Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Perez.
Hi Jessie , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a small coastal town in Maine. It was beautiful and the nature was a central part on my childhood, but there was little opportunity and even less diversity.
At fourteen years old I asked my mom if we could move. I needed a fresh start and a new I couldn’t get that in a small town. She took me seriously and we moved to Hampton Roads, Virginia.
That’s where I started my career, eventually went to college and found my faith in God.
After coming to Nashville in early 2010 to run the Music City Rock N Roll Marathon, and I’m not really a runner, I think something tickled my spirit and I thought I may move to Nashville someday.
That memory faded, but totally unexpectedly, two years later, I did in fact come to call this wonderful city home.
I’ve been here ever since and now have my roots down.
While full throttle into a highly successful career, two children and my first published book behind me, I decided to open doors to others in career areas, since long ago someone had opened a door to me.
That led me to launch the workforce development nonprofit We Speak Color Inc (WSC Inc), opening doors to sustainable careers for people who may never have thought a career was possible.
We help those struggling to juggle multiple jobs, people transitioning out of the military into civilian careers, the parent who is re-entering the workforce, and more.
They say, start with what you know, so as an internationally certified business analyst, the first module I set up was Business Analyst. The organization is still young but growing, and now opening up other career pathways as well.
While I myself have stepped out of the corporate environments, I still support professionals in those spaces and those desiring to step into such spaces.
As for me, I am now the author of four books with a firth one, and the one I’m most excited about, releasing in January 2026 – “Relational Wealth: Reclaiming Connection in a Competitive World”.
I am also the host of the tv shows “Hearts in Tension” and “Color By Design”, named after my first book “Color By Design: Why You Do What You Do”.
I’m continuing to look ahead as we bring more opportunity and growth to the communities around us.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growth is almost always uncomfortable, and my journey has truly adhered to that.
I grew up thin on finances and struggling in relational poverty as well — I just didn’t know what it was called that back then.
Open doors typically come through resources we have access to, whether that’s tangible resources or relationships.
So when someone lacks both, they become invisible and burdened with only closed doors to knock on. Sometimes though, if you knock on enough doors, one will open. But almost always, it takes someone on the other side of one of those doors to open it.
And that’s what happened for me. I had been laid off shortly before Christmas one year from the receptionist job I had with a dental office. I was working odd jobs trying to make ends meet, and decided to apply to a temp agency for something a little more consistent. All they had available to me was a two day contract in the collections department of a logistics company. That was at least something, so I took the role.
The first day I was there, I worked really hard, and they were so impressed, they ask to keep me on for five days, and then asked if I would be willing to come into the customer service side, and after a month they hired me.
While this seemed like such a small door, it was the catalyst for everything that would come next. While working for that company, an international shipping line, another door was opened to me in the technology department. In that role I began working in my first capacity as a business analyst with other duties, and got to travel the world, working with locals in a variety of other nations.
Then I was recruited to work at NASA Langley and received additional open doors, including the opportunity to go back to school and finish my bachelors degree.
After moving to Nashville in 2012 my purpose began to become clearer. I was no longer financially poor, but I was still struggling in building relational wealth. That’s when I was introduced to True Colours, a workshop that fundamentally changed my life. People finally made sense. Relationships were no longer an abstract idea. I got certified to deliver workshops and began studying people in new ways, and thriving in my own relationships.
I’ve written several books now, and serve as a Relational Strategist to help others, with a specific focus on women in successful careers, who find themselves at the top, but alone.
As you know, we’re big fans of We Speak Color Inc.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
With both of my business focuses, the driving goal is helping people overcome poverty. With Joy Empowered Life, that’s overcoming Relational Poverty; with the nonprofit We Speak Color Inc. (WSC Inc.), that’s economic poverty.
WSC Inc. is a workforce development nonprofit that I originally founded out of an obligation to give back. A door was opened to me a long time ago, and now I had the opportunity to open doors for others.
WSC is unique because it doesn’t just train participants for new career roles, but it also facilitates a concept we call “graduate pairing”. The graduate pairing program matches graduates from our programs like business analysis, sales, marketing, and AI with companies and community organizations that need small projects completed in those areas, but maybe don’t have someone on their team that can do them due to time or skill constraints. We call these “micro-projects” and they typically last two days to two weeks. At the end of the project, the company or organization benefits from the result of the project completion, and the program participant now has resume experience that they can use as a crucial part of stepping into a role in that field or discipline.
WSC partners with small, medium, and occasionally large businesses as well as other nonprofits.
WSC is also launching a new model early 2026 that is very exciting.
We are moving from just supporting those seeking a career, to a model that nurtures the entire career lifecycle.
We will welcome “Members” and “Emerging Members”. Members consist of seasoned professionals and representatives from companies. These members are the “role models” for participants up and coming, as well as for the Emerging Members.
We will host networking events and seminars for our members, giving them opportunities to speak to our community, and highlights of their work in our newsletters. We also encourage them to serve as mentors for those fresh in their career journey.
The Emerging Members are those who are just starting out in their careers; from day one to a few years in. WSC will host professional development sessions and a variety of other engaging connection opportunities, including networking throughout the year.
As WSC moves into this new model, it is also expanding its program portfolio. Both AI certifications and the Marketing programs are new, and Sales is coming early 2026.
I am truly grateful for the amazing team of leaders that serves on the WSC board and I invite leaders throughout our communities to connect with us as members in the new model.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
On the tv show side, I have openings for guests to come on the show throughout the year.
“Hearts in Tension” walks people from conflict to reconciliation; this could be professional conflict to personal relationships.
If you are in conflict with a business partner – this show is a great way to get skilled guidance in gaining shared understanding and reconciliation.
But I also have guest who want to walk through personal conflict with family members or loved ones.
To apply to be on the show, you can search “Hearts in Tension” or go to www.joyempoweredlife.com/the-show
Contact Info:
- Website: For nonprofit: www.wespeakcolor.org / For the show and work on relational strategy use www.joyempoweredlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieperezincolor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieperezincolor
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-perez-incolor
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@livewithjessieperez7364
- Other: https://www.wespeakcolor.org/
