About

Our Mission

Forward Focus Wellness helps organizations transform workplace culture by integrating wellness into leadership, strategy, and daily operations, enabling teams to thrive and organizations to perform at their highest potential.

Founder: Carina Jackson

Certified Wellness Coach (NASM)
Organizational leader and strategist
COO leadership experience
Advocate for workplace wellness and resilience
International Best-Selling Author

Our Approach

Forward Focus Wellness combines:

Wellness science
Leadership development
Emotional intelligence
Practical workplace strategies to help organizations create sustainable change

Carina Jackson
Founder & Lead Consultant

Forward Focus Wellness

Advancing Leadership, Wellness, and Resilient Workplace Cultures

Carina Jackson is the Founder and Lead Consultant of Forward Focus Wellness, a consulting practice that helps organizations and leaders build healthier, more resilient workplace cultures. Through her work, Carina partners with organizations to address burnout, strengthen leadership resilience, and implement practical wellness strategies that support both employee wellbeing and organizational performance.

In addition to her consulting work, Carina serves as the Chief Operations Officer of Mariners Inn, a Detroit-based human services organization founded in 1925 by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. In this role, she oversees the Residential and Housing Programs and the Facilities Department, while helping develop initiatives such as the Residential Youth Prevention Program, Peer Mentoring Program, Social Enterprise Program, and the S.H.E. (Strong–Healthy–Empowered) Program.

Carina’s professional background spans nonprofit leadership, program development, staff wellness, and community engagement. She co-founded Youth Vision in 2002, a nonprofit that provided after-school programs and summer camp opportunities to more than 400 youth in Southwest Detroit. She also served as Chief of Staff for Detroit City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, gaining valuable experience in leadership and public service.

Carina has more than 15 years of leadership experience at Mariners Inn and has participated in several prestigious fellowships including Leadership Detroit, the WK Kellogg Center for Creative Leadership, the 92Y Ford Foundation Fellowship, and the German Marshall Memorial Fellowship. Her work has earned numerous honors including the Spirit of Detroit Award, the City of Detroit Now & Next Award, and the Guardian of Health Award for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2021 Carina received the Guardian of Health Award for her outstanding response to the COVID 19 pandemic from the Greater Detroit Area Health Council. When COVID hit in 2020, Carina took the lead at Mariners Inn as the CEO was dealing with a death in his family. During the height of COVID 19, Mariners Inn was one of the only institutions in the US that did not have any clients die in a residential setting. The Center for Disease Control visited the team at Mariners Inn to talk about what procedures were in place to get infection levels down. Carina implemented life-saving procedures of hybrid visitation, cleaning, quarantining, testing and vaccinations of clients and staff.

In August 2024, Carina became a Certified Wellness Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Her personal journey of overcoming physical and mental barriers while prioritizing rest, balance, and wellbeing shapes her approach to leadership and wellness. Carina is also a contributing author in the international bestselling book Modern-Day High Priestess, exploring themes of resilience, healing, and leadership. She shares insights on leadership, wellness, and resilience through her platform on Instagram at @justcarinajackson.