Meet Jeannette Scott
If you know her, you cannot help but think of Jeannette
Scott when you think of someone outstanding in their field. Born just outside of
Walterboro, in Cottageville, South Carolina, Jeannette was born a go-getter. An
Air Force wife for 23 years and mother of two boys, she has always tried to tie
her passion to her ministry. Jeannette is self-driven, detail-oriented and a
leader of her family. As the fourth in line of six siblings, one would think
her to be withdrawn, passive or even self-absorbed, and yet her siblings—older
and younger—always till do come to her for everything. Anyone who knows her
will tell you that leadership has always been in her DNA.
Jeannette began her career at a young age as a business
consultant, assisting with organizational management, strategic planning and project
management. She has a diverse background and understanding in human resources
management, customer relations, inventory and helping people in general.
Growing up, her mother and grandmother often gave her work to
do because she was, as they would say, “a busybody” and got bored easily. At
age 17 Jeannette discovered that she could always tell if an event was
organized or not and came to realize this was a gift that not everyone carried
with them. She enjoyed working on projects and often helped other students with
church and school assignments. In high school, Jeannette got a job volunteering
as a candy striper and worked at an employment agency. After graduation, she moved
to Columbia, South Carolina, and began a career with SCE&G purchasing
department. It was that position at such an early age that she gained knowledge
of procuring, buying, inventory and customer service representation. Her
experience and leadership skills landed her a promotion as assistant supervisor
in purchasing.
While in college, Jeannette worked at Richland Memorial Hospital
in patient registration and admissions. She learned through the Medical Board
of Examiners about doctors, lawyers and what they do and how they do it. This
knowledge made her vital to her position in assisting her patients.
In April 1992, Jeannette gave up everything to move to
Charleston with her new husband. She began a job at MUSC with their human resources
department. Within a year, she received a promotion to their Department of
Environmental Health Sciences and completed all the necessary environmental
training for the State of South Carolina where she became the coordinator
developing the teaching manuals for anyone off site and on campus undergoing
occupational health and safety training at any of MUSC’s six colleges. Upon
completion of that project, Jeannette transferred to the president’s office
where she was assistant to the vice president. In this position, she learned
what the Board of Directors and Trustees do and how things happened in the
leadership realm of the corporation.
At that point, a human resources position and a project manager
position at MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center for a $95 million project to expand
the cancer center became available, and Jeannette qualified for the positions
and applied to both. She was offered both positions and had to make the tough
decision as to which would most fit her passion and personality. She wanted to
make sure she chose the one that would light her fire so that she could tie her
passion to her ministry of helping people. Although they had already broken
ground, Jeannette chose the project manager position, started the project from
the ground up and held a preliminary meeting with more than11people, including
contactors and consultants. She was assured that they would be available to
assist her along with anything she needed for the project. Being a quick study,
she was able to catch up quick and hit the ground running with the project. It
reaped great rewards and was an incredible learning experience. It was during
that experience she became aware all she had done her life was coming together
for this time. “I learned not only about cancer and dealt with patients, but it
reminded me that we really don’t understand good health until we don’t have
it,” Jeanette says. “I was reminded of that every day.”
Jeannette worked very closely with Dr. David Cole, who is currently
the president, and through his leadership became very knowledgeable about
organizing, ordering, planning, purchasing, logistics, research laboratory and
the project itself. She worked with every department on campus and knew key
players from her previous jobs, which proved beneficial in times calls were
required.
A significant year for Jeannette was in 2007, as through all
her accomplishments and accolades she questioned her purpose, fulfillment and
passion and began a search for her true self. She questioned God and her daily
routine wondering, “Why am I here? And am I doing what I was destined to do?”
In her quest, she returned to her many hobbies and first loves, such as
cooking, baking from scratch, traveling and reading. She is an avid angel
collector and is often seen wearing angel jewelry. “Angels are our protectors,”
she says. It was through this reinvention process that Jeannette began the planning
process of starting her own business in 2011. However, in 2011, Jeannette’s
mother passed away and having previously assisted her mother with financial
matters, Jeannette was appointed by the family as executor of her estate thus
postponing her personal plans and life goals of entrepreneurship.
It was two years later, in 2013, that Jeannette started JAE
S Consulting, but 15 months later her sister passed away and she was again
appointed executor of the estate. Her sister left behind small children, and
being the take-charge person she was, Jeannette stayed in Georgia for eight
months and finalized all the remaining obstacles that needed attending. Once
returning to South Carolina, she was mentally and physically exhausted and took
a four-month sabbatical as “time for self” to recoup, regroup and regenerate.
Today she runs a successful business, having just launched
her website. She holds the vice president role in a local American Business Women’s
Association chapter and is currently working with the Ministry of Helps,
assisting visitors and helping with conferences, members care team, prayer
requests and much more at her local church. She runs the SEEE organization
(Sisters Embracing Encouraging and Empowering) and coordinates their annual
luncheon event in which more than100 women attend where their lives are
personally impacted and they gain tools and resources to help mold them into
women of today. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Charleston County Dress
for Success, which helps disadvantaged and underprivileged women with clothing,
networking, mentorship and training. She is a booster mom for her son’s
football team at a local high school, is responsible for three households, her
sister’s children and her own personal family’s daily household.
When we asked Jeannette what she considers her mantra to be,
she told us, “Walk in your purpose. My purpose is what drives me to get up
every day.”
Developing a 25-year career, Jeannette has overseen the
areas of strategic planning, project management, as well as provided assistance
to clients through organizational and management measures design to improve
operational effectiveness. Believing in a cause for change, she had the
privilege to serve on executive leadership teams in the non-profit industry
which included the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Dress for
Success Charleston County, the Charleston Organizational Development Leadership
Network, and the South Carolina American Society of Training and Development.
Her desire is to empower individuals to identify and
embrace their purpose, follow their dream and fulfill their destiny. Fusing her
passion for lifestyle organizational projects, she has been able to inspire
organizations and individuals to take charge of their personal and professional
success by combining energetic and positive team building methodologies to
connect clients with their corporate vision.
Purposeful business development opportunities within the
corporate arena, along with higher education has unlocked doors for Jeannette
allowing her to initiate JAES Consulting, a management consultancy firm in
2013. Jeannette is Founder and Business Development Strategist for the company
which provides training and consulting services in organizational management
and development, project coordination and management, along with strategic
planning and implementation. She has extensive leadership experience in
planning and managing cross-functional business operations and projects. Known
for her analytical and a conceptual thinking, it has allowed her the
opportunity to effectively collaborate with managers to assess opportunities,
facilitate strategic decisions and motivate successful implementations.
Presently, she demonstrates her detailed oriented work ethics, along with
innovative approaches by assisting companies with organizational development,
business excellence, corporate strategies, and project/program management
facilitation.