coaching, employee engagement strategies, and leadership development skills into my practice, A Golden Agency.

I connect people to who they are and the talent they possess. I guide professionals through detailed inquiry to clarify mission, vision, values, and find shared purpose in communities. I help groups create vibrant environments and support business owners in developing high performing teams who collaborate to achieve sought after results that serve everyone.

We all have agency that comes from within and when we turn it on, it turns to gold.