Elevating Lives: Dr. Josias Jean-Pierre’s Journey of Purpose and Impact

Dr. Josias Jean-Pierre has transformed personal obstacles into a powerful mission that inspires change. Born in Haiti and raised in SeaTac, Washington, his journey from facing a learning disability and discouraging voices to becoming an award-winning author and sought-after motivational speaker is both remarkable and deeply human. With every stage he graces and every word he writes, Dr. Josias invites us to redefine our limits and step into a life of purpose. His story is a testament to the strength found in overcoming challenges and using them as fuel to empower others.

Dr. Josias, you’ve transformed personal challenges into a lifelong mission of empowerment. Can you share a moment when a setback unexpectedly lit the path to your purpose?

Dr. Josias: The setback that sparked the path to my purpose was when I realized I broke all the odds that were thrown my way. From having a learning disability to educators speaking negative affirmations over my life, they tried their best to make me believe I wasn’t fit to be in an industry of literature and speaking because of the setbacks that I was facing. Once I looked back on that season after all the odds being broken, that became my fuel to purpose driven work. I was told by educators in the public school system to just give up and I won’t amount to anything. Not realizing those words became the motivation for me to keep on going. Being told that I won’t have any impact because of the setbacks, not realizing that those words became my hunger to strive. Because of those setbacks, it launched me and pushed me to be this voice of hope because there’s others who were told by educators to throw in the towel and give up and they actually gave up and threw in the towel. Not everyone has the patience and adequate training to work with those who have special needs. I told myself that I will go down the elevator and help someone else be equipped and empowered to elevate fully into whom God created them to be.

Your nomination for the Gospel Choice Award is a powerful milestone. In what ways has this recognition deepened your commitment to inspiring others to see their struggles as stepping stones to greatness?

Dr. Josias: I’ve been through many trials and tribulations and through it all, God uses those trials and tribulations as impact. This nomination didn’t deepened my committee by to inspiring others to see their struggles as stepping stones to greatness, but it just reaffirms my why to why I do what I do and if I just say yes and trust God with the rest, then things will happen that I may never even thought of or imagine.

Your journey from early setbacks to global impact is nothing short of remarkable. What untold lesson from your early life still fuels your drive to uplift and empower those who feel defined by their limitations?

Dr. Josias: The untold lessons from my early life that still field my drive to uplift and empower those who feel defined by their limitations is my why to the work. I’m always hungry to make an impact and I think of one of my mentors Les Brown who always says, “You got to be hungry.” In other words, don’t let what you’re in define you but let it be the motivation to say I want different, I want to see different, and I want to be different. Or the lesson of my other mentor Rashad Norris who always said, “if you’re the smartest one in the circle, you’re in the wrong circle.” In other words, I should always have someone who is smarter than me because life is full of learning and you don’t ever stop learning. Because of those two mentors, I know that when elevation comes it comes with new responsibilities and new territory which means I have to keep a hunger for the work that I do but also make sure I am connected to people who are smarter than I because there’s always room for learning.

With your work spanning books, speeches, and international accolades, how do you ensure that your message of hope and resilience remains both deeply personal and universally accessible?

Dr. Josias: It’s the very thing that convinces me to do this work. If it doesn’t remain personal to me then I can’t be this transformational leader on the stage. The best way to connect to an audience is showing your scars and the scars could be the mess of life that had to be endured. When I am on the stage speaking I first find out who's the audience and I relay a message that will always be relevant and can shake and bake no matter what generation the audience is from.

You encourage people to break free from labels and limitations. Can you recall a time when you saw someone transform their narrative — and how did that moment influence your own approach to leadership?

Dr. Josias: There are many times where I saw someone transform their narrative. I remember I was speaking at a youth summit about resiliency and being different if you want to see different. Majority of the youth has been impacted by the system so even though they got released, mentally they aren’t free. And nobody hasn’t given them the tools to really have a mind that’s free. I sat down while speaking and meeting them at their level but the goal is to elevate them to a higher level. One thing I did was ask thought provoking questions such as, who likes where they are at right now? Who hated what they tasted? If you could restart and do it over what would you do over? Majority of the youth didn’t like where they were at but hated what they tasted. And we had a real heart to heart conversation. Years later, I was getting calls from educators to tell me that this person had graduated and was at the top in his class. That moment influenced my own approach to leadership to be the transformational leader that is needed.

As someone who has navigated the complexities of personal struggle and professional triumph, what unconventional advice would you give to those who feel their circumstances are too challenging to overcome?

Dr. Josias: Outside of giving it to God, go see a therapist. Normalize therapy and go see one.

In your experience, vulnerability is as vital as strength. How has embracing your own vulnerabilities redefined your role as a motivational speaker and author, and what impact do you hope that has on your audience?

Dr. Josias: It takes a strong person to be vulnerable and since I aim to be that speaker who is relevant, it requires at times to show scars to connect to others so they can see, if he can do it I can do it. The impact I hope it has on my audience is that one day they can use their voice and realize that there’s healing in the scars and not be ashamed

Your vision has always centered on equipping others to reach their full potential. What new directions or projects are you excited about that continue to expand this mission in ways we haven’t seen before?

Dr. Josias: I am diversifying my genre. Next book is a children's book called Dear Black Boy.

More About Dr. Josias Jean-Pierre:

Dr. Josias Jean-Pierre is a celebrated national and international author and motivational speaker dedicated to equipping others with the tools to fully embrace who they are meant to be. Born in Haiti and nurtured in SeaTac, Washington, his life’s work has touched countless lives through his literary achievements and transformative speeches. An Amazon bestseller and recipient of numerous prestigious awards — including recognition from Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and The Wall Street Times — Dr. Josias has been honored as a top author and influential thought leader. At just 31, his trailblazing career has earned him multiple presidential lifetime achievement awards and an honorary doctorate, establishing him as a beacon of hope and a role model for those ready to break through barriers.

Connect on Instagram: @coachwith_josias