We had the good fortune of connecting with Jace William and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jace, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I contribute my success to the life experiences that have shaped me: my spiritual foundation, my loving and supportive partner, my chosen family, my friends, my colleagues, both present and former, and my fraternal community. I also believe my desire to discover and uncover things about myself as a man on a healing journey is imperative to my brand. I have been and continue to do my work to show up daily as the best version of myself. That has come with many discomforts: unlearning, boundary setting, and correcting unhealthy behaviors and patterns. As a brand, I show up imperfect, shedding light on what I am learning through doing my work personally and professionally. I hope to inspire, mobilize, support, and challenge others to do their work. I refuse to promote anything I am not willing to do myself. I choose to be vulnerable, and it’s never about the likes; it’s really about my desire to transform as a human and be a light in a world that sometimes feels dark.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a singer-songwriter, voice actor, storyteller, and leadership development coach. I am at the intersections; life hasn’t been easy, and there have been many moments that could have broken me and my spirit, but instead it forced me to lean into my faith and press forward with determination and resilience. Can’t nobody do me like I can, and that is what makes me unique. I lead with a love and care that I don’t often experience from people. I show up every day as myself, with no walls, and willing to be vulnerable; that vulnerability attracts people, and I think it gives them hope and permission to do the same. At the present moment, I am excited about my upcoming music project, “60619.” I am bringing people into my world as creative who grew up in Chicago; it’s a vibe, and the process has been healing and rejuvenating. And it has revealed my innate ability to connect people with a story. And I hope everyone who hears it will see a piece of themselves in it regardless of whether they know Chicago or not because, at its core, it’s much bigger than that. Professionally, I hold down a corporate job, and I attribute my career success to a host of mentors and learning opportunities. I am responsible for employee experience and integration at my company, and I have the pleasure of supporting leaders with tools and resources that help them thrive in their roles. My path hasn’t been easy because, as a Black man, I have had to and continue to have to out-perform, take on more, and experience and tolerate microaggressions to be seen and heard. I challenged systems of oppression, which has sometimes made me a target. I overcame some challenges by building my personal board of directors; I have found people who invested in my success, some mentors, some sponsors, and many thought partners. Their support, direction, and counsel gave me the confidence I needed to carve out a lane for myself. I’ve learned a few things along the way; first, you can’t have healthy relationships with others till you birth the one with yourself first. The fundamental unit of change is the individual. You can either share the mess or the message; finally, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you know Chicago, you know we are on a grid system and pretty flat, so I would start by taking them on a scenic stroll along historic Longwood Drive on Chicago’s far South Side. What makes it unique beyond the lush trees, gorgeous estates, and architecture is the drive is the heartbeat of the neighborhood filled with hills and curves that span for miles. On our walk, we will see lots of furry friends and cute mom-and-pop shops, and it’s so quiet. I love my quiet as I am an old man at heart. Next, we’d hit up the Japanese Garden in Hyde Park after we stopped by Shawn Michelle’s to get some sweet treats. Once we are done eating our ice cream and cobbler, we need to hit up the Silver Room for some shopping. On another day, we’d have lunch at Kale My Name, Dinner at Handle Bar, and get in some music at Blue Chicago. Before the week is over, we’d need to grab some tea at Tea Pot Brewery and learn something at the DuSable Museum, check out a show at Sub T, and get some dessert from Small Cakes in Evergreen Park. I love a good laugh, so Second City, here we come, and let’s grab some grub and a vibe in the West Loop at Green Street Meats. What do you say, nature? We are going for a long hike at Starved Rock and will stay overnight in a cabin by Getaway. Boy, I’m pooped. This is the most I’d do in a week, so we are hitting up King Spa for some relaxation and views of the elders; oh boy, was that too much. I don’t drink, so they’d need to find some spots to hang out after seeing too much junk at King Spa.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow, this is hard because my village is broad and deep. I am a product of Chicago. Over the years, I have been poured into by so many people, read many books, and been privileged to be surrounded by great minds. I want to give credit to the first mentor I had and who is still active in my life today, Pastor Karen Hutt. She made me believe I could do anything; she believed in me before I ever believed in myself, and I am forever grateful for that. My brilliant partner Veronica challenges me in ways no human has; I can count on her for encouragement and hearing the hard truths—my spiritual warriors. My YMCA community has so many people I cannot name, but I take the many lessons I learned between the walls of the South Side YMCA and the McGaw YMCA. The two books that changed how I viewed the world were The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Tender Warrior by Stu Weber.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_jacewilliam/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jace-smith/

Image Credits
Severe Photographics

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