When Jean Poole decided to transition from her role as an insurance agent, she knew she wanted to laser focus on training and inspiring others. As an experienced trainer, she recognized the value of providing fundamental knowledge and life skills. Her initial efforts included hosting “The Jean Poole Hour of Power” radio program and providing training to insurance companies and agencies. These activities and services launched the beginning of her company E Cubed Performance. E Cubed Performance is a leadership training and development firm that provides clients with the opportunity for true transformations through training workshops, individual coaching, and keynote speaking.
As the pandemic unfolded, Jean knew she needed to find new ways to reach and inspire people. She had struggled for months trying to build her own website and struck gold when she reached out to Herold Jemison, business advisor with the East Central Indiana SBDC. Herold helped Jean get connected to relief programs designed to help small businesses. “The experience was so transformational for me that I told all my colleagues and new people I was meeting on webinars to contact the ISBDC for support,” Jean noted. “I tell colleagues across the country to find their local SBDC to get some of the best foundational and directional business support that they will find… and it’s FREE!”
Through her own success, Jean is committed to helping others build their own successful entrepreneurial journey. In 2021, she became the VP of Strategic Development and Engagement for the US Minority Contractors Association, an advocacy group that helps minority contractors become “bid ready.” Coincidentally, she picked up some new skills to add to her personal toolbox. “These engagements led to E Cubed adding community development programs by working with new business start-ups of women and minorities and non-profit organizations who did not have the know-how, the time or the money to build strong foundations. In 2022, we launched small business development programs and have clients in Detroit, Tampa, and Indiana,” Jean explained.
She continues to build on her transformational mission by supporting a 25-company cohort of new business owners. The program is a joint venture of the Indiana Black Expo, Key Bank, and other business leaders. A recent proud moment was being asked to be a guest speaker at her alma mater Indiana University, Bloomington campus twice this year: once for a women’s empowerment conference and once as a guest speaker for a Leadership course of the department of Management and Entrepreneurship. “The hope is to expand the course to have a specific Diversity Equity and Inclusion {DEI} track. My guest speaker topic on ERGs, Courageous Conversations, and Allyship, was one of the first.” Jean’s investment philosophy is to become an owner/partner of the company stock for the products you love and use. “I am pleased that I am living one of my other favorite mottos, which is, ‘We must lift as we climb.’”