We help mission-driven organizations make culture change and learning actually stick.

The gap between good intentions and everyday practice is where we do our best work

The Problem We Solve

Most of the organizations we work with are doing important work under real pressure. They're not short on commitment or heart. What they're often missing is the connective tissue - shared clarity about how decisions get made, how people are developed, how learning transfers into everyday practice, and how the people they serve experience the difference.

That gap shows up as workforce strain, burnout, and teams that can't sustain the changes they care most about - or build toward the ones they know are needed.

We don't arrive with a fixed program and apply it to your situation. We bring a deep toolkit and work alongside you to figure out what your people and your organization actually need.

For Organizations, Leaders, and Teams

Most of the organizations we work with are doing important work under real pressure. They're not short on commitment or heart - and the dedication it takes to lead, support others, and keep showing up under that pressure is real.

What they're often missing is the connective tissue - shared clarity about how decisions get made, how people are developed, how learning transfers into everyday practice, and how the people they serve experience the difference. That gap shows up as workforce strain, burnout, and teams that can't sustain the changes they care most about - or build toward the ones they know are needed.

We work with leaders, teams, and organizations in health care, aging services, community health, nonprofit, education, technology and innovation, and faith-based sectors. We bring a deep toolkit shaped by over 25 years of working inside these systems as a researcher, organizational leader, educator, and facilitator. We work alongside you to figure out what your people and your organization actually need - not apply a fixed program from the outside.

Two women shaking hands in a care setting, one sitting and the other standing, with medical gloves visible.
An elderly couple walking down a sidewalk, holding hands, with the man holding a small bouquet of pink flowers in his left hand.

For Individuals Living with Dementia and Family Care Partners

Living with dementia or supporting a family member through this journey can be profound, complex, and deeply personal. You are not alone.

Informed by our own experience as family care partners, we offer dignity-centred education, practical resources, and supportive learning experiences designed to build confidence, comfort, and well-being. We walk alongside you - grounded in respect, strengths, and everyday realities - helping you navigate change, make sense of what's happening, and connect with others who understand your path.

If you're looking for education, connection, or support that meets you where you are, you're welcome here.

Who We Are

JLK Consulting & Coaching Services is a Canadian consulting and coaching practice founded by Jessica Luh Kim. With over 25 years of experience spanning research, organizational leadership, education, and facilitation across five continents, we bring both the rigour and the lived reality of how organizations actually work.

Our work is grounded in strengths-based approaches, Appreciative Inquiry, and Dialogue Education - and shaped by our own experience as family care partners. We work alongside people and organizations, not just for them.

Our team brings together consultants, coaches, educators, and facilitators with deep expertise across organizational development, learning design, strengths-based practice, health and wellness, culture change, and lived experience. We draw on this collective expertise to meet organizations and individuals where they are.

Close-up of two pairs of shoes and a message on the sidewalk that says 'passion led us here', with reflections of clouds on the sidewalk.

Brief Intro to the Team

  • Asian female founder sitting in chair with blue and white stripped shirt

    Jessica Luh Kim

    Founder and Partner

    Hi, I'm Jessica. I'm a consultant, coach, and educator who partners with mission-driven organizations navigating the gap between good intentions and everyday practice.

    My work focuses on leadership capacity, team culture, and learning that actually transfers into daily work. I bring a deep toolkit - grounded in strengths-based approaches, Appreciative Inquiry, and Dialogue Education - and I work alongside organizations to figure out what their people actually need, not apply a fixed program from the outside.

    I've worked inside these systems as a researcher, organizational leader, educator, and facilitator across five continents. That combination of academic rigour, lived experience, and practical facilitation shapes everything I do.

    I'm a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Certified Dialogue Education Teacher, and Certified Eden Educator. My work is also deeply informed by my own experience as a family care partner - which means I understand these systems from the inside, not just the outside.

  • Front cover of a book with the image of women in yellow shirt holding a dog

    Mary Beth Wighton

    Partner

    Hi, I'm Mary Beth. I'm an author, advocate, facilitator, and former technology leader who brings the perspective of lived experience into everything I do.

    Diagnosed with probable behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia at age 45, I have continued to lead, speak, write, and advocate - because a diagnosis doesn't define what's possible. My background in technology and innovation shaped how I think about systems, people, and the decisions that affect them. That lens stays with me in every room I walk into.

    I work alongside organizations, professionals, and communities to bring lived experience into learning, dialogue, and practice. I support teams to better understand the realities of dementia and reflect on how their decisions, systems, and everyday interactions shape people's experiences. My work creates space for honest conversation, deeper understanding, and more human approaches to how we build, lead, and care.

    I believe the people most affected by decisions should be part of making them - whether that's in a boardroom, a care setting, or a technology company. Life doesn't end with a diagnosis. With the right supports, shared understanding, and opportunities to learn together, people can continue to live with purpose, dignity, and connection.

Our Key Collaborating Partners

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling in front of large green leaves, wearing a maroon long-sleeve shirt.

    Amy Harbin

    Registered Kinesiologist, Educator, and Consultant

    Our team benefits from a skilled kinesiologist who specializes in wellness and provides guidance on enhancing various areas of wellness (i.e., physical, environmental, social, and intellectual) to improve quality of life for individuals across various needs and abilities.

  • A woman with gray hair, wearing a pink lace top and blue jeans, smiling and standing outdoors with a stone wall and stairs in the background.

    Neelam Bhella

    Holistic Health & Wellness Coach and Educator

    Our team is enriched by having a professional that loves sharing her passion about health, wellness, and alternative medicine in particular Ayurveda which is a legally recognized complimentary health option.

  • A smiling older woman with shoulder-length gray hair, wearing sunglasses and hoop earrings, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

    Evy Cugleman

    Educator, Consultant and Activist

    With over 45+ years of experience, our team is fortunate to benefit from the strengths, skills and wisdom of an internationally recognized culture change leader who has expertise in serving grass-roots to large scale organizations.

  • A woman with short red hair, wearing a purple patterned blouse and dangling earrings, smiling at the camera against a plain background.

    Jacqui Hill

    Nursing Leader, Educator, and Consultant

    Our team benefits from a compassionate and experienced nurse who brings invaluable expertise in aging and dementia care, offering personalized guidance and support to enhance well-being and care quality.

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing sunglasses on her head and a striped shirt, smiling in front of a field of pink and purple flowers under a clear blue sky.

    Katharina Krause

    Lived Experience Facilitator, Educator, and Coach

    Our team is enriched by a dedicated professional with a background in social work and education, who also brings the invaluable perspective of being an experienced family care partner, offering compassionate, firsthand insights to support and empower others along their journeys.

  • Senior woman with short gray hair smiling, wearing pearl necklace and white top, against a teal background.

    Laura Bowley

    Dementia Advocate, Educator, Consultant, and Facilitator

    Conversations are at the heart of what we do. Our team is enhanced by partnering with an experienced facilitator who is skilled in working with individuals and groups to guide conversation and decision-making, who also brings life experience as a family care partner and years of collaboration with individuals living with dementia.

What People Have Said

  • Dementia Workshop for Leaders In the Non-Profit Sector

    “You two [Mary Beth and Jessica] were amazing. You shared so many concrete examples WHILE opening hearts and minds. That’s a tricky thing to accomplish.

    We’ve received so much positive feedback from the group. I know I speak for [session co-lead] too, when I say you accomplished exactly what we’d hoped (and more). Thank you for being so generous with your time and insight. Truly a gift.”

    Kirsten Jacobs, Vice President, Shared Learning Initiatives, LeadingAge

  • Coaching Call Related to Dementia Support

    “I had many of our caregivers reach out that they loved it [coaching call with Mary Beth and Jessica]. Word got out to the caregivers that couldn’t attend and I also received calls and emails asking for the [recording] link today.”

    Shaundra Holmes, Director of Nursing, Rhythms Home Care

  • Dementia Training for Leaders and Staff in Long-Term Care

    “If you need someone to guide, educate, and inspire people living with dementia, their relatives, staff members, or leaders - when it comes to dementia knowledge, lived experience, and care practices -Jessica should be your choice.

    She is highly skilled and experienced, with an exceptional ability to focus on exactly what matters: identifying the key questions, aligning with the materials, and presenting essential knowledge in a clear and accessible way.

    Jessica’s work is deeply rooted in strong values, ensuring that skills and teamwork go hand in hand with dignity, respect, and relationship-building. She creates an environment where everyone - regardless of their role in daily care - feels safe and open to learning. She truly embodies the Human Forever [documentary] perspective, no matter the degree of illness or frailty.

    These reflections come from a two-day Dementia Beyond Drugs training organized by Eden Denmark in October 2023, with participants including leaders and staff from various nursing homes across the country. They also reflect a focused one-day training for professional dementia trainers in Denmark, co-facilitated with Dr. Allen Power. All participants greatly appreciated Jessica’s facilitation.

    For people in countries where English is not the native language, Jessica is very easy to understand😊.”

    Karin Dahl, Co-Owner of Eden Denmark and Regional Eden Alternative Coordinator

  • Creating Inclusive Communities for People Living with Dementia

    “I was fortunate to work with Jessica Luh Kim, who joined us for our 2 countries, 3 day events in New Zealand and Australia in March 2025. Jessica was a co-facilitator for the Dementia Beyond Drugs 2 day workshops with Dr Allen Power.

    For the one day symposium, Creating Inclusive Communities for people living with Dementia, Jessica was a member of a leadership panel and co-facilitated the afternoon session.

    The panel included people living with dementia and other leaders from the sector. During the panel discussion, Jess was able to share some of her insights from a Canadian and global perspective. Her experiences in Europe, and elsewhere, identified that unlocking the doors of memory care areas is achievable and that when you do, people are quite happy to stay in if they choose. Her knowledge in this space is enhanced through her own lived experience with family elders as a care partner.

    She is a warm, approachable person who cares deeply about people. She is a wonderful advocate for people living with dementia. She translates that advocacy into a facilitator approach which is supportive, knowledgeable and insightful.

    I look forward to working with Jess again in the future and recommend her to you. You won't be disappointed.”

    Sally Hopkins, Executive Director, Eden In Oz & NZ

  • Executive Team CliftonStrengths Workshop and Coaching

    “Jessica recently led our Leadership team through a Gallup CliftonStrengths workshop where we learned about our individual strengths as well as how to leverage our strengths as a team. In a fun and interactive learning environment, Jessica guided our team through strengths reflection and discovery which helped us understand each other’s talents and how to combine them to achieve success! She also provided powerful individualized coaching sessions, along with personal development resources, in follow up to the workshop which has helped sustain our forward momentum! Jessica is an amazing facilitator and coach and I would highly recommend her to any team focused on learning and growing together to reach higher levels of performance”.

    Kim Schmidt, CEO Sherbrooke Community Society Inc.

  • Opening Keynote

    “Jessica was a keynote speaker at the Australian Recreational Therapy Association (ARTA) National Conference in September 2025. Jessica's keynote presentation to our members was uplifting, moving and resonated with everyone who attended. This was an online conference, and although Jessica was on the other side of the world, we felt connected and inspired by her presentation. I would recommend Jessica as a Keynote speaker anytime.”

    Renee Smith, President, Australian Recreational Therapy Association

  • Strengths Session

    “I had the absolute pleasure of working with Jessica during both the Dementia Beyond Drugs and Inclusive Communities Leadership Symposium and her 'Unlocking Strengths' session for New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapy (NZSDRT). She is a consummate professional and a natural leader who brings both deep expertise and infectious energy to her work. Her ability to translate complex concepts into actionable, person-centered strategies is second to none. Anyone looking for a dedicated and insightful leader in this space would be lucky to work with her!”

    Orquidea Tamayo Mortera, Director of Strategic Engagement, NZSDRT

Contact Us

Interested in working together? Not sure where to start? Contact us directly and let’s chat.

We co-create solutions that best meets your needs, budgets, and timelines.

We can’t wait to hear from you so make sure to send us a message!