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The Visibility Room™: On-Air (and Off Script)
The Visibility Room™: On Air & Off Script is a candid, leadership-forward podcast recorded inside Detroit’s premier visibility studio. Each episode features conversations with the leaders, deal makers, advisors, and builders you want to know; people who live here, work here, or fly in just to be in the room.
It’s smart, fun, and refreshingly human.
The stories are real. The insight is practical.
And while the show is born in Detroit, the perspective travels everywhere.
This is where conversations start, connections happen, and people show up as the kind of leaders others remember.
The Visibility Room™: On-Air (and Off Script)
When Staying the Same Is Scarier Than Change With Danielle Jackson
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In this episode of On Air & Off Script, host Karyl Morris sits down with executive coach and former education leader Danielle Jackson to explore what happens when the life you've built no longer aligns with the life you're meant to live. Danielle shares her deeply personal journey from leading one of Detroit's largest charter school systems to stepping into a new chapter dedicated to helping women navigate life's biggest transitions with courage and purpose.
Through an honest conversation about change, grief, identity, and reinvention, Danielle reveals why the hardest part of starting over isn't taking the leap—it's recognizing when staying the same has become the greater risk. Together, she and Karyl discuss leadership, resilience, community, and why no one should have to navigate life's most difficult seasons alone.
Who's Danielle Jackson?
Danielle Jackson is an executive coach, leadership consultant, and former CEO of University Prep Schools with more than 25 years of experience in education. After decades of leading schools and developing leaders, she followed a calling to help successful women navigate career transitions, personal growth, and life's next chapter. Through coaching, thought leadership, and community, Danielle creates spaces where women can show up authentically, embrace change, and move forward with confidence and purpose.
Keep Up With Danielle Jackson:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-jackson-b2802135/
Who's the Host?
Karyl Morris is the founder of The Image Impact Group and host of The Visibility Room™: On Air & Off Script, filmed exclusively in Detroit's ONLY visibility creative studio for high-impact leaders. With every hand-selected guest, she uncovers the real stories behind leadership, visibility, and influence. Through candid conversations, Karyl helps listeners understand how people build credibility, navigate change, and show up with confidence—on camera and beyond.
Keep Up With Karyl Morris:
Website: https://www.theimageimpactgroup.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevisibilityroom/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karylmorris
When changing is less scary than remaining who you are, it's easier to make that shift. And it became scarier for me to remain who I was and what I was doing after so much change in my life. That taking this risk to start something new that meant a lot to me just felt right.
SPEAKER_01Welcome to the visibility room on air and off script. Hey, hey, everybody. It's Carol Morris from the Image Impact Group and the Visibility Room on Air and Off Script. And I am here today with my friend Danielle Jackson. Danielle, welcome. I am so excited to be here with you today. I am excited to have you because you have such a great story and a great energy about you. And I really think it's important for people to understand what you're doing now in your career. So give me just a quick synopsis of what you're doing now and who you're working with.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. So I was a lifelong educator. And after 25 plus years in the game, I decided that it was time for me to launch into a new space where I really support successful women who are asking themselves some really deep questions and could use the support in answering them as they shape a life that fits who they are later in life or their next chapter.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love that. And I can relate to it immensely because, you know, I was a, I don't want to say a late bloomer, but where I sit now was not anywhere that I thought I would be. And that happened later in my life. So we're just coming up on 10 years. And had I known you when I started, I might have had a smoother transition. Absolutely. Well, we're gonna get down and dirty in some questions, but I have a couple rapid fire questions for you first. Are you ready? Let's go. All right. First impressions. When it comes to first impressions, what do you want others to think and remember about you?
SPEAKER_02That I am approachable, that I am human, and I don't judge. Oh, I like that. I like that. All right. What's your favorite way to connect in person or digitally? Definitely in person. Yeah. I think that there's something special about the body language and the eye contacts that makes it exciting when you meet somebody for the first time. Yeah, absolutely. And what builds credibility faster?
SPEAKER_01Expertise, presence, or consistency.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's oh I think presence because people can suss you out. Oh, you know, you you can feel the energy of someone like is this person, do they really, is this who they really are? Right. Or are they performing trying to be something that they're not?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. And how do you think then consistency weaves in there?
SPEAKER_02So again, your first impression, I think, is you sense it. But if you're on message, and in other words, every time I talk to you, you're not telling me something different. Right. I'm starting to believe you more and more.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. That's a great way to segue into it. Yeah. And on that note, you know, what is a number one trust killer that you've seen?
SPEAKER_02Oh, um, I think the number one trust killer that I've seen is when you don't follow through on what you say you're gonna do. Yeah. Or if you're not reliable. Yeah. You know, because people, you know, you people put their trust in you. And if you don't show up, then it's like, okay, who is this person really?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. What what direction are we really going to do? What are we really doing here?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01All right. Last one. What's the number one leadership lesson that you've carried with you?
SPEAKER_02That we're all trying to figure it out. Yeah. You know, I think that it was one of the toughest things for me to accept, but you hear it so often. We are all just trying to figure it out. Yes. And you just get to a place where you're more comfortable with the uncomfortable. Right. Right. You get more attached to the process and not so married to the outcome. You just know it's a journey. You're going to use information and figure out how to make the best decision. And at some point, you got to go with it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. And and again, this is a great segue into what I want to talk to you about because you, by um recent profession, have been in the education system as if I have this correctly, CEO of University University Prep Schools, which actually no, because my sister works there. I wanted to make sure I get the CEO um part right. That's right. But going from that and being in education and that field for many, many years to jumping into something new. Tell us a little bit about, you know, how we got there and how's it going?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I it's been such an interesting journey. I will say I became a certified executive coach in 2013. Oh. I didn't decide to leave education until 2025. So it was a journey of discovery. Yeah. And I think step one was is this? I always knew it was more that I wanted to do. I wanted to contribute in a different way. Um, but it was like, so when was I gonna take that leap? And then it's a lot about like, okay, I sat on the cliff. There was this imagery in my head. I would sit on the cliff and I was like, okay, what do I need to know to jump? And then it was like, okay, you're not gonna know it all. At some point, you're gonna have to just go with it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And then came quite a bit of transition and change in my life that really removed the barrier. You know, there's a saying, um, when the the when changing is less scary than remaining who you are, it's easier to make that shift.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And it became scarier for me to remain who I was and what I was doing after so much change in my life. That taking this risk to start something new that meant a lot to me, yeah, just felt right.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. And again, I can relate to that because it just you have to start weighing the options, right? You know, it's it's almost like the um the the haves and the haves not, or the positives and the negatives, and what happens if I stay, what happens or doesn't happen. And if I go, what's it gonna, what's it gonna take, but what's it gonna give?
SPEAKER_02That's right.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Because I think the fallacy that we have to wake up to is that we're we're uncomfortable a lot of times.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02You know, even when it's like we've been doing this, we get up tomorrow, we do it, you know, the same way we did it the day before. There's discomfort in that. You know, so the reality is that if you want to grow and you want to continue to push yourself to try new things, yeah, discomfort's part of the story.
SPEAKER_01One of the things that you have said to me is life's complicated.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01What does that mean to you? What what again, going back to that shift from education to uh leadership development and consulting and coaching, and yes, 2013 versus 2026, it's a long time, but life is complicated. And uh how how ultimately did you just determine that that shift was needed?
SPEAKER_02Well, I it it it started as whispers, and and you'll hear me say this in some of the content that I put out. Like it started as this whisper of like, I have something else to give. Yeah. Because the reason I got into education was deeply personal. Um, my educational experience as a young person really taught me that schooling or the education community can either kill kids or save them. And I was in a period of being, you know, really killed by the system I was in. And then I got into a place where I felt like I was life was being, you know, blown into me with all these different experiences. And so that was deeply personal. But then as I got older and I had life experiences, I started hearing this call of service in a different way. But because education was so powerful in my life, it felt like, well, is it okay? And I remember one of my first, my very first therapists said to me, When do you believe your debt has been paid? And I was like, wow, you know, that question sparked in me, you know, a completion. Like there's a completion date that then allows you to launch into something new. And that time in between 2013 and 2025 was me just trying to figure it out. Yeah. You know, how do I try on this different identity? And then life happened to me in very rapid fire. My son went off to college, the pandemic hit, my husband passed away. Um, I had to bring a whole community of scholars and teachers and parents back into the brick and mortar after the pandemic. And that was that was me describing how uncomfortable the current was for me. Yeah. And it just removed all the barriers to taking that leap because I mean, hey, I felt like I hit a pretty low point. Yeah. And what gave me courage and gave me purpose was embarking on a new journey for myself.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And what's what's interesting now, and I was gonna say cool, but you know, going through all that is not cool, but but what is so valuable now for the people you work with is you have been there. Oh, yeah. You have been there, you've gone through it yourself. So for somebody now to come to you for help, uh you've got them. You understand, you get it. And yes, we've all been through our own journeys and they're all different, but there is a thread that runs through, and that's that it's hard, it's uncomfortable. That's there's the unknown. And for you to be able to have that experience where the trauma was great, but now you get to find the rainbow. That's right. That's pretty cool. It is that's what's cool. Yeah, it is very cool. Yeah, so again, you know, when we were talking about um what we wanted to talk about here, you said, I want people to know that I'm here. That's right. I'm here. And you said that, and I went, oh, like that feels really powerful, and it feels like a safety net. It feels like a safety net. So what does that mean to you? And what does it mean to the people that you serve?
SPEAKER_02Well, I it's so much out there. Yeah, it's so much out there. Like I turn on YouTube and then I turn it off. I look, I open up my Instagram account and then I close it back because it's like where to look, where to go. Yeah. And I really want to try to shine through, and I'm pushing myself outside my comfort zone because you do not have to go through this alone. Yeah, it is not just happening to you, it is happening for you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And I want to support you in getting to the other side because that's the only way through. You know, I remember someone told me that the only way to the other side is through. Yeah. And going through that all alone. And I want to be clear, I wasn't completely alone during my process of getting through my trials and tribulations. But what it's something about being in community with someone who's been there. It's just a different way that you can support. And not that I know every woman's story because I don't, um, but you can bet bet yourself that I'm gonna be standing next to you and I won't be afraid of what your story has to say. And I want to help you not be afraid of it too.
SPEAKER_01And there's a certain level of empathy that comes when you've been through something that there's a level of empathy that unless you have been through it, sometimes you can't, you're not prepared to give it because you don't understand it. You don't understand it. Yeah. And I know you and I have talked, you know, a lot about our trials and tribulations. So you know where I'm coming from. And it's, you know, it's interesting for for me personally, you know, I I had a cancer issue and my mom had cancer for years. And I I now understand that I was not able to give her everything that I wish I could have now, because now I understand it. And so for people to come to you and to be in your world and for you to be able to give that, Danielle, I just think that's incredibly amazing. Yeah. And when you're when you're out there looking for your person, that person to help you to get to that next step, to understand your story is is huge for that person making those decisions. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about community and what that means to you and and some of the things that maybe are on the horizon for your um your people that you're working with.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Community is first of all, we're wired for belonging. Shout out to Brene Brown, who talks about this all the time. And there are others too, but we're wired for belonging. And there's something about being in community with other folks who are going through similar, maybe not the same thing, but similar things. And so I am putting together spaces for women to come together, both in person and virtually, where we can begin to open up or pull back the curtain, I like to say. Yeah. Because we uh must present ourselves as successful women, polished, put together. And there's that scene in How to Get Away with Murder when she takes all her makeup off and she takes off her wig. Like, I want to create rooms like that. Oh, yes. Where you can come in and you can just be authentically yourself. Yeah. You can talk about the hard thing and nobody's gonna judge you. Yeah. And so I think intimate spaces for women to be able to do that is so powerful because I know when I've been in those rooms, you walk out feeling a little bit less alone. Yeah, you feel a little bit more confident because you realize that, you know, I got a community, yeah, and I want to be the catalyst for more opportunities like that. I love that. I love that. I love that.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, I can't wait to see what's on the horizon because I I know you've got some ideas. Oh, yeah. Is there anything in particular coming up that people need to know about? Do you do you is there gonna be an events page on your website or where is the best place for them to get that information? Maybe just on your email?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, just go to my LinkedIn, yeah, go to my LinkedIn um portal, you'll see all the events that are coming up. That's where I I'm gonna post them first. Perfect. And then I'll also post where you can get on my email list, serve, and you'll get you know advanced notice of things that I'm doing. Perfect.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and for those of you, you know, watching and listening, make sure to connect with uh Danielle on LinkedIn because she does thought leadership every week, which is very, very, very good. Um, and it will it will touch you and it will make you think. So thank you for sharing all that. Are you ready to dive into my magic bowl over here? Let's do it. All right, so as I have told other people, grab what you want. I will read it because I have chicken scratch, handwriting.
SPEAKER_02Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_01And let's see what we have. Okay, so these might be just completely out there. It might be a little bit about Detroit. Okay. Oh, I like this one. A skill you a skill you underestimated, but that now sets you apart.
SPEAKER_02I think a skill I underestimated was my ability to notice patterns pretty quickly. Um, just in listening to a story. Yeah. Uh and I can lift up observations about what people have shared in a small amount of time. Yeah. And I get the reaction of like, oh my God, that's true. I didn't I didn't really notice that, you know. Yeah. And I think when you're in a continuous strategic pattern in schools, you don't really think about it. It's just kind of part of the job. But I'm I've been amazed at how I can transfer that skill in this space.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. I think it's funny how people, and I think most people do this, right? When something is innate to us, we just disregard it and we don't think it's anything special. And other people are looking at us like, what wait, what what just happened? Right. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. Who knew? I was so brilliant. Who knew? Okay, let's do another one. Okay. Okay, let's go with this one. All right. Ooh. Finish the sentence.
SPEAKER_02Detroit taught me to be fearless. Ooh. You know, that you can fall on tough times. First of all, tough times are gonna come. Yes, that is part of the story. But being born and raised by the city of Detroit, yeah, resilience and renaissance, those are the things that come to my mind. Yes, I love that.
SPEAKER_01And you know, we're such fans of Detroit. We we again for those of you that are just you know experiencing us here, we are sitting in Detroit, in the heart of Detroit, and it is such a beautiful, beautiful city. So um, yeah, reclamation, renaissance, rebirth, all the things. I mean, we we represent it here. Absolutely. Yeah, like like no other. Yeah, I'm gonna say that. Yes. All right, one more. All right. This is how we're gonna finish up. So make it a great one. All right, let's see what we got. Bump bump. This is funny. What's something you're wildly unqualified to give advice on?
SPEAKER_02Ooh, wildly unqualified to give advice on. I would say sports, although I talk about it like I can run with the best of them. Okay. And then as soon as someone says, So what do you think about player X? I'm like, hmm. Yeah. It's a really great question.
SPEAKER_01I'm not sure. That's when you start answer or uh yeah, answering questions with questions. Right. Yeah, right. They'll never understand. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_02I can tell you how to enjoy a game, but do not ask me who you think is gonna win.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's that's me too. I can, I can, I can be there, I can be excited, I can root for the underdog, I can root for the one that should win, whatever, but yeah, don't tell me a name. I, you know, yeah, I'm still living in the um bad boys era of uh the pistons. So yeah, yeah. I'm like, who are these people who play for the pistons? You mean don't do mars is not in the team anymore?
unknownYes.
SPEAKER_01And I was dedicated back then. I was dedicated. Sure. My I got a dog um right around the time that all that was happening, and his name was Joey Dumas. Oh, see, yeah. That's Diehard. That's Diehard. But don't tell me anybody. And no, that's not true. I do know who Cade Cunningham is. See, I don't see oh God. Okay, well, we gotta go now. All right. Sorry. Yeah. Oh my God. Danielle, thank you so much for sharing, you know, a bit of of what you're doing and what's to come. I am super excited to see uh the events that you're gonna have um coming up here in the near future. And thank you for doing what you do, because I know it hasn't been an easy path, but it is a path that now you get to give the gift of giving somebody else. That's right. And and we are thankful for that. I I know that when when you and I work together and you do, oh my God, what she's almost had me in tears a couple times doing her thought leadership because you just you you have a way of touching. And like you said, you may not realize how impactful it is, but how you can read a person or read the situation is really amazing, is really amazing. So thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing yourself and your journey with us, and thank you all for watching and listening. And make sure to like and comment and follow along with us here at on air and off script. We will see you another time.