Hi! I'm Jennifer Knowles, Growth and Change Expert for Leaders and Teams

► Who I Help
I work with:
-Leaders who feel stuck and need clarity
-Teams facing change and struggling with communication overload
-Organizations seeking leadership development and talent management support
-High achievers desiring coaching to unlock growth, well-being and career advancement

If you've ever asked:
"How do I engage and retain top talent?"
"What's the best way to prepare my team for organizational change?"
"How can I improve leadership skills across my company?"
      - this is where I can help.

My Mission:
►Amplify the talents of your leaders and teams, unleashing human potential for exponential growth

What I Deliver:

► I create custom coaching, training and keynotes that align with organizational goals, blending research-backed insights with practical application. 

Together, we can:
1.  Increase leadership potential
2. Transform corporate culture
3.  Elevate careers to new heights
4.  Transform change into opportunity
5.  Build productive teams
6.  Create happy workplace environments

► Challenges Organizations Face Today
-Rising stress and burnout among employees
-Constant change and uncertainty in business environments
-Retention struggles with top talent
-Engagement gaps leading to lost productivity
-Leaders needing new skills for future-ready workplaces

► Benefits of Working with Dr. Jennifer

Organizations that partner with me see measurable improvements in:
1. Talent Attraction & Retention- Reduce turnover and retain top performers
2. Positive Work Environments- Foster collaboration and well-being
3. Change Readiness- Equip teams to embrace transitions with confidence
4. Stronger Teamwork- Increase trust, clarity and efficiency
5. Strategic Clarity- Provide a clear roadmap for success
6. Productivity & Engagement- Unlock more energy, focus, and results

► Client Outcomes
 "Dr. Jennifer Knowles is a beacon of inspiration in leadership and talent development. Her ability to seamlessly blend research-backed insights with practical applications has consistently led to positive transformations, empowered teams, and elevated leadership capabilities.”

 "We love Dr. Jennifer. She leads with a big heart and has lots of passion for her work. She cares about us and has the gift to take complex ideas and break them down into simple steps."

► Services
1. Leadership coaching (1:1 and group)
2. Change management programs
3. Talent development workshops
4. Keynote speaking on growth, change, and leadership
5. Research-informed organizational development solutions



Jennifer Knowles

Did you watch this over the weekend? A man climbed Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world, with no ropes or harness. 508 meters. And he made it!


My kids knew about this guy, and told me I had to watch live in Netflix. And so I did. The climb was scheduled to last up to 8 hours, and he made it to the top in less than 2 hours.

What makes somebody risk his life to do something so bold and dangerous? 
He has a wife and two daughters. He could have died.

Once he was at the top, he just stood there on top of the building, and even took a selfie. I kept thinking, "Oh gosh, he made it to the top, I hope the wind doesn't knock him down now!"

What's the difference between reckless and bold?

Research from the Journal of Risk Research shows we're terrible at evaluating risk.

We overestimate rare, dramatic risks (like free-climbing skyscrapers).
We underestimate common, quiet risks (like staying in a job that's slowly killing us).

This got me thinking: What is my version of 508 meters? Do I dare to go after those big dreams? 


📌 What is your version of 508 meters? 

📌 📌 Did you watch this over the weekend too? I'm curious your thoughts on this!

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Before, my 4 words were Purpose, Money, Love, Change. Love is the only one that stayed consistent. I love the evolution here. 

PhD in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change. Dissertation on Women's Leadership with a focus on Authenticity, Balance, and Challenge in the Workplace

I help develop effective leaders + high-performing teams | Best-Selling Author | Professor of Business | Tedx Speaker

Hi! I'm Jennifer Knowles, a Growth and Change Doctor for Leaders and Teams

I work with leaders and teams who:
Are stuck
Need to implement change 
Desire 1:1 coaching  
Seek leadership development training 
Experience communication overload
Need clarity
Value well-being
Desire growth
Could benefit from talent management support

My Mission:
►Amplify the talents of your leaders and teams and unleash human potential for exponential growth

Together, we can:
💡 Ignite leadership potential
🌐 Transform corporate culture
🚀 Elevate careers to new heights
💡 Transform change into opportunity
🌐 Build productive teams
🚀 Create happy workplace environments

I craft courses and keynotes that seamlessly align with your organizational goals, leveraging the latest research and applications.

► Problems Organizations Currently Face: 
Let’s face it. The workplace is a constant landscape of change. Employees are stressed, companies face new and increasing pressures. As employers, we are striving to find new and better ways to actively engage employees, reduce turnover, raise the level of employee productivity, and increase team effectiveness.

Leadership and talent development isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavor—it's about laying the groundwork for sustained success.

► Benefits of Working with Dr. Jennifer:

By working with me, I can create customized programs to support your organization.

⭐️ Talent Attraction and Retention
⭐️ Promote Positive Work Environment
⭐️ Embrace Change 
⭐️ Improved Teamwork
⭐️ A Clearer Direction for Continuous Success and Improvement
⭐️ Increased Productivity and Engagement

I will give your employees the confidence and ability to enact change within your organization and be future-ready.

I train, facilitate, and provide coaching services.

Let's Connect and Collaborate

🗣 "Dr. Jennifer Knowles is a beacon of inspiration in leadership and talent development. Her ability to seamlessly blend research-backed insights with practical applications has consistently led to positive transformations, empowered teams, and elevated leadership capabilities.”

🗣 "We love Dr. Jennifer. She leads with a big heart and has lots of passion for her work. She cares about us and has the gift to take complex ideas and break them down into simple steps."

21 Tools to Find More Time and Live More Fully

Change Mindset Mastery 3 Day E-Course

TEDx : Positively Persevere to Change Your World

I help develop effective leaders + high-performing teams | Harvard Executive Leadership Coach | Best-Selling Author | Professor of Business | Tedx Speaker

I went to the grocery story and the guy in front of me at the check out line stared me down... 


I'm standing there, in line, with one hand on the grocery cart. In my other hand was my phone, reading the latest celebrity mindtrash. 

Do you ever get the feeling that somebody is watching you? 

Well, I did, so I looked up. And the tall, middle-aged man wearing a Bluey tshirt (anybody with kids 10 and under will know who bluey is- a blue dog), was looking right at me.

I look at him, and then look away, thinking "okay, this is weird, just ignore him" and then I looked back. He was still staring at me.

I thought: "IS THERE FOOD STUCK IN MY TEETH?"

So I cracked a slight smile at him (flood him with kindness, right?!). 

What did he want? 
What was in my teeth?
Did I nip him with the grocery cart? 
Did I take the last box of oreos?

 Just then, he yelled, "Liam, over here" and his little boy ran over towards him.

Turns out, he was never looking at me. All that nonsense was just in my head. 

Just like at work. We so often think that everybody is paying attention to us. They're going to notice every flaw, and that piece of lettuce in our teeth.

But people are mostly worried about their own stuff, their own work, their own lives.

Lesson to me: Go out there and do your thing, because nobody is really paying attention. And when they finally do, maybe you've really made it :-)

Jennifer Knowles, Ph.D

4 things I learned from seeing the ball drop in NYC Times Square that I can apply to business and life.


1. Think differently.
[Most people lined up at 10am in the freezing cold to experience the ball drop at midnight. We found a way to see the ball drop with the masses and stand outside for less than an hour]

2. Experience new things.
[I find the best way I learn and grow is to push myself in unknown situations. Don't stay comfortable- stay on the edge, just a bit and see what magic happens]

3. We're more similar than we are different.
[I was amazed at all the languages of the people we encountered standing in the NYC ball drop pen - all standing together hoping for the best, ringing in the new year, shedding the old behind, and in with the new]

4. Look for the good.
[Assume the best in people, not the worst. I encountered many people in NYC honking unnecessarily, yelling at each other, pushing, shoving- geez! But when we believe everyone is doing the best they can, and understand their intentions, I believe a bit more good will peek through]

At work, when we look for the good in our teams, think differently as we tackle problems, recognize we all have common and shared goals as we're more similar than we are different, and experience new things as we challenge the status quo, we can thrive in work and life.

Happy New Year! May your year be filled with what you hope for!

Trying something new, and being okay to suck at it! See that beautiful pot below? I didn't make it- my instructor did, after I destroyed mine.


Have you ever tried the pottery wheel? It's harder than it looks.

I tried it once as a kid, and it took me decades to try again.

We went as a family event. We even had a private instructor. 1:1 instruction, easy peasy, right? Wrong.

Within 5 minutes of using the wheel, my pot plopped out and it was so bad, that I had to start over. Apparently the clay can get air bubbles in it, and then you're toast. 

Meanwhile, my son's a natural, making a beautiful pot, with very little instruction.

Getting showed up by my kid. Good for him! Trying to tell myself this was fun, right?

It was actually fun.

Trying new things.
Embracing the growth mindset.
Challenging ourselves in new ways.

This is what life is all about.

📌 When was a time you tried something new, and it was way harder than you expected? 

ps- I've been a teacher and coach in various contexts my whole adult life. Credentials matter some, but real lived experiences count a whole lot more(like screwing up on a pottery wheel)!  If I can help support you, send me a DM. I'd love to connect.

Neuroscientists found that your brain's decision-making peaks at 10 AM and crashes by 3 PM.

So why do we wait until the afternoon to make big decisions?

Here's another : Google spent two years studying 180 teams to figure out what made some successful and others mediocre.

They called it Project Aristotle.

And was all about psychological safety.

The feeling that you can speak up without getting shut down, humiliated, or punished.

Here's the problem: 67% of employees say they've received feedback that made them LESS likely to speak up.

We're accidentally teaching people to stay quiet.
When you want to speak up, and you don't.

For fear of the boss
For fear of what other's will think
Is it dumb? Has it already been said?

I have watched this happen so many times.
You want to say something, but you don't.


The best idea for you and your group this year?
It's probably sitting in someone's head.

📌 What's a time when you stayed quiet but you really had something to say?

Happy New Year!! May 2026 be filled with joy, prosperity, and all things good!

I took my family to NYC to ring in the new year watching the ball drop - it was quite the memorable experience!

That time when my story was on the front page of the WSJ (!)... I called the reporter and asked her to take it down. People were criticizing me as a mom and as a human, and I didn't like it.

The WSJ journalist practically laughed at me with my request...

She looked at the comments and said, "This is nothing... The commenters are going easy on you. You should see what they say most of the time..."

That was a big lessons on how to put on my big girl panties and toughen up.

Here's how the story went:
A few years ago, my children's lemonade got shut down by police due to a complaint and lack of permits.

Turns out lemonade stands were technically illegal in my city and they were in cities and states across the USA.

So I rallied people together, and we got lemonade stand laws changed in Denver, kid business laws changed in Colorado, and I partnered with CountryTime Lemonade/Kraft Heinz, and we got laws changed in 17 states across the country.

It was meaningful work.
It was visible work.
And it attracted criticism.

Here’s leaders and high performers can take away from this: 

If you want to do meaningful work, you have to develop thicker skin.
Not by becoming hardened or cynical—but by becoming more grounded.

Here’s how:
1. Stop confusing visibility with danger
 Criticism feels threatening, but most of the time, it’s just noise—not a real risk.

2. Don’t outsource your self-worth to commenters
 The loudest voices are rarely the wisest ones

3. Expect pushback when you’re changing something
 If no one is uncomfortable, you’re probably not moving the needle.

4. Let criticism inform—not define—you
 Listen for signal. Ignore the rest.

5. Remember: growth requires exposure
 You can’t stay hidden and make an impact.

The whole experience was a lot of fun. I couldn't have dreamed it up if I tried. 

Here's what being in the WSJ taught me:

To have confidence to stay standing when opinions fly.

📌 What was a time when you had to put on your big kid panties and toughen up?

Did anyone else wake up to cold and snow? Research shows your brain makes 35,000 decisions a day. I made my first one at 6am- stay under the warm blankets or get up and exercise.

The decision was tough, it was close, but I got up.

Of course my little white miniature schnauzer wanted to go outside, so I put on my longest warmest coat I own, and we ventured outside and froze.

He rolled around and frolicked.

Me, not so much. 

Cornell researchers found that we burn through our decision-making capacity like a phone battery.

Every choice depletes it a little more.

What to wear. What to eat. Which email to answer first. Whether to have that hard conversation or wait another day.

By noon, your battery's at 47% and you're making choices with the mental clarity of someone who just ran a marathon in their sleep.

That's decision fatigue.
And it's killing your productivity before you even get to the office.

The best leaders know this.

They don't try to make better decisions all day long.

They make fewer decisions.

Here's what I'm testing this week:

Eliminating: What to wear, what to eat for breakfast, when to work out, whether to check my phone first.

Protecting energy for my most important goals.

The cold is miserable.
But the clarity is worth it.

📌 What's one low-stakes decision you could eliminate this week to save energy for what matters?

📌 📌 Tell me about the cold and snow you got!

Courage is the willingness to show up and be all in when you can’t predict the outcome” - Brene Brown


Do you have big goals for this year? 

I do. 

I have thought about doing these things for YEARS. And why haven't I?

Because I was scared.
Because I was "too busy."
Because I hid behind perfectionism.
Because because because.

And a million other reasons.

You know what is FINALLY causing me to move? 

I'm removing the barriers in my mind.
Trying things without attaching significance to the outcome.
Removing the pressure I put on myself.
Focusing on having more fun.

Who knows how it will all turn out, but we owe it to ourselves to try, right? 

Hopefully this resonates with you to finally do that thing this year, and turn goals into reality :-) 

📌 When was a time when you did something new at work and were unsure what the outcome would be?

You know that thing about boiling a frog slowly?


Turns out sudden cold shocks you into action faster than gradual decline.

Ew. Why did I write that? I happen to like frogs, just not when my son brings them home from the sewer. 

This morning: 16 degrees and I launched out of bed like I'd been ejected.

No snooze. No scrolling. No negotiating.
Cold doesn't let you ease into change.

Research shows 70% of organizational transformations happen in response to crisis, not proactive planning.

We don't fix things when they're declining.
We fix them when they're on fire.

Why do we wait for the crisis?

What are you tolerating because it hasn't completely broken yet?
The underperforming team member.
The strategy that stopped working in 2023.

You don't need to wait for the disaster.
You can decide that "declining slowly" is the same as "broken."

📌 What's one thing that's been slowly declining and not working that you know you need to deal with this week?

For years, I was fortunate to be part of this - DFS Group, owned by LVMH. Developing employees, building leadership development programs, traveling internationally, getting some amazing luxury swag (!), and most important, building relationships with incredible leaders I'm still connected to.

My son took his first steps in the ocean when he traveled with me on a work trip to this very location in Hawaii. 

When I left my FT role there, I started my own business, and they were my first client (a multibillion dollar organization!).

Getting off the plane the first time I went to Hong Kong for work, I was so nervous, I didn't know the language! But then after time, I was traveling there monthly, and found my favorite local markets to shop and the best reflexologist ever. 

So much to be thankful for. I loved this job and this organization.

The world changes, business changes, consumer needs change. And we have to evolve to stay competitive. 

I am grateful.

📌 Did you every have a job that you absolutely loved?

DFS Group has decided to exit its long-standing Hawaii downtown and airport business, bringing the curtain down on one of the most remarkable chapters in travel retail history.

The move is in line with a review of the company’s global store network revealed by Chairman & CEO Ed Brennan in an interview with The Moodie Davitt Report in November 2024 and underlines how profoundly trading conditions have changed in Hawaii over recent years.

Our story incudes the views of our Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, who describes DFS’s decision to quit its Hawaii business as “momentous and poignant”.

Read it here: https://lnkd.in/ehTPY6hE

#travelretail

My latest article I wrote for Business Insider is up! If you're curious about traveling to Dubai, check it out! And here's LI relevance: nothing exposes your habits faster than being somewhere completely unfamiliar.

https://lnkd.in/d66cyxnE

My son convinced me to take the family to Dubai through a PowerPoint presentation.

He hit all the points he knew I'd be looking for- cost, safety, logistics, adventure, etc., and he nailed it. So we went for spring break.

When we arrived, everything was different.
The people were different
The culture was different
The buildings were different
The food was different

I could go on and on...

We were definitely outside of our comfort zone. 

Our professional habits show up fast, especially when we're out of our normal:

Do we get rigid—or curious?
Do we rush to control—or slow down to learn?
 Do we cling to what’s familiar—or adapt in real time?

Here’s what I’ve learned—both as a leader and a coach:

Discomfort isn’t a weakness.
 It’s information.

And stretching ourselves into that unknown is how we really grow and learn.

📌 Where is someplace that you traveled to, that really pushed your comfort zones?

Open article: I brought my American family to Dubai for the first time. Here are 4 things I wish I knew before we went. by businessinsider.com

I brought my American family to Dubai for the first time. Here are 4 things I wish I knew before we went.

I’m sharing for my amazing student Ajay Coleman, CMQ OE, LSSGB . If you meet this criteria, reach out directly to her, and thanks!

Corporate Manager, Program Management | Adjunct Faculty | Certified Manager of Quality & Organizational Excellence | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt | Technical Communication Professional

View Ajay Coleman, CMQ OE, LSSGB’s profile

HELP! I am officially at the last domino of my dissertation, and I cannot knock it over without help. I am in the final stretch of my doctoral research, literally the home stretch.

The only thing standing between me and finishing is finding volunteers willing to talk with me about their work experiences. No money, no sales pitch, no “gotcha.” Just listening and learning.

I am studying blue-collar workers, which in real-life terms means people who work with their hands, their skills, and their experience every day. If this sounds like you, you likely qualify:
• Manufacturing or factory workers
 • Mechanics, diesel techs, auto techs
 • Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs
 • Construction workers, laborers, welders
 • Truck drivers, delivery drivers, heavy equipment operators
 • Warehouse workers, material handlers
 • Maintenance and facilities workers
 • Mining, oil field, rail, transportation workers
 • Skilled trades of any kind
 • Union or non-union, both welcome

If your job involves showing up, getting dirty, fixing things, moving things, building things, or keeping operations running, this study is about you.

Why am I asking? Because blue-collar voices are constantly spoken about and far too rarely listened to. This research is meant to document real experiences, real barriers, and real knowledge that often goes unnoticed but keeps organizations alive.

Participation is:
 • Confidential
 • Respectful
 • Interview-based (your story, your words)
 • No judgment, no right or wrong answers
 • No monetary incentive, just genuine appreciation

I know everyone is busy. I know time is precious. But if you or someone you know could spare a little time, you would be helping me finish years of work and helping ensure these voices are represented with dignity and accuracy.

If you qualify, or know someone who might, please comment, message me, or share this post. Even sharing helps more than you know.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me push this last domino over.
#BlueCollarWorkers
#SkilledTrades
#WorkforceResearch
#DoctoralResearch
#DissertationLife
#Manufacturing
#Construction
#Transportation
#Operations
#IndustrialWork

Ever feel like an imposter? Me too. 


I’m not sure it ever goes away. 

I had a call with my mentor today. He is someone I admire who has done all the things, owned many successful businesses, leads others, makes oodles of money, loves hard, loves hard…

Even he doubts himself, but he goes for it anyways. 

How many of us live in:

The shoulds
The some days 
Maybe tomorrow 
The whens

But what if you went for it today?
One tiny little step 

Start today 
You’re worth it 

Ps- I’m right along side you!

RS&H

inspect structural work for bridges, demo on roadways, paving, form setting for drainage and Utility boxes, utility relocations

Senior Civil Construction Inspector

Binkley & Barfield | DCCM

Inspect and over see inspectors on utilities construction and relocations, and highway construction projects

Gulf Coast Region and West Texas Region Chief Construction Inspector

Observe, inspect, test materials, and contractors for construction compliance and specs of construction of highways, bridges, underground utilities and drainage. Inspect utility adjustments and relocation for new construction of roads, highways, bridges, and utilities.

Construction Inspector

ANGEL BROTHERS ENTERPRISES, LTD

Project management, change order proposals, estimates, scheduling materials, work schedule, testing for materials, conflict resolution, scheduling personnel, directing daily activities on projects, monthly progress meetings, daily reports, emails, equipment servicing and maintenance.

Foreman/ Project Manager

TXDOT

Maintenance worker 2 years, Supt.5 years, General Engineer/ Engineering Specialist for 13 1/2 years. Maintenance of highways, Supt. over maintenance of highways and routine maintenance project, emergency response for weather, accidents, Maintenance budgets, bridge inspections, HR, supplies and materials, safety meetings, evaluations. General Engineering Specialist 3 inspecting highway bridge, roadway, utility construction, QC/QA over asphalt and testing, training less experienced personal, testing materials, monthly estimates, monthly progress meetings, preconstruction meetings, reviewing project plans, change orders, project closeouts.

General Engineering/Eng. Specialist 3

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation

Maintenance and new construction of all electrical, instrumentation, computer systems in 6 plant locations. Including all laser activated, photo cell activated, relay logic, automated systems, all 38,500 to 110 volt AC/DC electricity sub stations and power banks in plants,

Journeyman Electrician 

MCSI

All instrumentation, electrical, and computer systems construction and testing, programming, in petroleum plants. Start of new plant systems, existing plant systems, and tie ins.

Journeyman Electrician

HB Zachery

Construction of all electrical, and computer systems in plant.

electrician Helper class 3

New construction of electrical and instrumentation systems.

Electrician Helper class 3

Paul Electrical Services

Revamp of all old electrical systems for Maryland Club Coffee, All electrical, computer systems, instrumentation systems, and 6 miles of automated conveyor systems of Southern Division warehouse for Toys are US

Electricians Helper

USAF

Pavement, Equipment, Railroad Specialist. Maintenance and construction of roadways, airfield, base housing streets, pipeline maintenance, new construction of under ground radar sites, Project manager over airfield construction on 1 mile emergency runway, and reconstruction of 1 mile of the 2 mile main runway, airfield lighting, barrier cables, rehab of barrier cables on USS Enterprise and Nimitz Air craft carriers. Maintenance Supt. on all railroad tracks for secret and top secret locations. Supt over graveyard snow removal shift. Military lead man over airfield maintenance crews. Other duties can not be discussed.

55150

Enjoying life and work

5 months as senior inspector on SH 99 project inspecting Junction box construction, bridge substructure construction, columns, caps, abutments, inverted caps, MSE walls at bridge abutments, cement treated road mix, box culvert installation, bridge demo, sstr demo, existing roadway demo, utility construction, hydro excavation on pipeline locations, cement treated sand stabilization.
4 years 2 months chief inspector construction/utility inspector for Binkley Barfield. Consulting Engineering
 3.25 yrs foreman /field project manager @ Angel Brothers Enterprises managing field operation and construction management of assigned city, county, TxDot project.
5.5 yrs. USAF civil engineering, pavement and equipment specialist, 2.5 in maintenance of pavement and airfields, railroads, and 3 in project management in roads, bridges, airfields, pipelines, satellite communication systems and on base housing areas, management and maintenance supervisor.
5 yrs commercial and industrial journeyman class 3 electrical maintenance in plants and all phases of construction of electrical, instrumentation, and computer systems in new and existing plants.
20.5 yrs. TXDOT and private sector in highway construction and  maintenance,  7 yrs in maintenance, 5 as maintenance supervisor and 13.5 yrs in project inspection/ management and QC/QM in all construction materials. 3 yrs as foreman/project manager public sector on all phases of heavy highway new construction, rehab, and new subdivision roadways, underground utilities, and city streets beginning at Beaumont Dist, then for Corpus Christi Dist, the Beaumont, Lufkin Fist and finally Beaumont Dist till retiring In August 2015.

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