Hidden Gems: Meet Toyia Jackson of Iconic Choice Advisors

Today we’d like to introduce you to Toyia Jackson.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Inglewood, raised mostly in Long Beach. My mother and I were homeless during the early years of my life. When we first obtained housing, I attended a pre-school in a manufactured building on 107th and Vermont in South Central Los Angeles. I remember my mother always telling me that education was important and to respect people from all walks of life. We would sometimes pass by the University of Southern California and she would always say how much she desired to receive her education there. Hard work would have it that I completed one of my master’s degrees there. I met my biological father for the first time at 35 years old. The power of persistence, forgiveness, self-forgiveness, education, social capital, and emotional intelligence has been a reoccurring them throughout my life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have experienced many challenges. I recall when I first committed to being an entrepreneur, it seemed at the time everything tried to prevent me from reaching my goals. My experience in real estate has increased my negotiation skills in business. The journey has not been easy. When I first started, I had no idea the challenges ahead. I had to start and stop, lose money, and go through business partners several times. The key was finding my voice, understanding industry language, leveraging social capital, using best business practices, and trusting my instinct. My brand is built on understanding the demographics and how I can be of service to them. As a business advisor, I believe in speaking the language of the client and building a business plan based on their “why.”

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Iconic Choice Advisors?
Iconic Choice Advisors is near and dear to my heart as it is business consulting firm focusing on millennial and urban entrepreneurs. The clients we serve come from the culture of being shocked to find out the corporate ladder we have been taught to climb has changed. We built this company to help entrepreneurs, founders, and organizations avoid some of the pitfalls of running a business. I have been a consultant and real estate professional for over ten years. We welcome clients from all walks of life and have a specific niche clientele of African-American millennials. In addition, Iconic Choice Management is an entertainment management firm started by myself, my husband, and father in law. We focus on an elite group of writer’s production teams for the purpose of licensing and distribution. I am currently in pre-production for a docuseries.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Good Leaders Ask Great Questions by John Maxwell, Atomic Habits, by James Clear, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

Contact Info:

• Email: dwhite@iconicchoiceadvisors.com
• Website: www.iconicchoiceadvisors.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/toyialjackson
  instagram.com/iconicchoiceadvisors

Image Credits:
Shadowworks Visuals