Meet Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton | CEO/Executive Coach/Board Advisor and Best Selling Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Tonya, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk, for me, has never been about recklessness—it’s been about responsibility. I think about risk as an informed relationship with uncertainty rather than something to conquer or avoid. Early in my career, I believed risk meant pushing harder, moving faster, and proving myself at all costs so long as integrity is at the forefront of my actions. With time, experience, and a few hard-earned lessons, I’ve come to understand that the most powerful risks are the ones taken with intention, integrity, and deep self-awareness.

Taking risks has shaped every meaningful chapter of my life and career—from stepping into executive leadership at moments when I didn’t yet “see” the full path, to leaving the security of the corporate world to build my own firm, to writing and publishing my book when the message felt bigger than my fear of being seen. Each of those moments required me to sit with discomfort, listen carefully to what fear was trying to tell me, and decide anyway.

Fear is always present when something matters. I don’t try to eliminate it—I learn from it. Risk has shown me where I care deeply, where I’m still growing, and where my leadership is being stretched. Some risks didn’t work out the way I hoped, but every single one refined my resilience, clarified my values, and expanded my capacity to lead with both courage and compassion.

Ultimately, I believe risk is not about the leap—it’s about the readiness. And that readiness is built through self-trust, community, and the willingness to act even when certainty is unavailable. That mindset has carried me through boardrooms, classrooms, healthcare systems, entrepreneurship, and life itself.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Sequel Consulting Group, LLC – is a woman-owned consultancy providing organizational and leadership development solutions for organization. Led by yours truly – an Organizational Development (OD) Practitioner, the founder, CEO, consultant who has more than 30 years of experience working with organizations to impact their effectiveness and performance. We provide

Coaching: Personalized supportive sessions and assessments for executives, leaders and teams.

Centerpiece Engagements: Customized keynote speaking and leadership or team workshops to help organizations define strategies and achieve goals.

Consulting: Expert guidance in data analysis, collect employee insights, culture development, mission/vision alignment, organization design, strategic planning, transformation and change management, and tailored leadership development.

Community Conversations: Interactive discussions that gather, and equip leaders and key stakeholders to take action.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to town for a week, I’d give them the full coastal–culture–wellness–nightlife experience that makes San Diego – Southern California feel like a reset and a recharge all at once.

Mini Itinerary Snapshot:

Day 1 – Ocean Welcome: Brunch at The Cove, walk the seals and cliffs at La Jolla Cove, sunset dinner overlooking the water at George’s at the Cove.
Day 2 – Art & Culture: A full creative day wandering Balboa Park, capped with live theater at The Old Globe.
Day 3 – Barefoot Beach Day: Sun, waves, and fish tacos after hanging out Mission Bay and Beach and Pacific Beach.
Day 4 – A full day at Liberty Station, which involves walking, shopping, fun restaurants and a show at The Joan.
Day 5 – Wellness Reset: Morning hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve followed by spa time at The Catamaran Spa.
Day 6 – City Energy: Shopping, people-watching, and rooftop drinks in Little Italy and the Little Italy Farmer’s Market.
Day 7 – Train to LA + Hollywood Night: We’d take the coastal train into Los Angeles via Los Angeles Union Station, hike and take in the views at Runyon Canyon Park, then close with a classic dinner at Musso & Frank Grill or another favorite.

For me, the magic here is the blend of ambition, creativity, wellness, culture, and coastline—it’s the rare place where you can dream big and still breathe deeply.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Dara Beavas, Wise Inc. – Publishing Company in Minnesota – publisher of my book The Myth of the Fearless Leader: Exposing a Path Beyond Fight, Flight and Freeze
Studio Americana, Ian Lewitt – Autobook Recorder
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Northern San Diego and Minneapolis/St. Paul Aluname Chapters
The Links Incorporated – San Diego Chapter
American Cancer Society – San Diego Board

Website: www.sequelconsultinggrp.com or www.drtonyajackmanhampton.com

Instagram: drtonyajackmanhampton_author

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtonyajackmanhampton

Image Credits
Headshot – Lindsay Marcy, Minneapolis, MN