Liz Jackson MBE’s story shows how losing her sight sparked clarity, courage and leadership, transforming adversity into a powerful redefinition of success.
Liz Jackson MBE
From adversity to honour, blindness to business leader, Liz Jackson MBE isn’t just a story of resilience—she’s a masterclass in quiet power. Losing her sight at 25 could have ended everything, but instead, it became the beginning of a life that inspires thousands. From founding a successful company to being honoured by the Queen, Liz didn’t just adapt—she led. In this rare interview, she opens up about the unseen strength it took to rebuild her life, reimagine success, and redefine what visibility really means.
What did blindness help you see about the world – and yourself – that sight never could?
I’m thankful for the focus that being blind allows me to have. I’m not distracted by all the things you sighted people are. This enables me to live my life with more clarity and focus. Over the years, I’ve also realised the strength in vulnerability. I often have to put myself in the hands of strangers at business events, relying on them to be kind, help me find the right wine glass, and make sure I don’t eat the lemon on the side of my plate of smoked salmon, etc. Somehow, this vulnerability unlocks an openness, and I’m able to build pretty deep connections really quickly. I love this! If God said tomorrow that he’d give me back my sight, and I knew I would lose that ability to make friends so fast, honestly, I’d stay blind all day, every day.
When building a business without sight, how did you manage people’s unconscious bias – and was there ever a moment where being underestimated became your greatest advantage?
In terms of building a business – which I’ve done in the past and am doing now at Initium Corporate Finance – day to day I interact with very bright entrepreneurs, and I often get the question: “What tech do you use, and how best can I share information with you?” Aside from that, these people know you don’t get to where I have in my career without being good. The hardest situations for me are when I’m not the one hosting the event, speaking, or leading the sales interaction. Then I do notice some unconscious bias, as people sometimes treat me as though I’m manning an exhibition stand or just attending a networking event. More often than not, I think the white cane scares people off. They’d rather avoid the awkwardness of having to introduce themselves. I’d love it if we could find a way to solve this problem, but in the meantime, if you see me at an event, please come up to me, say who you are, and I’ll always be full of conversation – I promise it won’t be awkward.
A massive positive, though, is that in a competitive landscape, when we’re pitching against other companies, at least I’m memorable. Unfortunately, there are very few blind people in the workplace, and even fewer at senior levels in corporate finance – I think this is an advantage. 😊
If you could wish for your eyesight back, would you take it? Or has the life you’ve built without it shown you something more meaningful?
See above.
What part of your resilience or success do people overlook or misunderstand because it doesn’t show up on paper or stage?
I think people might focus only on my successes and career highlights, but the reality is that when you summit a mountain, there’s always been a hard climb to get you there. In business, results come from quiet determination, hard work, discipline, and consistency – and there is often much more failure than success. I think building businesses is an honour, and I feel I’ve lived a life of privilege, having spent 35 years doing it so far.
Was there a moment in your journey where you truly thought it was over – and what did breaking down teach you about building differently?
Yes, I have definitely faced disaster, and I think what failure in business has taught me is that what is critically important is the people who love you – those who stand with you and accept you for who you are. In terms of building differently, I think in the past I was entirely consumed by my work life. These days, I understand that if I want to thrive at work, I function better when I am thriving in other areas of my life – family, health, spirituality, and finances.
Without the mirror of sight, how did you come to understand beauty, confidence, and identity? What anchors you now in how you see yourself?
I love that I can’t see myself. The last time I looked in a mirror, the reflection was 27 years old – I think it would ruin the rest of my life if I could suddenly see my reflection at 52. I pretty much let myself imagine I look awesome, and that gives me confidence in any environment. I also imagine what others look like based on how they sound – kind, funny people tend to look gorgeous, and mean, sharply spoken individuals are gargoyles.
If you could speak to yourself just before you lost your vision – just before the business, the honours, the impact – what would you whisper to her?
I think I would whisper to myself: Embrace it and be yourself. I spent a long time feeling very embarrassed that I couldn’t see well and tried to hide it. I didn’t carry a white cane for years because I was embarrassed, and it took me several months, as I was losing my sight, to ask my boyfriend (now husband) to show me where the toilets were in a pub. It was all so silly and unnecessary. I’d also tell my younger self that most people are really kind, accepting, and impressed by those who live life to the full, no matter what.
You’ve been recognised with titles, awards, and TV appearances – but what do you want to be remembered for, outside of the accolades and the labels?
I think I want to be remembered as someone who brings joy, who’s kind, and who contributed positively to our country through the work I’ve done in business. Entrepreneurs are special, and they influence society in an incredible way. They build companies by employing and training great people. We have so much influence in the world of business. We get to shape society. I’d love to be known as someone who championed that and celebrated the incredible people who rise to the challenge.
Quick Fire Round — “The 5-Minute Liz Jackson”
What’s one thing you always pack in your bag – sight or no sight?
My phone – it’s the gateway to my world. The apps I love most are Audible, ChatGPT, Apple Podcasts, and Be My Eyes, to name a few.
We met you in person and you looked amazing – how do you do your makeup? (Seriously, we all want tips.)
A great friend is a makeup artist – she selected my colours, and I do the rest by feel.
Morning ritual – what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I listen to my Bible for 20 minutes, and then I have coffee.
Who inspires you that people might not expect?
It changes every week – my kids, my colleagues, Gandalf! 😊
Book or quote you live by?
Again, this can change – I’m always coming across quotes I love – but this is a favourite taken from The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien:
“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found.
I have found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keep the darkness at bay…
simple acts of kindness and love.
Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid… and he gives me courage.”
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who’s at the table?
Jesus, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), Jane Austen, C. S. Lewis, Ronnie Barker.
Biggest myth about living with a disability you’d love to bust – right now, in one sentence?
People often think disability limits our contribution, but the truth is it just changes the way we do things – not the impact we make.
What’s the best piece of advice or quote you’ve ever been given?
My dad used to say to me: “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are absolutely right.” I think he nicked it off Henry Ford!
When you’re having a tough day, what helps you get through it?
Cracking jokes and laughing with my colleagues, family, and friends. Just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean it has to be miserable! 😊
If you had to give one sentence of advice to someone feeling completely lost right now – what would it be?
Breathe, and take a moment to think. I also recommend living in the present. Our brains are far too occupied with worrying about what might happen. If we utilise all our brainpower to consider the next step we could take to improve our situation – and then take it – we can move from being lost to found, one step at a time. We have a quote in our business that I love: “Everyone gets somewhere in life, but just a few people get there on purpose.”
- You lost your physical sight, but clearly gained a sharper inner vision. What did blindness help you see about the world—and yourself—that sight never could?
- When building a business without sight, how did you manage people’s unconscious bias—and was there ever a moment where being underestimated became your greatest advantage?
- If you could wish for your eyesight back, would you take it? Or has the life you’ve built without it shown you something more meaningful?
- What part of your resilience or success do people overlook or misunderstand because it doesn’t show up on paper or stage?
- Was there a moment in your journey where you truly thought it was over—and what did breaking down teach you about building differently?
- Without the mirror of sight, how did you come to understand beauty, confidence, and identity? What anchors you now in how you see yourself?
- If you could speak to yourself just before you lost your vision—just before the business, the honours, the impact—what would you whisper to her?
- You’ve been recognised with titles, awards, and TV appearances—but what do you want to be remembered for, outside of the accolades and the labels?
