My Philosophy

I believe my role is part consultant and part coach.

A lot of what I do is more akin to business therapy than consulting. One's relationship, emotions, attitudes and behavior around money are generally pretty consistent. Many of our habits as small business owners are rooted in how we handle our own personal finances and what our values are. You are your business - it all starts and ends with you.

As a consultant, I work with a client on strategy, planning and problem solving. Sometimes this could be developing a business plan or marketing strategies or financial analysis. This also includes assisting clients develop management skills and knowledge as we work together. Don't know how to read your financials? Let me teach you!

As a coach, I help clients focus on personal development of strong business skills such as: decision making, managing time, halting procrastination or self-sabotaging behavior. My responsibility is also to let your know when you should do something on your own, when you need a professional, or when you don't need my help. Don't know how to create work-life balance? Let me help you!

My Story

I'm Jo. I love technology and business. I love processes and workflow. I love problem solving. I love collaborating on projects. I'm a business and IT geek for sure.

In 1985, I took my first programming class as a freshman in high school in Thailand and instantly had a passion for all things tech related. I was simultaneously drawn to what was inside computers and how all the components worked together and soon building computers and writing code became a hobby.

When it was time for college, I completely ignored engineering or computer science as majors and thought a business degree would be sensible and general purpose. I still gravitated towards math and analysis, which led me toward graduating with a BA in Finance from University of Houston in 1994.

As I entered the workforce in the 1990s, computers were becoming a permanent fixture in most large corporations. I moved to Austin in 1996, when the dot.com boom was in full swing. My business knowledge combined with technology experience was in demand.

Over the next two decades, I continued to expand my knowledge while working full-time. I received my MBA from University of Phoenix in 2004 and attended MIT Sloan School of Business for Executive Education from 2011 through 2014. In these 20 years, I've been in corporate environments ranging from software companies to insurance carriers. My job titles ranged from Office Manager, Software Developer, Project Manager, Business Process Analyst, IT Director, Vice President and CIO/CTO.

AND THEN, in April of 2015, I decided to end my corporate career. There was a disconnect between my values and what I was doing at work. I realized that as I moved up that corporate ladder, each rung was more competitive and less collaborative, becoming an environment that felt more draining and less creative. I experienced cognitive dissonance that was the key to recognizing that my work life and personal life were no longer in sync.

Leaving a career is daunting, but I was able to do it because my personal finances were in great shape. With the enormous moral support from my community and my savings, I've been able to take the time to consider so many different opportunities and paths. Through talking to friends, I realized that I would find an immense satisfaction using my knowledge and experience to help individuals, small businesses and start-ups - folks that could really use advice and assistance in achieving their goals. I want to share what I've learned from all this education and experience!

I started Jobot Consulting at the end of 2015 and it has been so rewarding to work with each business owner and help transform their businesses. I love being around creative people and the joy I get from watching folks succeed is immeasurable!