THE JAY BOYKIN STORY

One Leader's Journey from the Numbers to the People 

For over three decades, I established a career rooted in the bedrock of finance and accounting, navigating the intricate world of numbers with precision and expertise. My journey took me through leadership roles across public, private, and governmental sectors. I began as a Financial Analyst, building the fundamental knowledge of how money moves, and climbed the corporate ladder, eventually serving as a Corporate Controller at Gogo Business Aviation. In the C-Suite, the job was about systems, scale, and the relentless optimization of the bottom line. It was a career defined by certainty and authority, managing vast budgets and complex financial landscapes.

The Turning Point: Finding the Human Story

Despite the success and the comfortable predictability of the corporate world, everything began to shift. As the significant events of our time deeply impacted me, I realized that my professional focus had been too narrow. While I excelled at managing the numbers, I felt a growing disconnect from the human story that those numbers represented. I saw founders, entrepreneurs, and team leaders—the true engine of the economy—drowning in financial stress, making decisions based on fear instead of clarity, and sacrificing their well-being for their business.

This realization led to an undeniable truth: The best financial strategies are useless if they don't serve the people executing them.

The Pivot to Purpose: From CFO to Consultant

I made the strategic decision to pivot away from corporate finance and dedicate my expertise to the small business sector. I founded Just Human | Aligned Impact with a clear mission to bring sophisticated, CFO-level clarity to the entrepreneurial community, but filtered through a lens of empathy and purpose.

My goal was simple: to help business owners achieve Cashflow Clarity and fundamentally Stop Profit Leaks without losing themselves in the process.

The Just Human Philosophy

Today, I serve as a Financial Leadership Consultant, Coach, and Speaker. My work is built on the belief that purpose and people precede profits. I blend strategic financial discipline with innovative leadership tools, like the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology, to ensure that every decision is both profitable and aligned with the founder's values.

My journey—from the high-stakes precision of corporate finance to the high-passion world of SMB consulting—has proven that you can achieve extraordinary growth, fund new locations, and realize your biggest goals, but only if you have the clear financial map to guide your human drive.

I am here to ensure that behind every spreadsheet, there is a strong human story worth telling and a clear path to building a profitable, sustainable future.

ABOUT JAY BOYKIN

Jay Boykin graduated from Louisiana State University in 1988 with a B.S. in Accounting. With a career spanning over 35 years, he has held significant roles in public, private, and governmental sectors. Notably, within the initial five years of his career, he made history as the first Black firefighter and captain for the St. George Fire Protection District in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Beyond his professional life, this keynote speaker and leader finds joy in boating and spending quality time at the lake with his wife. An accomplished cook, he is renowned for his award-winning seafood gumbo.