“….There is no failure in this book…only defining my own version of success. At the end of the day that is the only one that matters.”

The Ultimate Other

Jackie empowers individuals and groups, creating space for a leadership journey through their otherness, to design a future where they can thrive. She offers flexible programs based on the principles of design thinking, peer support and community, and applied life long learning. These offerings are relevant to all stages of life and work, all sectors, experiences and identities. It is the otherness, that is our strongest leadership assets. Join Jackie discovering how you can bring your unique difference to the fore with authenticity.

  • Jackie works with organisations to resolve conflict, increase empathy, trust, and improve engagement and performance.

    Mediation by Design

    For individuals and teams, value-based conflict resolution and mediation services use traditional mediation processes and human-centred design to understand conflict and move forward with empathy. An accredited ADMRAS Mediator, Jackie offers impartial and independent support for your organisation across various challenges, including resolving staff grievances and conflicts and addressing board disputes.

    Purpose as Belonging

    Strategic design and alignment of purpose with organisational strategy, service delivery,  policy and governance reviews for decision-makers who understand that leadership, connection and belonging at all levels are instrumental for organisational growth and high-performing groups.

    From Otherness to Cohesion

    Facilitated individual and team actualisation. For those who are looking for ways to empathetically understand themselves and each other through a cultural lens with emotional intelligence and vulnerability. For organisations who take their positive duties of psychosocial safety and well-being seriously and authentically. This includes a focus on specific cultural identities that are represented in a participating group with a focus on social cohesion and reducing social polarisation.

  • The Ultimate Other Programs can be delivered online, face to face, individually or to small groups. Modes of delivery and scheduling are flexible and will be co-designed to best suit the needs of participants. 

    Embracing Your Ultimate Other: Designing Women’s Leadership

    This program is for professional women seeking to enhance their leadership skills, navigate personal and professional challenges, and embrace their authentic selves. Upon completing the program, participants will be able to:

    • Lead themselves with empathy, greater self-awareness, purpose, and confidence

    • Articulate a personal narrative and vision for themselves professionally and personally

    • Develop and implement actionable plans for leadership capability

    • Build resilience and navigate challenges effectively

    The course is particularly relevant to women who:

    • Are experiencing burnout or feeling overwhelmed and undervalued

    • Are navigating major life transitions including motherhood and divorce

    • Feel a sense of “otherness” or struggle to integrate their multiple identities

    Leveraging Otherness: Designing Your Difference

    This program is designed for people from diverse backgrounds who are seeking to understand and leverage the power of their own 'otherness' for personal and professional growth. Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

    • Reframe 'otherness' as a source of strength and innovation

    • Develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion

    • Lead authentically and with purpose

  • As a seasoned strategist and consultant with over two decades of advisory experience, Jackie has broad experience and deep expertise in leadership, strategy planning, governance, compliance, risk management, innovation and impact.

    Leading JDK Research since 2011, Jackie is dedicated to developing purpose-led organisations and fostering collaboration with diverse stakeholders to drive operational excellence, spur innovation, and harmonise strategic vision with impactful service delivery.  Jackie provides advisory and interim executive services across:

    • Organisational strategy and portfolio alignment 

    • Governance and board reviews 

    • Regulation, accreditation, data and reporting

    • Social innovation and cohesion, ESG and SDGs

    • Risk

    • Racism, discrimination and cultural competency

    • Operations and service delivery

    • Organisational assessments and program evaluations

Impacts

After completing the programs, participants have shared the following:

I got my interview!

I started meditating!

I have more of a wholistic approach to things

I have started working in blocks and then having a break – this is increasing my focus and giving myself a sense of achievement, and allows me to reward myself

The kids are helping more with the chores – that has been a game changer!

I designed my dream week!

I don’t feel guilty anymore!

I have had a mental shift and become more solution focused – what are all the ways I can solve a problem?

I feel more empowered – I am working on solutions but also asking who I can go to so I don’t feel alone  in the problem

I have learned not to eliminate all the ideas

I have been too hard on myself

Testimonials

  • I used my learnings at work to help the team understand empathy in the user experience

    Manager, Department of Education

  • Dr Jackie King has a wealth of knowledge and extensive qualifications and experience. It was a real gift to be in a group of women whom Jackie has taught her knowledge of design thinking to apply to our own development. Jackie's ability to utilise design thinking and apply it is clever and effective.

    Senior Manager, Department of Health

  • I feel inspired and empowered by Jackie

    Marketing Entrepeneur

  • Jackie created a thoughtful and energising space where I could explore big questions with structure, support, and intention. The ‘Embracing your Ultimate Other’ sessions gave me a fresh perspective on how to apply design thinking to my own life, and the experience was both practical and deeply reflective. I left with valuable insights, lasting connections, and a clearer sense of focus. Highly recommend.

    CEO, IT Company

  • My experience in the program was one of the most vulnerable experiences I have had online- Jackie was excellent and breaking down walls and building trust between the participants. She gave us a masterclass in modelling how to have difficult conversations.

    CEO, HR Start Up

  • With interesting, thought provoking exercises along the way, we built our self understanding with kindness creating empathy directed toward ourselves ie to look at ourselves through a lens of kindness. The sessions enabled us to listen to shared challenges and we could exchange helpful ideas. Jackie gave us time and attention as well as positive reinforcement, inviting us to take small manageable steps to move forward and modelled confidence in us that enabled us to rediscover that in ourselves.

    Health Care Worker