Jessica Hedrick

Jessica Hedrick

Senior Consultant

"My practice centers on deepening the self-awareness necessary for success. For individuals, that means cultivating self-knowledge and at times confronting limiting beliefs and behaviors. For firms, it means a nuanced understanding of the dynamics that contribute to vibrant, productive firm culture."

For almost twenty years, Jessica has been empowering lawyers to lead with authenticity, courage, and humor. By meeting clients exactly where they are, Jessica builds strong partnerships designed for exploration, nuance, strategy, and action. She believes deeply that each person possesses their own internal map, and that coaching is an opportunity to rediscover, supplement, and illuminate these personal atlases. She is honored support attorneys in their successful transitions into law firm leadership, professional sports leagues, global corporations, consultancies and creative fields.

Before joining Beard Strategies, Jessica served as Public Interest Advisor at New York Law School, where she guided law students toward careers in government and advocacy. Earlier, at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, she helped plan and execute over 25 annual CLE programs, working closely with attorneys across practices and industries. During her time in higher education, Jessica also got involved in acting and playwrighting, experiences that instilled in her the primacy of deep listening, strategic timing, and a sense of play—lessons that continue to inform her approach to executive and career coaching.

Jessica now lives in Chicago, a city whose metropolitan energy, epic lake, and midwestern sensibilities make it a place she is proud to call home.

Education & credentials

  • Earlham College, B.A., History
  • iCoachNewYork, Professional Coaching Program Certificate (PCP)

Professional background

  • New York Law School, Associate Director of Career Services
  • Greiner Consulting LLC, Attorney Career Coach
  • University of Texas at Austin, Continuing Legal Education

I was a bit skeptical at first about executive coaching, but my experience with Jessica could not have been better. She listened to my priorities and interests and ever so gently insisted that I push myself out of my comfort zone and reach out to my network. That's how I secured the position I ultimately accepted. And she was an incredibly grounding presence during a very stressful interview cycle.
 

—Associate, AmLaw 25

At the beginning I felt very discouraged and a bit unsure about how to proceed at this stage of my career. After working with Jessica, I feel much better about the future of my career and feel like my new networking tools are going to help me find the right role for me.
 

—Partner, AmLaw 25

Jessica is an absolutely amazing resource. I feel a lot more confident now about the future of my career, my ability to network and even just apply to jobs. She showed me how to tailor my resume and cover letter to show my strengths, navigate the interview process and improve my networking. Jessica is also very responsive, which I really appreciate.
 

—Associate, AmLaw 25