Dr. Joanna Massey // President & CEO of J.D. Massey Associates, Inc.

Simpson_Portraits_IMG_6665-Edit+%281%29.jpg — Dr. Joanna Massey //

President & CEO of J.D. Massey Associates, Inc.

Meet Dr. Joanna Massey , Ph.D., MBA is a C-suite executive and management consultant, who has served as in-house communications counsel for more than 25 years in the media and digital technology industries at companies such as Condé Nast, Lionsgate, Discovery, Hasbro, CBS, and Viacom. Currently, Dr. Massey is President & CEO of J.D. Massey Associates, Inc. (JDMA), a management consulting firm that advises clients on communicating with millennial and Gen Z employees, investors, consumers and press. She is the author of the new book, Culture Shock: Surviving Five Generations in One Workplace.

Special thanks to Dr. Joanna Massey for sharing!

Tell us in a few sentences how your brand helps others?

For years, I have been trying to find a way to combine my doctorate in psychology with 30 years of work as a communications executive at major media companies advising and messaging CEOs and other C-level executives. After I left my last corporate job and started a virtual PR firm, I took advantage of the opportunity to also write books, which I have always wanted to do. I like to say that I write self-help books thinly disguised as business books because they combine business and psychology. I give talks to corporations, nonprofits, government entities and trade organizations. The overarching theme of my talks and books are helping people understand human reactions to change so they can better adjust to what’s happening in life today. I use humor and a candid writing style to make the information easy to relate to and enjoyable.

What was the inspiration to start this business?

I started J.D. Massey Associates, Inc. (JDMA) in 2012 while I was getting a doctorate in psychology, because I needed a legal entity to work as a business coach and trainer. I eventually went back to an in-house job at a major media company, but I kept JDMA open. That was helpful when I left the corporate world again in 2019 and started to work as a consultant, corporate speaker and author. While most of my firm’s work focuses on unconscious bias, along with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training, I also advise companies, nonprofits and entrepreneurs on crisis communications and other PR related issues.

When you started your business, did you ever envision that you would be where you are now?

I recently gave a talk to a group of IT professionals who work in Hollywood. The title of my talk was “The Queen of Pivoting,” which is a moniker I put on my social media bios several years ago with all of the twists and turns my career has taken. When I have resisted the changes in my career, I have suffered mentally and emotionally. When I have embraced the shifts and jumped on board quickly, it always leads to fun opportunities and interesting twists that I could not have anticipated. JDMA has gone through numerous iterations, so I can honestly say, no, I did not think I would be working as an author, corporate speaker and DEI trainer.

Was there ever a time that things didn't fall into place, struggles or challenges? What were they and how did you get past it and grow from the experience?

There are always instances when things do not work the way I think they should. The one guarantee in life is change and yet, as human beings, we resist change. Moreover, there is a part of our brain called the amygdala that has developed a story about life, which I call “The Rules of Life According to ME.” In “The Rules of Life According to ME,” each of us has fixed beliefs about what we think is good and bad, how we think things should be and how they shouldn’t be, and how we think people should act and how they shouldn’t act. The problem with “The Rules of Life” narrative is that life doesn’t work that way and life causes us mental and emotional pain when it doesn’t go the way we think it should. I learned to let go of the story. I re-wrote my personal rules of life and, in the current volume of the book, my rules of life say that change is constant, and I am enjoying the rollercoaster ride of life—the ups and the downs.

What was the biggest lesson you learned while starting and growing this business?

As a founder/CEO, I do everything—I am the CFO, the general counsel, the chief marketing officer, as well as the social media manager, the head of sales and the worker-bee who gets the work done. When asked how it is going, the response I am most likely to give my friends right now is, “I’ll sleep when I am dead.”

What would you tell a FEM that is struggling in her business and feeling like it's too difficult?

I coach a lot of women throughout their careers. Some only need a few sessions and some stick with me for support and advice for years. Everyone is different, so there is not one answer that will work for everyone. Having said that, there is one thing that I remind everyone of, which is perspective. I tell them that sometime in the future, your memory of the struggle will change, and it won’t seem as bad. You will likely see the difficult period as a seminal event that shaped your abilities as a businesswoman, and you won’t remember the names of the bad guys.

What continues to inspire you to keep on growing your business?

I am sure this answer is supposed to be aspirational, but the hard truth is cold cash. I need to earn a living and, as we age, our experience grows, but our opportunities shift. Running a virtual firm is what makes the most sense today. It might not tomorrow, but for today, being a PR consultant, a corporate trainer and speaker, and an author is where my experience has guided me, and it brings me joy.

Final advice for those thinking of starting a business or looking to grow their current business?

I will give the advice I give to women who come to me for coaching as the Queen of Pivoting. There are three things you need to make a successful pivot from where you currently sit, regardless of if you’re thinking of starting a business or growing one. First, are you good at what you’re considering doing? Second, do you love doing the thing you’re thinking of doing? Third, and most importantly, can you make money doing it? If all three of these factors are in place, I highly recommend you go for it (whatever “it” is).