Daily Inspiration: Meet Quinae Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Quinae Jackson .

Hi Quinae , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up on the southside of Atlanta, Georgia gave me early lessons in equity, belonging, and inclusion. Believe it or Not bussing was still a thing , although disguised under the umbrellas of gifted and talented. I took buses across town to schools that looked and felt nothing like the ones in my neighborhood and that contrast stayed with me. In high school, our bus stop was the K-Mart on Cleveland Avenue, this bus carried kids from Cleveland Avenue, kids zoned for South Atlanta High School, clear across town to North Atlanta High School.

This was my experience from the time I entered public school, I never attended the schools in my neighborhood, and it shaped who I am as an educator and a leader.I became an educator because I believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience a transformative learning journey. A scholar’s zip code has no business zipping up their exposure, potential, or opportunities. I had amazing educators who also had exposure to resources that allowed them more freedom in creating dynamic learning experiences. When I analyzed some of the experiences of the kids in my neighborhood, I realized that I had a totally different set of experiences. Not because the educators in my community were not amazing, but because the resource allocation was off.

My journey began in the classroom, and over the years, I’ve grown into executive leadership , not by accident, but by staying rooted in purpose and led by impact. With a foundation in education, I transitioned into the corporate space, earning year-over-year promotions and contributing to over $15 million in revenue. Currently, I serve as the Senior Director of Learning and Development at Wayfinder, where I’ve redefined professional development by centering belonging and purpose in every educator training. My focus is always on crafting experiences that help schools reimagine what learning should look, feel, and sound like , not just for students, but for the adults who guide them.

Beyond my work in corporate learning, I am the founder of Overflow. Innovate. Lead. An educational consulting firm that helps educators uncover their purpose and maximize their impact. I’m also a published author and keynote speaker, committed to inspiring educators worldwide to reconnect with their why, foster belonging, and prioritize well-being in their communities.

Service is at the core of everything I do. As a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., I serve locally in the Zeta Alpha Sigma, Alumnae Chapter as the Chaplain and The Rhosebud Advisor. I also serve the Southeastern Region as as a member of the Education Committee. I’ve also served my local congregation, Silverleaf Baptist Church, since childhood. Currently I am the Administrator and Praise & Worship Leader, offering spiritual support and leading initiatives to support women’s wellness and community outreach. Through my work with the Henry-Clayton Section of the National Council of Negro Women , I chair the Education Committee and champion annual scholarships, book drives, and STEAM events that empower underserved girls.

Whether I’m designing training for a national network of schools or mentoring young women in my community, I lead with purpose, build with love, and believe in the power of people. Leadership. Service. Empowerment. Joy. These aren’t just values , they’re the legacy I hope to leave in every space I enter.

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 three core values are Faith, Passion and Excellence. I like to be clear in that I understand that perfection is impossible; however, when you maintain excellence as a standard it’s more helpful as you press your way forward. There have been many bumps along the road. One lesson I learned early on is that there is a cost for excellence. You have to be okay with not fitting in. I do not do anything I am not passionate about , as a result I am not one who moves based on a dollar amount , in fact, when I first left the classroom to pursue the next phase of my career, I took a paycut, I am driven by passion, I believe in doing the right thing, because it’s the right and that’s not always the smoothest solution.

My last year as a classroom teacher was one of the best and worst, best because I was being afforded many opportunities to grow as a leader and display my talents and skills in rooms of influence; however, my students were not getting all of me because I was being pulled in so many directions. Ultimately I left , in January because I felt that I was doing them a disservice, because I operate from passion, it’s all or nothing and for me , I could not live with not showing up in the way I wanted to 100% of the time because I also wanted to grow in leadership, so I had to make a difficult choice. People often ask will I go back and the answer is yes. I miss K-12 education immensely, but I have been called out into the world.

I believe teaching is ministry, so it’s work I can never be done with. I do see myself back in a school district, I’d love to go back in as a school librarian; I see that as a culmination of the things I loved most about my own educators and my education.

Here’s a fun fact! During my senior year in college I decided I wanted to be a teacher, yes, you read that right! It was a little late in the game so I finished up my BA in Political Science at My HBCU, Miles College and earned a M.Ed. from The University of West Georgia. I am a Middle School Loving, Social Studies Jamming, Pedagogically Sound, Throw Paint and Glitter on the walls, teacher at heart! That bump was one that I had to navigate based on my core value of faith. As I was working at DFCS and earning my teaching degree, I got in touch with my 7th grade Social Studies teacher Mr.Taylor, he was one of the best teachers I ever had. I asked him if I could just come in a couple times a week and observe his class, see here is where passion comes in, I did not want to teach if I could not get it right, I needed to be sure so , I found a way for my job to sponsor me to leave early to go and observe with Mr. Taylor . When I want something in life, I find a way. No matter the bump I keep searching for a solution.

When you talk about being a black woman in corporate America, bumps are unfortunately par for the course. There are three major things I have learned to affirm in myself.

There is never a need to compare yourself, if you were inadequate , you would never have pursued this.

Don’t allow people to praise your gift and disregard your value.

Understand that there are generations of women who worked for you to be exactly where you are, just as you are working for those who are looking back at you from the future, you’re working for those looking up to you right now and the ones they’ll tell your story to, do it for them and you.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My career is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and servant leadership.

I firmly believe that “content without connection is of little service to the world”. In my work, the first goal is always to create a space where folks feel like they can show up as their true and authentic selves. I call this setting the atmosphere and it’s something I learned from the mothers at my church. In order for people to receive the word they need to feel safe. This is something I’m very proud of , from my classroom to executive boardrooms , authenticity drives my work.

I began as a classroom teacher, and not just any teacher, but one recognized as Teacher of the Year for my ability to create transformative, inclusive learning environments. From day one, I’ve been committed to ensuring that every child , regardless of zip code, has access to learning that affirms their identity, challenges their thinking, and supports their well-being.

That commitment carried me into corporate training, where I quickly advanced to executive leadership, earning multiple year-over-year promotions and contributing to more than $15 million in revenue growth through scalable learning programs and strategic partnerships.

Currently, I serve as the Senior Director of Learning and Development at Wayfinder, where I’ve led national professional development initiatives that have impacted thousands of educators and students. My work integrates the research-backed principles of belonging and purpose with adult learning theory and instructional best practices to support the creation and sustainability of engaging and purposeful learning environments.

I’ve:

Redesigned onboarding and training systems, improving educator readiness and increasing CSAT scores above 4.6

Developed Ed. Talks with Wayfinder, a premium video series that bridges future readiness, neuroscience, and innovation

Led cross-functional collaboration between training, sales, and customer success teams to drive school-wide impact

Trained and supported over 30 internal team members, creating scalable onboarding systems and mentorship programs

My approach is grounded in clarity, care, and culture-building. I believe in preparing people, not just reacting to problems , and that’s made me a go-to leader during seasons of growth, change, and challenge.My keynote talks are known for reigniting passion, strengthening community, and boosting morale , and I’ve had the privilege of speaking to school districts, national networks, and professional conferences across the country.

Outside of Wayfinder, I’m the founder of Overflow. Innovate. Lead., an educational consulting firm that helps educators uncover their purpose and build human-centered, inspired environments.

My voice has been featured in national platforms and has helped shape the learning experiences of both new and veteran educators.

Service is at the core of my leadership. In every space I enter, from boardrooms to classrooms to community events, I lead with purpose, build with love, and stay rooted in the belief that learning should be bold, joyful, and deeply human.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most is legacy. The one that I carry and the one that I will lead. Both of my grandmothers worked in domestic services, ironing and cleaning behind folks, they did this work with dignity all while pouring destiny and greatness into me. My mother raised me, as a single-parent , she exposed me to luxury, vacations, fine dining and ensured that I had exposure that would allow me to expand my mind. The legacy my mother gave me is the belief that I can literally do anything. All of these women worked out of necessity so I could work out of passion and I dare not hold that knowledge without honoring it. My daughter sees me working from passion, but the reality is I too still have to fight. I want more for her, so I do this work in hopes that her path is less dense, so that she can reach higher heights. I am a wife, a mother, a sister and a friend. I love God, that is the most important legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.overflowinnovatelead.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overflow_innovate_lead/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinae/