Purpose
Helping education and nonprofit leaders cultivate the conditions for thriving—within themselves, their teams, and their communities—through coaching and education grounded in positive psychology.
Vision
A world where education and nonprofit leaders lead with self-compassion and courage—creating cultures where people and purpose thrive together.
Core Values
People
People are whole, resilient, and resourceful.
Leadership
Leadership starts from the inside out.
Learning
Learning unlocks limitless possibilities.
Psychological Safety
People must feel safe to learn and thrive.
Presence
Here and now is the seed for new possibilities.
Awareness
Awareness is the first step towards understanding.
Michelle Watson-Grant, Ed.D., ACC
About Michelle
Sustainable leadership requires more than skill.
It requires conditions that support clarity, energy, and well-being over time.
Jonlieu was created to support education and nonprofit leaders who are navigating meaningful work in complex, high-demand environments. Many of the leaders we work with are capable, committed, and deeply invested in their communities—yet they are often carrying sustained responsibility, emotional labor, and ongoing change with limited space to pause or recalibrate.
Over time, the pace of leadership, constant complexity, and frequent transitions can quietly wear down the inner capacities leaders rely on most. When clarity, energy, and well-being aren’t supported, leadership becomes harder to sustain—not because leaders are lacking, but because the conditions around them make it so.
Jonlieu takes a different approach.
Rather than focusing only on external skills or performance outcomes, our work centers on strengthening leadership capacity from the inside out.
Through coaching and professional learning grounded in positive psychology, we support leaders in cultivating the inner conditions that make leadership sustainable: emotional awareness, resilience, values-aligned well-being, and the ability to navigate complexity with presence and care.
We partner with individual leaders, leadership teams, and mission-driven organizations who want leadership that is both effective and humane—leadership that can be sustained over time, not just performed under pressure.
At the heart of Jonlieu is a simple belief:
when leaders are supported in sustaining their own clarity and energy, their impact becomes more thoughtful, more resilient, and more enduring.
If you’re seeking support that honors both your leadership and your humanity, you’re welcome here.
Michelle's Background & Training
I hold a Master’s in Education, Teaching and Learning, and a Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University.
I'm a Certified Master Coach through the Center for Coaching Certification and a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation. My professional training includes:
• Positive Psychology
• Navigating Transitions
• Team Development Essentials
These frameworks blend into a people-centered coaching approach grounded in both research and lived experience.
Beyond the Work
When she’s not coaching or teaching, Michelle is most often outdoors. She finds grounding in nature—walking mountain trails, breathing in ocean air, tending her garden, and noticing the small details that emerge when life slows down.
Time spent camping with her husband, Kevin, and their two dogs is an important way she restores energy and reconnects.
Michelle also enjoys nature photography and writing children’s stories—creative practices that nurture curiosity, invite reflection, and help her stay connected to the rhythms that support her own well-being.
"The name Jonlieu (pronounced john-loo) is a heartfelt homage to my grandfather, John Lewis. Known for his resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, he was a role model, particularly in times of transition and challenge. Unable to read or write, he mastered countless skills and always found solutions where others saw only obstacles. Jonlieu is more than just a name. It’s a nod to my grandfather’s legacy, and a reflection of my commitment to replicating it. The "lieu" also signifies my aspiration to stand in his stead, cultivating leadership not only in myself but in every individual I serve, and the people they serve, creating an ever-widening ripple effect of positive change."
How We Help You Grow
Think. Be. Do.
Our offerings help leaders move from awareness to aligned, sustainable change.
Coaching
(1:1, Group, and Team)
Coaching creates space to slow down, reflect, and realign. Leaders build practical habits that strengthen clarity, energy, and sustainable well-being. This work helps leaders prevent and recover from burnout, navigate personal and professional transitions with purpose, and cultivate the conditions for thriving—not just coping—amid ongoing demands.
Professional
Learning
Professional learning offers interactive, reflective experiences for organizations ready to make leader well-being a lived practice, not just a stated value. Through program series focused on well-being, emotional intelligence, and resilience, leaders gain tools they can apply immediately—supporting healthier relationships, clearer communication, and more sustainable leadership practices across teams.
Together, these approaches help leaders lead with confidence, presence, and care—without sacrificing themselves in the process.
All services are grounded in principles from positive psychology and the International Coaching Federation’s Code of Ethics and standards.
Jonlieu's Compass
“Think. Be. Do.” is the guiding principle behind all Jonlieu offerings. It reflects a simple truth: sustainable leadership begins within—and unfolds through intentional action.
THINK
Develop awareness of thought patterns, beliefs, and emotional cues that shape how you experience stress, challenge, and leadership.
BE
Cultivate ways of being that support emotional intelligence, self-acceptance, healthy boundaries, and well-being across life domains.
DO
Take purposeful, values-aligned action that protects your energy, strengthens relationships, and creates meaningful, sustainable impact.
Let’s explore what sustainable leadership can look like for you.
The best place to begin is a conversation. In a 1:1 chat, we’ll talk through what you’re carrying, what you’re hoping for, and how coaching or professional learning can support clarity, energy, and well-being.