The Jillian Group

03/11/2026

Change is universal.

Lately, I’ve been talking with people navigating change. Some are here in Europe, others in the U.S., and many elsewhere around the world.

Sometimes the change is by choice. Other times they were… invited into it. (Haha.) Downsizes or restructures. Career pivots. New directions. Rethinking how or where they want to work or live.

That’s why I’m happy to share this upcoming workshop being hosted by One Handshake.

One of our founding members, Alessandra Rossi, will be leading a session called “The Self-CSO: The Strategic Blueprint for Clarity, Direction and Action.”

She spent 20 years in global strategy leadership at Nielsen and now helps organizations and individuals translate big ideas and transitions into clear strategy and action.

If you’re in a moment of change, this could be incredibly helpful.

And if it’s not you, I am pretty sure you know someone who is in this space right now. Feel free to share or tag someone who might benefit. 😊

Here is the link for more info and to register: https://luma.com/t87m8g7l

12/17/2025

Across years of conversations with people from many countries, industries, and backgrounds, one theme keeps showing up.

So many people carry a quiet wish to become a published author.

It stays with them through career changes, relocations, and those moments when they pause long enough to consider what they want their life or work to stand for.

For some, it’s personal satisfaction.

For others, it's for professional positioning or a sense of legacy.

Often it’s a mix of all three.

Contigo Press exists for these people.

We bring individuals together in a guided cohort and move through the writing process as a group, resulting in a published anthology. There’s structure, accountability, and community built in, which makes the experience far less isolating.

Most aspiring authors aren’t unsure about the writing itself; they’re unsure about how to begin and how to stay on track.

If you’ve been carrying the idea of a book for a long time, this may be the season to revisit it.

And you may also know someone who has been talking about “one day writing a book” for years. If so, feel free to pass this along.

If you want to explore whether authorship fits into your coming year, reach out or join one of our upcoming info sessions. https://luma.com/aspiring-authors?k=c

12/11/2025

As many of you know, the last five years have brought quite a few big transitions for me. What I’ve noticed in my own life, and in the lives of so many people I’ve worked with, is that when one part of life shifts, it often sparks questions in other parts too. Identity, work, relationships...they all start to move at once. And that in-between space can feel disorienting and clarifying at the same time.

For me, relationships have always been the mirror that helps me see what’s next. They offer a place to reflect, test ideas, try things out, and think in new ways. No judgment. No bias. Just real support and a gentle challenge to consider possibilities I might not have seen on my own.

That is the backstory of One Handshake and why I knew it was time to create it. I kept seeing people in seasons of transition...people rethinking their work, realigning with their values, or rebuilding direction after a major change.

They weren’t looking for quick answers. They were looking for the right conversations, the right people, and a place to sort through what this next chapter could look like.

Often, they wanted fresh perspectives and new relationships that matched who they were becoming. Not because anything was wrong with the relationships they already had, but because growth invites us to widen our view.

Again and again, I saw how one introduction or a thoughtful exchange could spark clarity when everything felt in motion. Eventually, it became clear that this needed to be its own experience.

Today, One Handshake brings together founders, professionals, and creatives from around the world who are navigating change with intention. It is a steady place for perspective, community, and support as people find their next direction without forcing it.

If you’re in a season of transition or rethinking what is next, you’re not alone.

If you’d like to explore what this community has to offer, you can check out our podcast: https://onehandshake.co/podcast or an upcoming event: https://onehandshake.co/public-events/

11/06/2025

The concept of networking is interesting because it means different things to different people. To me, networking is a way to provide service to others.

Therefore, when I think of building or growing a network, I imagine planting and nurturing a garden. Some seeds will bloom 10 years later and become oak trees, others will sprout beautiful wildflowers.

I think about all the possibilities to connect dots and create opportunities. This is the essence of what One Handshake is about.

Alone, we can plant many seeds and create multiple harvests, but when we do this together, as a community, the yield is exponentially greater

Imagine being part of a community that took an active interest in helping you connect with the people and opportunities you seek?

11/05/2025

You never know how a connection might circle back years later.

I met Dorien Morin-van Dam in 2017 at Social Media Marketing World. I was coordinating the networking team, and she had been selected for the volunteer networking group, a specialized team focused on helping attendees feel welcome and connected.

She stood out right away: thoughtful, prepared, and fully present.

Fast forward to today. Dorien now hosts Strategy Talks, and I now live in the Netherlands (her home country). Neither of us could’ve predicted that back when we met in San Diego.

We recently reconnected and swapped podcast interviews within a week of each other.

In this Strategy Talks episode, we talked about:
🔹 Rebuilding a network from scratch in a new country
🔹 The story behind my TEDx talk
🔹 Why congruence and sustainability matter in business
🔹 How long-term relationships often shape growth in ways you can’t plan for

Dorien is a thoughtful, discerning host, and I’m grateful to be part of her podcast lineup. I appreciated the chance to reconnect, reflect, and share some of what I’ve learned about building relationships that truly sustain us.

🎧 You can listen to our conversation here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strategy-talks/id1615667911
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com//podcasts

And if you’d like to hear Dorien’s story on reinvention, pricing, and building a business after 40, you can find her episode on my One Handshake podcast here:

👉 https://one-handshake.simplecast.com/episodes/36-building-a-business-after-40-real-lessons-on-reinvention-pricing-and-trust-they-dont-teach-in-business-school

11/03/2025

Over the last few years, I’ve found myself at the intersection of a few different projects: helping founders recalibrate, building bridges to expand market opportunities, supporting authors who’ve waited years to write, and building community around what really matters in business.

It’s been a nonlinear path, but what connects it all is a belief that relationships, values, and clarity are worth designing around.

I’m in the midst of updating TheJillianGroup.com site to reflect this portfolio approach, bringing One Handshake, Contigo Press, Strategic Confidant, and Market Expansion under one umbrella. Not because I set out to build “brands,” but because each of these things supports a different kind of growth I believe in.

If you’re also navigating a portfolio career or weaving multiple ventures together, raise your hand. I’d love to know what connects the dots for you.

08/10/2025

Ever dreamed of writing a book? 📖

Not for the algorithm or a quick sale... but because it matters to you.

I’ve been hearing from more people who’ve had that quiet urge for years, waiting for the right structure, support, or space to finally write.

If this is you (or someone you know), good news - something special is taking shape.

Stay tuned for details about an information session.

07/16/2025

“Sales, when done right, is an act of service.”

That’s how Seymour Ellis approaches business development. In this episode of the One Handshake podcast, he shares how that belief has shaped his 20+ year career building sales teams across five countries.

Seymour is the co-founder of Matchstick, a B Corp-certified lead gen agency that helps purpose-led brands grow through thoughtful outreach and intentional client acquisition. He breaks down what it really means to grow your business without compromising your values—and how to do it in a way that actually feels good.

🎯 We talk about how to create a “wish list” of ideal clients
🎯 Why founders should sell their own offer first
🎯 What sales teams often miss
🎯 And how to shift from extractive sales to intentional growth

If sales hasn’t always felt aligned for you, this episode might just change your perspective.

🎧 Listen now & check the show notes for a generous offer from Seymour:

What if sales didn’t have to feel icky? Seymour Ellis, co-founder of Matchstick, shares his journey from youth work to leading high-performing sales teams across five countries - with a belief that sales, when done right, is an act of service. This episode reframes business development as a values...

03/04/2025

No matter how frigid, dark, or long - winter passes and reveals the beauty of new possibilities.



☀️

03/25/2024

Choice. How do you quantify the value of being able to make choices?

What I thought would be a quick drop off at daycare ended up being a paint & glitter extravaganza.

The look on my son’s face when I said I could stay and paint with him - that was priceless. The best currency of all.

I have not followed a conventional pathway, but I am profoundly grateful that I’ve been able to build flexibility into my schedule and life.

There are many ways to measure our productivity and output, but how do we measure fulfillment and happiness?

Oh, and what a stellar excuse to miss going to the gym! 😂🖌️

03/15/2024

Exploring a career change?

You're not alone. I've been there too.

That intuition is pushing you towards something new, and while the journey might seem overwhelming, it doesn't have to be.

In this blog article, I share a fresh perspective on career pivots. It's not just about updating the resume; it's about discovering the ideal scenario. And it's about mindset and creativity.

Dive into unconventional steps for a more effective transition and take the first step toward a fulfilling career change.

In the meantime, let me know in the comments: how have you navigated previous a previous career change? What is preventing you from taking the leap now? Let's talk.