After almost 11 years of spearheading the development of business initiatives for multi-billion dollar investment firms, Janice Gonzalez decided to bet on herself.
The Panama born long-time Chicago resident struck out on her own and created JMG Consulting, a company that specializes in strategic development and planning for large scale and boutique businesses with a focus on marketing strategies, organizational assessment, product development, and training & development in efforts to assist company’s achieve their revenue, productivity, and profitability goals.
In addition to her consulting work, Gonzalez has also been heavily involved in a number of community-based projects and has worked within the education sector helping some CPS schools to develop curriculum for second language courses and S.T.E.M classes.
N’DIGO recently sat down with Gonzalez to learn more about her background and the work she does with JMG Consulting.
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Janice Gonzalez?
Janice Gonzalez: I am an Afro-Latina who passionately loves her family and friends. I am a daughter, a sister, and a creator. I am a passionate ray of sunshine, and I take life by the horns.
What are three words family and friends would use to describe you?
Creative. Compassionate. Determined.
As a child, what did you dream you’d do for a living as an adult?
Though I didn’t have a specific business type in mind at the time, I always envisioned myself as a businesswoman wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. Later on, I dreamed of being a doctor until I realized that I don’t do blood and gore at all. By the time I stepped foot on the highest of 7 hills at Florida A&M University, I was set on becoming a fashion major, but fate led me to become a business major with a concentration in finance instead, and I didn’t look back.
Please tell us about your consulting company.
JMG Consulting is my independent practice. I focus on strategic development and planning in the financial services space, nonprofits, and health and wellness services. Although I’m a team of one, I often collaborate with other consulting agencies to meet my client’s needs.
What are some of your day-to-day duties/responsibilities?
First and foremost, I have to manage my schedule. That includes scheduling calls with clients, reading through documents, researching, and preparing strategic plans. I assess current strategies to determine what is and isn’t working and then figure out how to solve problems efficiently. Everything is an effort to deliver meaningful and useful results to clients.
What are the three keys to being a good consultant?
• Communication – Be a good listener
• Problem Solve – Your value lies in the effectiveness of the solutions you present
• Know your stuff and ask the right questions
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
Though I stand 6 feet tall, I am afraid of heights. Despite this fear, I have managed to try skydiving and paragliding. I think my need for adventure trumps my fear of heights.
What is your current favorite book?
The Healing Wisdom of Africa by Malidoma Patrice Somé
Best advice to young professionals?
As cliche as it may sound, as the saying goes, your network absolutely equals your net worth. Another thing I would advise is to seek mentorship. The experience and knowledge you’ll receive from someone experienced in your chosen field will be invaluable to you. Lastly, I encourage everyone to always be learning. Things are constantly evolving, and you can never know too much about your profession.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” – William Shakespeare.
What’s next for Janice Gonzalez and JMG Consulting?
Growth. I plan to continue growing JMG Consulting and building out a dedicated team that will attract a variety of new clients and make JMG a household name known for delivering results.
For more information on JMG Consulting, feel free to send an inquiry to Janice.JMGConsulting@gmail.com.
