OUR TEAM

Jessica Fox
Partner

The Backstory

I believe that the ability to question, challenge and reinvent ourselves is what keeps us vibrant. Rather than remain on the trajectory of a very specialized career that I began in my twenties, I pursued my curiosity in directions that interested me, which eventually brought me to coaching.

As a teenager I was drawn to the exclusive, intellectual aura of the art world, but after landing my first job out of graduate school at the J. Paul Getty Museum, surrounded by introverted academics, I felt a little like a fish out of water. That experience crystallized for me that I’m energized by interacting with other people, and that my personality was better suited to a more dynamic environment.

I had never considered working in the commercial art world until I was recruited into a training program at Christie’s. Working in business development at a major auction house was intoxicating, and I was fascinated by the intersection of art, business, law, finance and operations. However, during my 12 years as a European Furniture Specialist at Christie’s, I didn’t 100% fit the mold – I wasn’t interested just in the art, the market and the clients. I was naturally drawn to improving performance and organizational culture, and within my group I worked to leverage employee strengths in light of business challenges.

It gradually dawned on me that my interest in the operational side of the business, including management and talent development, had eclipsed my interest in the art. How, I wondered, could I transition from my technical role to a managerial position within the business? I began to ponder this question, to challenge my own assumptions, and also to discuss the idea with key advisors.

When an opportunity arose to demonstrate my business acumen by owning financial responsibilities, I seized it, and that eventually led to a full-time role in business management. I immediately found that I loved supporting individuals on my teams to reach their professional goals. Moving from an individual contributor role, I was delighted to experience that my success was my team’s success. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all aspects of running a business and reinventing myself as an effective manager, influencer, and leader after living in my art “compartment” for so many years. During this time, and through my own management development, I uncovered a passion for coaching as a technique to transform performance, and sought to distinguish myself as a valued thought partner to both colleagues and associates.

By 2014, I was managing seven auction departments with P&L responsibility of $200M in sales and comprising over 30 members of staff while also caring for my family with two young children. I enjoyed the work but felt increasingly burned out and in need of a change. So, after nearly two decades of full-time employment, I took the daunting step of redesigning my professional life to create more space for my family. As a consultant within Christie’s, I continued to nurture a deep passion for developing people and balancing the needs of individuals with the needs of their organization. I also made the decision to embark on a full-fledged coaching career, which was the catalyst for enrolling in the Columbia Coaching Certification Program. As I’ve grown, I realized that helping other people devise strategies to find clarity, challenge assumptions and achieve their own success is what really motivates me.

When I’m not coaching, I’m busy running in Central Park, probably listening to podcasts. Or, you will find me exploring the Upper West Side with my two middle-school-aged boys.