Imagine turning your passion into a paycheck and your story into a stage-worthy success. That’s what Dr. Jay Johnson teaches people to do every day.
His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Jay Johnson, C.O.I.E., is the voice behind over 500 customized presentations. He has more than 30 years of experience in entertainment, entrepreneurship, and empowerment. He helps speakers and business owners transform their message into income. He’s the founder of I MPower Inc., My Biz Ascend, and Travel Visionaries.com, and he has worked with global icons such as Les Brown, Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank, and Sir Dr. James Dentley III.
His programs, like Signature Talks and Monetize Me, help people package their ideas into profitable offers. In this interview, Dr. Jay opens up about his journey from a small-town stuttering kid to an international speaker and United Nations Peace Ambassador. He shares how he helps others find their value, build their brand, and earn from their expertise.
Q1. Dr. Johnson, your journey from passionate speaker to global empowerment leader is truly inspiring. Can you share how your early experiences shaped your mission and what led to the founding of I MPower Inc.?
Dr. Jay Johnson: When I started in the seminar industry, I had no plans to be a speaker. I didn’t know you could get paid to teach others how to speak. My roots were in entertainment, encompassing singing, dancing, and acting. I was a “starving” artist who hadn’t figured out how to monetize my talent. Later, I moved into multimedia (writing, directing, and producing), and that’s when I discovered the seminar world. It wasn’t until I moved to Florida and worked with one of Tony Robbins’ top salespeople that I learned the business side of it.
As we hosted masterminds worldwide, I saw a major problem: many attendees lacked the skills to create real results. They kept buying programs, hoping for a breakthrough, only to lose thousands with little return. I was once one of them. Speakers and companies profited, but attendees didn’t. That frustration pushed me to act.
That’s why I started I MPower Inc. Not to hype people up, but to give them tools, systems, and practical steps to create value, solve problems, and build educational businesses in the seminar space.
Q2. You’re known for helping coaches, consultants, and speakers transform their expertise into income through your signature talks. What key components make a message both profitable and impactful in today’s saturated market?
Dr. Jay Johnson: Some of the key components that make a message profitable and impactful are:
Having a story that people can relate to. A story that is strong enough to influence a listener’s emotional attachment to their desired outcome.
Problem: The story must lead to a problem to overcome. This ensures relatability, where the listener is reminded of something similar or familiar, allowing them to feel connected.
Solution: A great story doesn’t stop at the problem; it offers a solution. I teach people how to turn challenges into action by offering content, events, books, or philosophies that provide real, applicable steps for success, not just theory or hype.
Pricing of your product/program/(solution): Pricing is another area where people struggle. Many don’t know the value of what they offer and end up pricing too high or too low. My team helps them find the right pricing sweet spot.
Call To Action: You must have a place for people to get the solution to their problems.
Q3. In your recent feature, you mention that monetization is just one layer that true success comes from aligning purpose with impact. How do you help your clients uncover and scale their purpose while maintaining authenticity and service to humanity?
Dr. Jay Johnson: I guide clients to shift from focusing on profit to focusing on purpose. When they operate from the heart and aim to solve problems, they become more creative and open. These are the same “feed or teach a man to fish” principles, offering skills that lead to lasting transformation.
With an abundance mindset, you believe there’s enough for everyone. You plant seeds of value in your field and grow meaningful relationships. In time, the harvest is bigger than you, offering shade for generations. That’s how legacies are made: by serving others.
Q4. As C.O.I.E. (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of International Experts), you’ve earned global recognition. What does this title mean to you, and how has it influenced the reach and credibility of your brand on international stages?
Dr. Jay Johnson: The title “Commander of The Most Excellent Order of International Experts” was humbling. I didn’t pursue it; it came from respected agencies recognizing my work. Though I’m not title-driven, it’s opened private doors and earned me respect from top executives and officials, proving the power of credibility. As Les Brown told me, “Life is not about what you know but who you know. More importantly, who wants to know YOU.”
I’m deeply thankful to Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Moirar Leveille and the United Nations for bestowing the title “His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Jay Johnson.” It places me among leaders like Les Brown and Dr. James Dentley, people others aspire to know.
Q5. You have developed a unique system that integrates business strategy with personal legacy-building. Can you walk us through how you guide clients from crafting their message to building sustainable platforms that generate both influence and income?
Dr. Jay Johnson: I help entrepreneurs clarify their message to make a greater impact. We begin by identifying their ideal client. Knowing your audience, just like social platforms do, is key to serving them well. Then, we pinpoint their problems, create attainable solutions, turn those into products or programs, and finally market them to the right people.
Q6. Looking toward the future, how is I MPower Inc. evolving to meet the demands of a new generation of thought leaders, and what advice would you give to those just beginning their journey of turning passion into profit?
Dr. Jay Johnson: I MPower Inc. evolves by tailoring each presentation through Signature Talks, helping speakers, entrepreneurs, and business owners communicate with clarity, certainty, and confidence. It aligns entrepreneurs with their mission while embracing tech to share their message widely. Today’s thought leaders want to pitch ideas with ease, which is why I created step-by-step programs. The first, Monetize Me Live, gives entrepreneurs and “wantrepreneurs” a platform to pitch their ideas to seasoned entrepreneurs, receive feedback, and refine their concepts.
The second program, Monetize Me, helps entrepreneurs develop their ideas into monetizable products or services. To prepare for pitching to the public or investors, they join Signature Talks, where they craft their Signature Message and learn effective speaking skills. Then comes the Signature Talks Experience, where participants present their talks on stage, like a TED Talk but focused on profitability.
On the Signature Talks Live Stage, speakers can sell their products within their talks and sharpen their skills in friendly competition. Winners earn chances to speak on stages like TedX, LA Tribune’s Think & Grow Rich Stages, and Inspired2Speak. This experience opens paths to becoming authors, speakers, emcees, and more.
MPowering Advice: Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
Find out what matters most to you and voice it. You have a story and message that matters to someone else. It is your responsibility to share it with them. Remember, what you’ve gone through could be someone else’s breakthrough. So don’t get in the way of them receiving what God has spoken through you. Use your voice to change the world, and you will find the world changing at the sound of your voice.
I MPower can help you.
Conclusion
Dr. Jay Johnson believes everyone has a message that needs to get out in the world. The real challenge is learning how to share that message in a way that moves people and makes money.
Through I MPower Inc., he teaches speakers, coaches, and entrepreneurs how to turn experiences into structured talks and how to use their stories to create products, programs, and offers that sell. From storytelling to strategy, every tool he teaches is based on real-life success and proven results. Dr. Jay sees greatness in people before they see it themselves. He has helped engineers land six-figure contracts, authors land TEDx stages, and beginners grow into confident, sought-after speakers.
Dr. Jay helps people build lives that inspire and earn. After hearing his story, you’ll believe it’s possible for you, too.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not constitute professional advice. Individual results may vary, and readers are encouraged to seek personalized guidance when considering business or career decisions.
