Episode 12: “Trust the Process”- Danielle Jones

This week's Leadership Tidbits with Coach Tee Wilson features the passionate, Danielle Jones. 

To kickstart, here are some captivating facts you need to know about the inspiring woman that is Danielle Jones. Ms. Jones graduated Summa cum Laude from Florida A&M University with a degree in Public Relations and she earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. As Assistant Vice President and Sr. Public Relations Manager at Fifth Third Bank, Ms. Jones provides strategic corporate communications support and corporate communications plans for areas of the Bank including but not limited to: Corporate Social Responsibility, Community and Economic Development, Diversity and Inclusion, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Human Capital recruitment team, the Fifth Third Bank Foundation and the Community Development Corporation. 

She has served as a mentor for high school girls and college students, a Girl Scout troop leader, a tutor for elementary school students and in leadership roles with the African American Professional Advisory Council at Cincinnati Children’s. In 2018, she co-founded the Greater Cincinnati Black PR Professionals as a way to connect and provide resources for African American public relations specialists. 

Ms. Jones has been recognized with many honors including but not limited to: Cincinnati's 20 leaders under 30, Venue Magazine's 30 under 30, a 2016 Business Courier Forty under 40 leader, a YWCA Rising Star, the Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America’s Rookie of the Year, Cincinnati Children's MLK Jr. Humanitarian of the Year and a TEDx Extraordinary Woman. 

In 2015, after suffering the loss of her infant son, she started the Angel Baby Network as a way to help families cope with the devastating effects of child loss. She has served on the StarShine Hospice board, which focuses on assisting families whose children have terminal medical diagnoses and life-limiting illnesses,and she serves on the advisory board for Cradle Cincinnati, which works to reduce infant mortality. 

Right off the bat, Ms. Jones was more than ready to tell you some of the qualities you need to be a great and effective leader. She started by explaining that in order to really thrive as a leader, you have to have a truly vested interest in people. In addition she stated, “...but I think there's also other things like having confidence in yourself, confidence in your decisions but at the same time being willing to listen to other people. Make sure that you are leading by example and that you're not just telling everyone else to do. You have to make sure that you are really taking in what matters most and what's going to be for the greater good of the whole not just what you think is best.” Another great leadership tidbit Ms. Jones talked about was, “Sometimes we get fooled into believing that we're going to wake up and just know everything. Nobody wakes up and knows everything. You have to go through some stuff in order for you to get these types of lessons, and then you turn around and help other people with them.” 

Ms. Jones dropped tons of leadership nuggets while on the show. 

Overall, here is a quick summary of the many leadership tidbits we learned from Danielle Jones: Ms Danielle Jones shared with us that there is a field preparation season for you to go through, you will get what you are due, invest in yourself and do what is best for you, get those mentors and get those sponsors, you want to surround yourself with people who support you. Lastly,  when you do get a seat at the table make sure you use it wisely. 

Check out the full podcast to hear more of Danielle Jones’ thoughts and leadership advice!!