Are you a professional considering a career shift, or an aspiring coach interested in diving into personal relationships? Elise Jones’ transformation through EQ shows us the broader impact of strong connections when we show up as our true selves.

From Corporate Consultant to EQ Coach: Elise Jones’ Emotional Intelligence Journey of Self Development – Voices from the Network

by Maddalena Campitelli

“It’s exciting and encouraging to see the change in people; it makes me feel like I’m going to be leaving this place better than I found it.” – Elise Jones

In this month’s Voices from the Network, we sit down with Elise Jones, a passionate EQ Coach who transformed her career and found that strong relationships are key to a happier, more meaningful life. Elise’s noble goal is nourishing healthy relationships both with herself and others.

Elise Jones’ professional journey is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the power of emotional intelligence. After two decades of success in the corporate world, where she ran her own consultancy (Elise Jones Consulting), focusing on communications and writing, Elise began to feel a shift. The industry she had thrived in since 2000 was changing rapidly, driven by technology and social media. By 2020, Elise found herself at a crossroads, realizing that her career path was no longer sustainable. It was during this pivotal time, compounded by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, that she embarked on a transformative journey.

While living in California’s Bay Area, Elise encountered Six Seconds, an organization dedicated to emotional intelligence (EQ), when her oldest daughter attended Synapse, a school that followed their curriculum. Intrigued by the concept, Elise later revisited it when she felt the need for personal growth. As a mother of two teenage daughters navigating the uncertainties of the pandemic, Elise was driven to “be a better me”—a better parent, professional, and individual. This quest led her to enroll in Six Seconds’ Unlocking EQ course, a decision that would profoundly change her life.

The course ignited a passion in Elise that pushed her to pursue further certifications, including becoming an EQ Practitioner and EQ Assessor. Through these experiences, Elise discovered a deep love for the work, which not only enhanced her relationships but also clarified her personal and professional goals. The tools she acquired helped her navigate her own life challenges, and she soon realized that coaching was her next step, so she finally took the Six Seconds Coach Certification in 2022. Now a dedicated Certified EQ Coach, Elise finds immense fulfillment in helping others unlock their potential through emotional intelligence.

Elise’s passion for coaching is undeniable. When asked about her work and its impact on her clients, she exclaims, “I’m excited! It’s exciting and encouraging to see the change in people; it makes me feel like I’m going to be leaving this place better than I found it.”

Elise’s coaching practice is built on the foundation of EQ, where she helps clients from diverse industries—including finance, healthcare, tech, and even the US Armed Forces—navigate uncertainty and regain control over their lives. One of the most common issues she encounters is the sense of instability that comes from external factors like layoffs or global uncertainties. Elise guides her clients to focus on what they can control: their thoughts, feelings, and actions. “You can’t control everything,” she tells them, “but you can control how you respond.”

A poignant example of Elise’s impact is her work with a senior nurse who had been struggling with the immense pressures of the healthcare system, particularly during the pandemic. Through a year of coaching, Elise helped her client prioritize her well-being, recognize the importance of self-care, and apply emotional intelligence tools to manage stress and grief. The transformation was profound; the nurse, who had once been overwhelmed, began to reclaim her energy and belief in herself, a shift that also bolstered her professional growth.

Elise’s approach to coaching is holistic, focusing on four key metrics: effectiveness, relationships, quality of life, and well-being. She encourages clients to reflect on these areas, recognize when something is off, and work on aligning their actions with their values. Her method is not about teaching new skills, but about helping clients discover the tools they already possess. “No way is the way,” she says. “Each person has everything they need within themselves.”

Elise explains that coaching aligns perfectly with her curiosity and creativity, allowing her to fulfill her noble goal of nourishing relationships—both with herself and others—on a daily basis <Learn how to Pursue Noble Goals in the Six Seconds Model of EQ>. Elise finds deep satisfaction in supporting her clients, particularly women, through their personal growth journeys. In fact, in addition to her coaching, she has co-founded a company –Inner Development Coach– that focuses on empowering women to thrive by providing sustainable tools that help them lead fulfilling lives, with an emphasis on both inner and outer well-being. Through retreats and workshops, they promote inner awareness (through the Inner Development Goals), addressing the unique challenges women face, particularly as they age and navigate important life choices. This initiative, especially aimed at empowering women, is another extension of Elise’s commitment to helping others flourish.

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Meet Elise Jones LinkedIn →  Websites→ Elise Jones Consulting + Inner Development Coach

Professional achievements: Elise Jones is a creative and versatile certified coach, communications consultant, and founder with over 20 years of leadership experience. Elise works with individuals and organizations dedicated to making the world a better place, helping them share their stories. Her coaching approach centers on cultivating healthy relationships with oneself and others, unlocking the wisdom that resides within us all. She excels in guiding people through transitions and envisioning future-focused solutions. She is also a certified yoga, mindfulness, and meditation teacher.

Favorite Six Seconds Learning Philosophy: “No way is the way!”.

Learn about Six Seconds Learning Philosophy →

Noble Goal: “Nourish healthy relationships with self and others.”

Learn about Six Seconds Noble Goals →  

Her “Don’t Miss This” Six Seconds tools & courses: TFA and EQPC!

The Power of Authentic Connection: Stronger Relationships Makes us Happier

For Elise, the most significant outcome of her emotional intelligence journey has been the transformation of her relationships. When asked which area—wellbeing, quality of life, relationships, or effectiveness—had the greatest impact on her, she didn’t hesitate: “For me, it’s definitely relationships, full stop.”

Elise is a firm believer that strong, healthy relationships are the key to happiness and success and she drew on the findings of an 85-year Harvard longitudinal study, which revealed that deep, meaningful relationships are the most significant factor in leading a happier, healthier, and longer life. Elise realized that strong relationships are the cornerstone of true success. While good health doesn’t always equate to fulfilling relationships, having strong connections positively influences every other aspect of life.

Before discovering emotional intelligence through Six Seconds, Elise felt a crucial piece was missing from her life, as she delved into Six Seconds’ model, she began to connect the dots. She struggled to connect with others on a deeper level, often feeling like she was wearing a mask that prevented her true self from shining through. “I wasn’t allowing myself to show up in the way that I wanted to be seen,” she reflects, “so it was almost as if I had built a barrier or put on a mask.” This barrier hindered her ability to form genuine connections, often causing relationships to feel fragile and easily broken and over time, Elise realized that this mask was not protecting her but was instead preventing genuine connection.

Through the Six Seconds model, Elise began to understand the what, why, and how of emotional intelligence. She recognized her patterns and gained clarity on the direction she wanted to take in her relationships and learned the importance of vulnerability—of allowing herself to be imperfect and showing up authentically, rather than adhering to societal expectations. This wasn’t just a passive learning experience—it required significant effort and commitment to change. Today, Elise is proud to see the results of her hard work: she now shows up authentically in her relationships, and as a result, the connections she forms are stronger and more genuine.

As she began to change her approach to relationships, she noticed a shift in how others responded. “Relationships are a two-way street,” she says. “When I started being more authentic, I noticed people mirrored that, and it became easier for both of us to open up (…) Maybe before EQ, I was simply reflecting back on what I was given.” Now, by being vulnerable and embracing her true self, she finds that others mirror her openness, making it easier for both parties to connect on a deeper level.

Elise’s journey is a powerful reminder that the quality of our relationships profoundly impacts every area of our lives and is integral to our overall happiness and success. By embracing emotional intelligence, she transformed not only her relationships but also her life, proving that when we show up as our true selves, we can build stronger, more meaningful connections that enrich our lives and the lives of those around us.

Thank you Elise for sharing your EQ journey with us!

This is the web version of Six Seconds’ Voices from the Network newsletter. To subscribe to this and other newsletters from Six Seconds, click here.

If you would like to share your story and be featured in future newsletters please email [email protected]

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Want more resources on how to improve Relationships and Connection?

Best Friends, Baristas and Book Clubs: The Surprising Science of Social Connection
How your Attachment Style Affects your Relationship
A 3-D Picture: The 3 Questions That Make Coaching Work
What Relationship Pattern Holds You Back?