Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Newell.
Jo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My dream of becoming an entrepreneur began in the fourth grade. I started a side hustle selling pens until the principal shut it down, but the spark was lit. Throughout high school and college, my friend MJ and I were always building small ventures. My parents, immigrants from Jamaica, always supported me, but they didn’t know how to nurture my entrepreneurial spirit. So, I chose a practical path and went to college to become a teacher. Life, however, had different plans.
I moved to Orlando in 2008, and finding a stable job in education was tough because of the recession. One day, while shopping for work clothes at Ann Taylor Loft, I ran into another teacher who mentioned she worked there part-time. With bills and student loans piling up, I thought, Why not? Within six months, I was promoted to management and was earning more than I would have as a teacher in Florida. From then on, I was recruited by other companies and kept advancing, eventually reaching the corporate level.
At the time, I thought retail and corporate leadership would be my long-term path. No, it wasn’t entrepreneurship, but it strengthened my business acumen and taught me foundational lessons I now recognize as key components to my success.
After marrying my husband and deciding that Orlando was home, I became intentional about working with organizations that make a meaningful impact in our community. Just before stepping into entrepreneurship, I served as an executive at the Orlando Economic Partnership. One experience that stayed with me was leading the Orlando Regional Chamber.
Through the Chamber, a core component of the Partnership, I created programs and led community initiatives designed to strengthen local businesses. In January 2021, I became the first Black woman to lead the Chamber in its 100-plus-year history. During that time, my team and I implemented strategies to help local businesses move forward and rebuild stronger in the wake of the pandemic. I was deeply inspired by the resilience, grit, and creativity of our business community, and that chapter of my career proved pivotal, giving me the knowledge, confidence, and perspective I needed to bet on myself.
In 2023, I founded Monday Strategies, a professional development and coaching company. It’s a full-circle moment for me because it combines my love for teaching and development with entrepreneurship.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No—lol—definitely not. Aside from the common challenges entrepreneurs face early on, my biggest struggle was my mindset.
There’s a concept called Positive Intelligence (PQ), which measures the percentage of time your mind works for you instead of against you, basically, your mental fitness. When I started my company in 2023, my mental fitness wasn’t where it needed to be. Entrepreneurship demands resilience, discipline, faith, and unshakable self-belief that you must actively develop. This journey has pushed me to strengthen my mindset every single day, and that continuous growth has been just as valuable as any business milestone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Monday Strategies is a professional development and coaching company that helps professionals and organizations sharpen their leadership skills, build confidence, and create actionable strategies that drive real results.
Our services help individuals and teams strengthen leadership capabilities, build confidence, and cultivate a growth mindset, all while applying practical strategies that drive measurable results. Through 1:1 coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements, we equip clients with actionable tools and strategic guidance to promote growth, alignment, and lasting transformation.
What sets Monday Strategies apart is that the work is rooted in real experience. I’ve spent years leading teams, navigating career shifts, and building the strategies needed to succeed across various industries. That perspective allows me to understand the challenges professionals face at all levels, not just from a theoretical view.
The name Monday Strategies conveys a simple idea: every Monday is a new beginning. A fresh start. An opportunity to move forward with intention.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I believe in the power of personal and professional development because it can open doors and create opportunities. Don’t let fear hold you back. Never stop learning, evolving, and becoming. You are the most important investment you will ever make. That doesn’t mean your path has to be entrepreneurship; it simply means taking responsibility for discovering what matters to you and pursuing it with intention and courage.
Your potential is waiting. The question is: will you step into it?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mondaystrategies.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mondaystrategies/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-newell-6b3415112/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MondayStrategies
