Alumni success strategy: Jacqueline M. Baker, leadership consultant
The Protocol School of Washington has a robust alumni network of more than 5,000 graduates from over 80 countries representing the highest caliber of protocol and etiquette professionals in their respective fields.
Graduates from our Intercultural Etiquette and Protocol Trainer course have built reputable businesses of their own. Completing PSOW’s five-day program prepares you to train others on intercultural etiquette, business protocol, emotional intelligence, executive entertaining, professional image, and cultural awareness: skills that entrepreneurs find advantageous in reaching new clientele and expanding into new markets.
We’ll be featuring alumni success stories here on our blog. For this edition, meet IE graduate, speaker and leadership consultant Jacqueline M. Baker.
Please give us a brief overview of what your current career looks like.
I am responsible for helping leaders become better leaders through my work as the founder and principal Consultant at Scarlet Communications. We work with Fortune 500s, community organizations and individuals to help them see their own self leadership potential and elevate in their journey as they advance to leading others, leading communities and movements. My career has also benefitted from my work as an author of two books, including my most recent release, “The Unexpected Leader: Discovering The Leaders Within You!”
Please describe your "pivot" to becoming an entrepreneur.
I've technically been in the entrepreneurship space for a long time, but I did embrace the opportunity to lead and serve as Vice President of Startup Programming at AARP Innovation Labs. This very fulfilling work supported my life thesis of helping people elevate to their next level as I was responsible for discovering and supporting startup growth. After many years of doing this work, I gave myself permission to return to full-time entrepreneurship and elevate the work in the leadership space at Scarlet.
When did you take the IE course with PSOW? Why did you decide to sign up?
I started Scarlet with the sole purpose of teaching etiquette to teen girls and over time the company has grown to impact many other audiences. I took the IE course as a commitment to myself to embrace a life of lifelong learning and to continue to have tools and resources in my catalogue that helped people develop into the most optimal version of themselves.
What did you find most helpful about the course?
The most helpful part of the course was both the intellect of the instructors and the community. While knowledge is critical, I've learned that it is also your curated or organic community that keeps you accountable, excited and in spaces where collaboration opportunities permeate. I still value and cherish many of the relationships that originated in the IE course.
How has the IE course credential positively impacted your business?
Credentialing is often a way that potential partnering organizations see you and your organization as a viable candidate. The IE has created an additional layer of confidence as we approach meaningful business relationships and opportunities to impact.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
I enjoy providing tips, tools, resources and direct impact opportunities to help leaders become better leaders and helping organizations become better organizations.
What would you say to someone who's considering breaking out on their own - and thinking about using the IE course as a starting point?
Ironically, I own a few trademarks, one of them being Just Start™. So, it should be no surprise that my advice is going to be just that. Start now with the tools in your possession and use valuable resources, training and proven courses like IE to help elevate your work and your opportunities to impact others.
