Confession: Why I Created a Leadership Program

Dear Spark Family,

This week, I had a call with a client who asked me a question I hear all the time: “Jackie, why did you start Spark Brilliance?”

It really got me thinking. The truth is, Spark Brilliance came from something I kept noticing over and over again in the leadership world – a gap that was too big to ignore. As an executive coach, I was constantly looking for leadership programs I could recommend to my clients, but nothing I found really hit the mark.

Let me break it down for you.

The Real Problem
with Leadership Programs

Here’s what I ran into:

• Outdated Content: A lot of leadership programs are still stuck in the past – teaching methods from the ’80s (or maybe 2019 if you’re lucky!). But we all know that post-Covid, the leadership game has changed. Leaders today are dealing with a whole new set of challenges, and the old ways just don’t work anymore.

• Too Much, Too Complicated: Then there’s the information overload. Most programs out there feel like you’re drinking from a fire hose — gazillions of modules, multi-day off-site training, 1:1 coaching sessions… It’s exhausting. And worse, it feels disconnected from what leaders are actually dealing with day-to-day.

And here’s the thing—leaders don’t have time for this. The leaders I work with are lucky if they can squeeze in lunch, let alone dive into a massive leadership curriculum.

This brings me back to the initial question, “Why did you create Spark Brilliance?” To be honest, I realized something had to change. Leaders need something simple, actionable, and impactful. So I spent two years developing and testing a program designed for today’s leadership landscape—something that would deliver real results without wasting time. And, BOOM! That’s how Spark Brilliance was born.

This isn’t just another leadership program full of theory and fluff. Spark Brilliance is designed for real-world leaders. It’s all about practical strategies that work right now, helping leaders make a real impact while navigating the challenges of today’s complex world. No endless modules, no unnecessary distractions—just what matters most.