A Disrupter who Normalizes Complexity with Jess Pettitt, CSP

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jennifer Kahnweiler sits down with Jess Pettit, a professional speaker, consultant, and author of Almost Doing Good. Jess shares her unique career journey from education to crisis management and diversity consulting. She offers deep insights on balancing humility and ego—what she calls "riding two horses"—and the power of listening, especially for extroverts engaging with introverts.

Jess also introduces the concept of the "do good triangle," a framework for preparing for, recognizing, and responding to disruptions. We discuss the challenges and benefits of leading Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and the importance of using privileged identities to advocate for others.

Key Topics Discussed

✅ Jess’s transition from education to professional speaking.
✅ The importance of balancing humility and ego.
✅ Why extroverts should listen like dolphins when engaging with introverts.
✅ How the "do good triangle" helps organizations navigate challenges.
✅ Strategies for making ERGs more effective.
✅ The power of authenticity and adapting to different audiences.
✅ How socially privileged identities can be used for advocacy.

Connect with Jess Pettit

📖 Book: Almost Doing Good

Connect with Jess Pettit

📖 Book: Almost Doing Good
🌐 Website: https://jesspettitt.com/

Jess Pettitt, M.Ed., CSP, has always had a foot in two different approaches to her life. Perhaps it is her Texas roots, but she believes to thrive in this world you have to ride two horses at once – one of humility and one of ego. 

This is why while hosting and performing stand-up in NYC she also worked as a diversity and inclusion specialist as a day job. She quit her day job after a decade and almost 20 years later still uses humor to deliver actionable content related to everything you ever wanted to know about where leadership and diversity collide but are afraid to ask. Though often referred to as a thought leader, Jess responds that she makes leaders think. 

For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work to stick, the first step is a conversation that matters about what you don’t know you don’t know then you can do the best you can with what you have some of the time without getting sued, losing talent, or failing customers.