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
Leaders come to Jonlieu because they want to grow—and because they’re tired.
Tired of navigating constant change without space to pause.
Tired of carrying more than they replenish.
Tired of trying to lead well in environments that rarely slow down enough to care for the humans doing the leading.
I know this experience well—because for many years, I lived it too.
My Journey to This Work
I’ve spent 30 years in education—teaching, coaching, leading teams, designing curriculum, and serving as a district administrator. I loved the work deeply and cared fiercely about the people I served. Together, we created meaningful change: healthier team cultures, stronger learning environments, improved instruction, and a more connected district experience for students and staff.
But behind the scenes, I was running on empty.
The pace was relentless. Expectations were high. Transitions were constant. And like so many mission-driven leaders, I kept giving—across every area of my life—long after my own well-being was depleted.
Eventually, the stress caught up with me. It triggered one of the most severe Sickle Cell Disease flare-ups I had ever experienced.
That moment forced me to stop. To breathe. And to ask myself harder questions—not just about my work, but about my life. I began to reflect on what thriving could look like if well-being wasn’t something I postponed, minimized, or sacrificed—but something I actively protected.
Where Jonlieu Began
As I healed, I began exploring a different way to support the leaders I admired—one that addressed burnout at its roots, not just its symptoms. I became deeply grounded in positive psychology and the inner capacities that sustain leadership over time: emotional awareness, values alignment, self-acceptance, strengths, healthy relationships, resilience, and well-being across all areas of life—not just work.
Around the same time, I was volunteering with nonprofit leaders and noticed a familiar pattern. Education and nonprofit leaders were carrying the same weight: high stakes, limited resources, emotional labor, and constant transition.
They didn’t need more strategies to push harder.
They needed support that helped them protect their energy, set healthier boundaries, restore balance across life domains, and stay connected to what matters most—without losing themselves in the process.
That realization became the foundation of Jonlieu.
How I Support Leaders
Today, I partner with leaders to strengthen the inner capacities that make leadership sustainable—especially in demanding seasons. Through coaching and professional learning, I help leaders reconnect with clarity, meaning, healthy boundaries, and rhythms that support well-being across work and life.
My work helps leaders understand how burnout shows up across thoughts, emotions, relationships, habits, and purpose—and how small, intentional shifts can restore confidence, energy, and alignment over time. Clients often describe our work as grounding and clarifying—“the calm in the storm”—because it creates space to reflect, recognize strengths, and lead with greater intention.
As one nonprofit leader shared:
“Michelle helped me uncover strengths and ideas already within me. I now feel equipped to improve my life, achieve my goals, and lead myself—and others—with purpose and intention.”
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: leaders can live well and lead well—without burning out.
My 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 I’m not coaching or teaching, you’ll almost always find me outdoors. I’m most at home in nature—walking mountain trails, breathing in the ocean air, tending to my garden, or simply noticing the small details the natural world offers when we slow down enough to see them. I also love spending time with my husband, Kevin, and our two dogs, and we often enjoy camping as a way to recharge and reconnect.
I also love nature photography and writing children’s stories—creative practices that bring me joy, remind me to stay curious, and help me reconnect with the rhythms that support my 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)
For individual leaders, teams, and groups who want meaningful support—not more pressure.
Coaching creates space to reflect, realign, and build practical habits that prevent burnout and support recovery. Leaders strengthen confidence, emotional intelligence, and values-aligned decision-making—so they can lead with greater clarity and care.
Professional
Learning
Interactive, reflective learning experiences for organizations ready to make leader well-being a real priority.
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.
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, connection, and well-being.