About

Avil Jackson

Strategic Advisor & Leadership Partner
Teaching leaders mise en place: preparation, clarity, and execution under pressure.

I’m Avil Jackson, founder of LuminaNorth Group—where professional kitchen discipline meets organizational leadership.

The Kitchen-to-Boardroom Story

I’ve spent 30 years creating and leading organizational change. In the middle of that journey, I spent 10 years in the culinary industry—both back and front of house.

If you’ve never worked in fine dining, you can’t imagine the pressure. 200 covers on the books. Orders firing on a moment’s notice. One mistake and someone’s celebration is ruined.

But it’s not chaos. It’s precision under pressure. Well-trained professionals making it happen—because you either have your mise en place (everything in its place) together, or you end up in the weeds.

That discipline changed everything for me.

Leadership was in my DNA long before I picked up a chef’s knife. My father was an entrepreneur who built a successful architectural firm. My mother was an educator who spent decades teaching, fighting for teachers in the union, and leading as a principal.

I watched my father design systems and build a business. I watched my mother develop people and lead organizations. And in kitchens, I learned to execute both with precision under pressure.

Mise en place became my integration of all three: the entrepreneur’s systems thinking, the educator’s development mindset, and the chef’s disciplined execution.

What I Do Now

I help leaders navigate three critical challenges:

  • Leading Through Change — When everything’s shifting and you need to understand what’s changing, what resources you have, and what you’re building (assess your kitchen)
  • Strategic Clarity — When the path forward feels murky and you need to organize priorities, eliminate noise, and create an actionable plan (prep your station)
  • Building Momentum — When you’re clear on what needs to happen but can’t seem to move, and you need to build sustainable progress without burning out (execute service)

This is the Mise en Place Leadership Method™ — the discipline I learned in professional kitchens and refined over 30 years in organizational leadership.

How I Work

I blend coaching and advisory: creating space for your insight while bringing frameworks from decades of experience. When you need a thinking partner, I ask powerful questions. When you need strategic guidance, I share what I see.

My approach: Preparation before pressure. Clarity before chaos. Everything in its place before you execute.

My philosophy: Clarity comes from intentional movement. Not endless analysis. Not waiting for perfect answers. Intentional movement—preparation, then action.

Mise en place is how you create that intentional movement.

My Background

  • 30+ years leading organizational transformation and change initiatives
  • 10 years professional chef in fine dining
  • Former VP of People & Culture, leading enterprise change at scale
  • Gallup Certified Strengths Coach (Maximizer | Arranger | Connectedness | Positivity | Strategic)
  • Certified Scrum Master and Agile practitioner
  • Co-Active trained coach
  • Certified change management practitioner (ADKAR, Prosci)

Services

I work with leaders at every level—from emerging to C-suite:

  • Gateway Resources — Self-guided digital frameworks and tools
  • Clarity Circle — Monthly peer community for consistent support
  • Strategic Clarity Lab — Intensive cohorts for leaders in transition
  • Executive Advisory — Strategic partnership for senior leaders
  • Executive Retreats — Quarterly immersive peer experiences

Behind the Work

When I’m not helping leaders prepare for what’s coming, you’ll find me:

In the kitchen — I’m classically trained as a chef, and while I no longer cook for a living, I cook with intention. Mise en place isn’t just a work philosophy—it’s how I approach creating anything worth sharing.

Covered in paint — Fluid art is one of my creative outlets. It’s messy, meditative, and a surprising teacher of flow. The same principles apply: prepare your materials, know your vision, then let the process unfold.

Rooted in Omaha — Born and raised here, educated in Boston, shaped by time in New York and Los Angeles. I returned home with a deeper appreciation for both space and community.

Chasing joy — Whether it’s through a well-brewed cup of coffee, a belly laugh that sneaks up on me, or a quiet moment of clarity. Joy isn’t frivolous—it’s sustainable fuel.

Learning as I go — Because everyone (even advisors) needs a thinking partner. Self-work is real work. Growth is a practice, not a destination.

I bring my full self to this work, and I invite my clients to do the same. Leadership doesn’t have to be grim—it can be grounded, spacious, even joyful.

Let’s Connect

Follow me on LinkedIn for weekly insights on leading through change, gaining clarity, and building momentum: linkedin.com/in/avil-jackson

Ready to explore working together? Schedule a conversation: Avil@LuminaNorthGroup.com or Calendly link

Everything in its place. Everything ready. Then flow.