Jamese Carey Beauford is the 1st Vice-President of Programs, and former President, of the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., a nonprofit organization advocating for Black women and girls in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.
“When I was younger I didn’t know that this is the work that I was going to do. But it makes sense because I never think of it as work, I think of advocacy as being a voice for those who need to be heard but may not have the platform or the opportunity that I may have to activate and influence change,” she says.
Mission-driven work has always been important to Jamese and in her current role, she leads programs and influences public policy in order to make a sustainable impact in her community.
“I am responsible, ultimately, for the programs that make the organization thrive, remain sustainable and be relevant in the community as we advocate unapologetically, for Black women and girls,” she explains.
Jamese began her career in the financial industry and she eventually became the first Black woman to take on a very senior leadership role at her financial institution.
“I really think working hard in that role helped me pave the way for so many other Black women that came behind me in those leadership and executive roles,” she shares.
As she worked hard and broke barriers in the banking industry, she also faced plenty of unconscious biases along the way. But as a woman of faith, she stays grounded and tries to turn challenges into opportunities.
“My motive is simple. I’m really just a person trying to give back and help others thrive in the spaces they occupy, often viewing the road blocks as building blocks for success,” she adds.
Motivation From Ministry and Mentorship
Jamese has relied on her faith to get her through difficult moments throughout her life. When she was just 14 years old, she suddenly lost her father.
“It’s just the plans that God has for you. That challenge really catapulted me into the woman I am today,” she shares, “I became very mature at a young age and was really focused on my work, focused on my goals and focused on what I wanted for my life.”
In addition to her faith, the support of her mentor Lynette Bell has propelled Jamese forward in both her personal and professional life.
“I’ve really marveled at Lynette’s presence and the way she commanded the room and her directness. She has a lot of attributes that I’ve grown to acquire,” says Jamese.
Lynette helped Jamese realize that there’s a time and a place to wear rose-colored glasses, an important lesson for Jamese as she has faced layoffs and setbacks in her career journey.
“She’s my reality checker,” Jamese says, adding that when she takes the rose-colored glasses off she’s able to appreciate certain things more.
Reflecting on Advice and Achievements
When Jamese thinks about the ebbs and flows of her career journey, she finds herself appreciating an experience she had as the youngest President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter.
“I remember a time when the fund development was low, we were on the hills of recovering from the Great Recession and membership was lower as a result of previous decline of the national economies globally,” she says.
During this time she worked hard to mobilize the membership and create a stronger online presence and platform for the organization. Although it took some time to build trust in the digital space, this project soon paid off.
“I am most proud of this achievement because of the ability to engage, educate and empower a broader audience through our electronic communications and social media platforms,” she explains.
When she reflects on achievements like this, along with all of the challenges she has faced, she wishes she could tell her younger self that life doesn’t stay in the darkness.
“Life is about the ride and the experience. It’s also about the journey and learning from life lessons that makes the difference” she shares.
Jamese considers herself a servant leader and as she continues on her journey she plans to stay true to her why – not the accolades or recognition that come with career titles.
“You’re there to help unapologetically advocate for Black women and girls, that’s why you’re there,” she tells herself.