When Mission isn't Mundane

Kristian Jaloway is a partner at John Oberg Advisory and a public speaker who works with mission-driven organizations to leverage their strengths and make them even better leaders in their field. 

At 18, he entered the Legionaries of Christ seminary in Connecticut, convicted that he should give God the first chance. Over the years, he completed priestly formation: novitiate and humanities in Connecticut, mission work in Caracas, Venezuela, mentoring young men, and five years in Rome, earning degrees in philosophy and theology. At the same time, he served as a seminary formator, assisting primarily in human and apostolic formation for a total of eight years.

Finally, although conflicted, Kristian was ordained a Catholic priest in 2008. He served as a priest and Vice-Rector of a minor seminary in Gozzano, Italy, during which he inherited a worldwide crisis in the Legionaries of Christ and an acute crisis in the local area he was charged with. Navigating this successfully taught him lessons on transparency and leadership that he still teaches others. After four years of active priestly ministry, he received the clarity he always lacked and had to make the hardest decision of his life: to leave the priesthood. 

Kristian spent several years training and managing ramp and safety operations for Delta Air Lines, scratching his itch for travel and aviation. Now, after 30 years leading and developing teams worldwide, Kristianunderstands that each person has incredible potential. He coaches and consults for startups, government, and nonprofits on leadership and human management, including the Houston Fire Department and the Texas Workforce Commission. Kristian helps leaders navigate the things that typically create the most stress: personnel issues, financial questions, and how to create institutional change in a world often at odds with their values.

Kristian holds an MA in philosophy and a BA in theology from the Pontifical University Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy, and an MA in International Affairs from the Bush School of Public Service at Texas A&M University. He is a private pilot and resides in Austin, TX, with his wife and three boys. They enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle with lots of hiking, camping, and travel.