After working in the corporate world for five years, QUT alumnus, Jess Jasch, decided to pursue her passion for health and wellbeing. Now a Wellness Specialist, she was recently named one of the ten greatest health and wellness coaches in Australia. Jess shares her career journey to date and how she found a path that aligns with her values.
1. What did you do after graduating from QUT? I was fortunate to get a job straight out of university, where I worked at a not-for-profit membership organisation. A year later I moved to the Sunshine Coast for a Marketing, Communications and PR Manager role. After a few years in this role, I started my business on the side – first by becoming a qualified yoga teacher.
2. What is the best part about your job? I love being in the creative driving seat with the autonomy to be my own decision-maker. I also feel like I get to make more of a positive impact than what I have in my previous employment roles.
3. Tell us about your career journey: Yoga is what started me on my journey – initially as a way to support my anxiety and emotional wellbeing. I became really passionate about helping people feel like they have agency over their lives and how they express themselves, with a sense of empowerment and accountability.
Once I transitioned to solely working in my business, J-Leigh, it took a few years for it to really form into what it looks like now. I honed in on my style of yoga teaching, which was to hold trauma-conscious space for all, but particularly for veterans and people working in the military and emergency services. Over time, I’ve filled in my knowledge gaps with coaching qualifications so that I feel integrity in the spaces I’m holding for my students and clients.
In the last year I’ve leaned more fully into empowerment and communication training. I’ve always loved communication – I just had to find a path that aligns with my values.
4. What have been some of your career highlights to date? I’m honoured to be part of the support contractor services for the Australian Army Soldier Recovery Centre – Brisbane. I’ve also had the honour of working with the Australian Men’s Goalball team as Program and Team Manager in their lead up to trying out for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic qualifications.
5. What are your future goals? A fair portion of my work, clients and opportunities have extended outside of Australia, so I hope to travel and dive into these immersive experiences when it’s safe and open to do so. I’m also planning on creating specific trainings that qualify facilitators to carry out the J-Leigh brand of facilitation and empowerment training all around the world.
6. What advice would you give other QUT alumni? Keep coming back to your values and the impact you want to have on the world. There’s a lot of fulfilment to be experienced from knowing your work has impact – that includes financial remuneration too. You’ve just got to let yourself be creative…if you want to!
More about Jess
Jess Jasch completed a Bachelor of Business (Public Relations)/Bachelor of Media and Communication at QUT in 2012. As a Wellness Specialist, she facilitates programs incorporating yoga, breathing and mindfulness techniques for students from emergency services and military personnel focused on PTSD and trauma support, to corporates, executives, and elite athletes. Jess is the Founder of success coaching service, J-Leigh, and podcast host of Get Jasched.
Connect with QUT Alumni & friends
