Hi! I’m Jami. This is my story.

My journey into leadership began at Camp Arowhon, as the Junior Girls Section Head. Why start my tale there? Because it was my first role beyond my experience. If you're a leader, you know; those first steps toward leadership can happen when you least expect it—and before you believe you’re ready.

Yes, it's surprising where you pick up these valuable leadership insights.

My career goals at the time: Find a job in the Bay Area making a positive impact on people’s lives.

I found it working at the Volunteer Center of San Francisco as a Program Coordinator, educating 7th and 8th graders about volunteerism.

And then again, at Juma Ventures, in partnership with Ben & Jerry’s, where our mission was to uplift at-risk youth through work, providing not just employment but a path to a better future. Sometimes, the most rewarding opportunities are where you least expect them—perhaps even hidden behind the counter of an ice cream shop.

My time at Juma Ventures opened my eyes to how business could be a force for social good. The next chapter took this to a new level, leveraging the power of technology. Moving into the tech sector, I embraced a sales role at a company pioneering ‘ebooks’ for libraries, blending my nonprofit experience with technology, and eventually propelling me into another role beyond my experience when I was promoted to Director of International Sales.

After that, I continued to pursue the intersection of innovation and impact, leading me to another role at a startup that was just as passionate about startup culture, tech, and social good as I was.

Everywhere I worked, a consistent theme emerged: I cared deeply about the people around me and the company culture. This passion led me to what I call the ‘The HR Experiment.’ I believed moving into HR would be my ticket to building a great company culture. With a shiny new HR certificate in hand, I was ready to transform workplaces.

Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Turns out, workers’ comp and payroll don’t cultivate culture; empathy and vision do.

I had my own 'Aha!' moment when my career coach asked me a simple but profound question: 'What was your favorite job ever?'
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‍What could being a A Camp Arowhon Section Head possibly have to do with my career trajectory? But as I thought about it, a lightbulb went off. 

I realized that what I loved most was helping people grow, celebrating their wins, and watching them reach their potential. That's when it clicked—great culture isn't built in the HR department; it's built in every interaction, every piece of encouragement, and every challenge we set for our teams. Leaders are the keepers of culture.

My time at Yelp was eight of the most defining years of my career. I went from leading a modest sales team to building an entire Customer Success department from scratch—a role that felt like a leap way beyond my experience. But, just like you might be doing, I built the plane while flying it—and we soared.

I found myself growing a department from a team of two in San Francisco to a global team of 250 full-time employees, overseeing $500M in revenue, in charge of everything from onboarding to support, to upsells and renewals. 

So, to all you leaders and dreamers: don't be afraid to dive into new roles and uncharted territories. You'll learn the most and achieve the greatest success when you're out of your comfort zone.

I stepped into my next big role at Eventbrite—this time, I was the veteran, the ‘been there, done that’ leader.

What truly filled my cup was to be the mentor and coach that others had been for me. The joy of mentoring was twofold. Not only did I get to see firsthand the transformation in the leaders I coached, but I also solidified my own learning through teaching. It's a virtuous cycle—the more you know, the more you can share, and the more you share, the more you learn.So, remember this: Your experiences are valuable, not just for your growth but for others too. Don't hold back from sharing your wisdom. Mastery is not just about being an expert; it's about paying it forward.

After years of gaining experience across different roles and industries, I took the leap and founded Zakem Coaching and Consulting in 2018. I've had the privilege of working with a diverse set of leaders—from those at early-stage VC-backed startups just starting to build their management layers, all the way to executives at massive public companies. Clients have included OpenAI, Lattice, LinkedIn, Gusto, Intercom, Chegg, TaskRabbit, and many more.

But here’s the common thread: whether you're a fledgling founder or a seasoned executive, we're all seeking the same thing—to find more joy and ease in our work. Today, I center my efforts precisely on that, helping leaders at all stages navigate the complex and often stressful world of leadership with a sense of fulfillment and peace.

So, whether you're a leader, involved in HR or Learning and Development, or perhaps contemplating your next role, let this be your take-home message: work doesn't have to be a grind. It can be a source of joy and inspiration. And it's within our power to make it that way, together.