Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Rambin.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started this journey as a young woman seeking a career change, looking for an opportunity that would give me purpose in life. I worked in the social service field as an employment counselor for 3 years leading employment assistance programs in partnership with the county and my former employer. I loved my job helping people with disabilities obtain meaningful employment.
This job helped me grow so much as a person and as a leader that I knew instantly that I wanted to make this job my own because it gave me so much intrinsic value. In my field of work, I began to notice that minorities were being subjected to low-paying jobs, it was difficult for them to build rapport with the other workers, and there was no real passion behind making sure they could achieve their goals of getting good-paying jobs. There was a lot of bias and discrimination in this field from what I could see. So, I made it my mission to ensure that, I invested, protected, and advocated for the rights and interests of the people that I served. COVID-19 hit and I was in my last semester in college at Inver Hills and I left my job behind.
Everyone was unemployed, laid off, or an essential worker. Then George Floyd happened and it devasted the Black community. As I grieved the loss of our dear brother, in my spirit I was called to action. How could they do this while so many people of color are without jobs in the middle of a pandemic? I knew right then and there that I was going to be the vessel to connect the BIPOC community to meaningful jobs, free career pathways programs, apprenticeships, trades, and entrepreneurship training. While also working with employers, nonprofits, corporations, and the government to bridge the gap and be an advocate for the things that we need in the workforce to be successful.
From this approach, I wanted to lead people to start admiring their careers and holding them with higher regard. So, for me, it was giving our people the knowledge and power to control their career narratives so that they could live out their life purpose through meaningful work or entrepreneurship. This is why I created The Prestigious Professional and this is why my business has been successful for the past 2 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been optimistic. I take everything that comes with it the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s all a part of the learning experience for me. When I got on this journey, I adopted a positive mindset, so even if I fail at something I don’t take it personally or beat myself up about it.
I just find new ways to be creative in growing my business because I know it serves a great purpose for our community. So, yes it has been a smooth process for me because I plan accordingly, do my research, and set out to achieve my goals. I’ve accomplished a lot within these two in the half years that I am very proud of.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Prestigious Professional is a community-based professional development firm in the social service field. We provide cultural competence and justice-oriented employment services, workforce development training, and small business coaching for black, indigenous, people of color who are students, job seekers, career professionals, and entrepreneurs. We offer both career and business services to our community here in the Greater Twin City area. Our target customers are working-class professionals between the ages of 18-65 years old. Prestigious Professional is a social enterprise that combats social justice issues like unemployment, economic security, racial inequality, and discrimination within the workplace.
Coach Jackie is a trailblazing community leader on the rise. She is a board member of the Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Board and a Member of the National Small Business Association in Washington D.C. As well as being the Lead, Army Reserve Employment Specialist for the State of Minnesota & WI. Coach Jackie is making a way to lead people down the right path toward creating their unique professional brands and legacies while building toward generational wealth in their careers. My educational background is in Social Work and Human Services. I am a Minnesota Certified Human Service Assistant. I like to say that my overall career title is Employment & Economic Counselor. As I continue to grow in this field, I find myself serving every demographic of people (minorities, military, disabled, ex-offenders, youth, and seniors).
Over the past 6 years, I have served over 100 individuals who may have been job seekers, career professionals, and entrepreneurs in establishing the true purpose and meaning behind their work and brands. I dedicate my work to fighting social justice issues that impact Black Lives and other people of color in the workforce. I enjoy breaking societal norms and helping professionals of color achieve their ultimate goal of sustaining personal growth and success in their careers.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have to give a significant shoutout to my former coach Lissa Jones, When I first embraced this journey, it was her and my coaching sessions that pulled me through this. They were always so empowering and after every time I met with her, I just received the power to keep going. “I’ll never forget her telling me that, this business will take off before you even realize it and you’ll be trying to keep up with it”, and to this day, I feel those words and I am currently living it. Lissa provided me with a great sense of knowledge, and aspiration to serve my community with pride and love for it without a doubt, can you dig it? (Lissa Jones voice)
Nancy Korsah aka BIG CEO, and owner of the Black Business Enterprise has been a great role model and influential leader in my journey. The way she pours into us black business owners is outstanding and she does it with grace. Her humility. humbleness and integrity make her a great leader in my eyes. Her collectiveness and always wanting us to do our best, have inspired me to walk in those footsteps. It’s because of her platform, network, tools, and resources that I can be successful.
My family and loved ones have supported me on this journey by being a listening ear and my overall support system. Every person I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with or help along the way has played a major part in me becoming the person I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theprestigiousprofessional.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/coach_jackiee
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theprestigiousprofessional
