Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nadira Jack, Founder and CEO of The Conscious Collective, located in Hawthorne, NJ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Conscious Collective is an educational consulting firm that offers innovative services to educators, school administrators, and professional organizations serving diverse student populations in the United States.

We offer intentional and thoughtful consulting services with customizable programs for executives, educators, and school leaders in dynamic areas such as instructional processes/pedagogies, maximizing efficiency, building capacity, coaching, curriculum design, professional development/job-embedded training, ongoing mentoring, and support with compliance areas including the completion of mandated state and federal reports amongst a host of other services.

Our priority is to transform the way we think about teaching, learning, and leadership to embody a new perspective in education cultivated in human design, reflection, social impact, and collectiveness to nurture and validate the voice of a community of learners.

Tell us about yourself

I am a former educator and superintendent with almost two decades of teaching and administrative leadership experience residing in the state of NJ. As a student and educator, I felt that my voice was unheard, often silenced into the background with minimal acknowledgment or validation.

This prompted me to do more for children and create a system of schooling that would lend itself to recognizing the power of the voice and social impact in education. To this end, I founded an award-winning and successful charter school in the state of NJ (Jersey City Global Charter School), authored the book, The Pedagogy of Consciousness (2021), and developed the Podcast ReconstructEd to shine a light on unconventional practices and stories in education, celebrate new approaches to leadership, teaching, and learning, while magnifying the voices of those that remain at the forefront of it all: leaders, educators, students, and caregivers.

The Collective Conscious was born out of the innate passion and purpose to fuel change and propel dynamic transformation in the educational industry to reinvent systems of schooling and develop innovative pathways relevant to the needs of learners.

The mission of the Conscious Collective is to rethink and transform the traditional architecture and design of educational institutions by cultivating and sustaining a culture of intellectual continuity for a community of learners committed to personal and professional growth in the pursuit of freedom, knowledge, and social impact.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When I think about my biggest accomplishments thus far, I am often reminded of my ability to transform the mindset of others, empower their inner voice and restore a sense of confidence that has otherwise been lost.

Everyone in life has a different journey and path to lead. We encounter similar experiences that mold our perceptions of the world. Whether these experiences are good, bad, or indifferent, they offer invaluable lessons and resources to navigate our life's path. As members of humanity, we should aim to bring out the best in each other and help each other uncover our innate passion and purpose, and discover the light is emanating from within. This, for me, has been my biggest accomplishment: being of service to others.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

It is easy to become complacent in life and willing to accept things "as is." In fact, it's much easier to remain comfortable, avoid taking risks and uproot our livelihood as opposed to pursuing our dreams and passions because it means we are traversing into the unknown.

For me, embracing the transition from working as a full-time superintendent to taking the leap and starting my own business has been riddled with a sense of anxiety, excitement, and fear and has undoubtedly been the hardest thing I have encountered. Why? Because so many people depend on me.

At times, having an idea for a business and stepping completely outside my comfort zone has even led to self-doubt. While others couldn't understand my business idea or the path I was taking, the truth was I believed in it, and that's all that mattered! I have had to willingly accept that our dreams and vision are not for everyone to understand…they are a gift that only we can unlock.

Simply put, we have to be unafraid to walk the journey alone because others don't understand. Becoming a business owner implies the need for us to invest time in reflecting upon our craft and how we show up in the world for others, but most importantly, how we show up for ourselves, even in the face of adversity.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. As a new business owner, establish the core values that guide your organization, operations, and your leadership. My values center on accountability, community, collaboration, integrity, honesty, transparency, and social impact.
  2. Make it a point to align with others who think in limitless ways and can offer progressive ideas to advance your ideas and vision! Build a support system of entrepreneurs to guide and mentor you along the way, and don't be afraid to ask for help whenever needed.
  3. I firmly believe that if you can dream it, then you can conceive it! There is no idea that it is too big or too small to make a reality. And when our ideas come from our heart, it's important to capture them to create the impact in the world we wish to see because they are a piece of us! Believe in yourself, take a risk and give yourself a chance to soar!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://nadirajack727.wixsite.com/my-site
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnadira.jack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadirajack/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reconstructed/id1581213566
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-nadira-jack-985a8563/
Book: https://amzn.to/3Q8363h

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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