We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jonathan King-Cretot, MBA, LSSGB. Check out our conversation below.
Jonathan , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
For me, the first 90 minutes of the day are absolutely essential—they set the tone for everything that follows. I’ve never been someone who sleeps a traditional 8–10 hours. Instead, my body naturally wakes after 4–6 hours, usually between 4:45 and 5:15 a.m. I’ve always been a morning person, and I’ve learned to use that rhythm to my advantage.
Once I’m awake, I start simply—feeding the cat, then turning on my meditation music, which usually includes Tibetan bowls, chants, and spoken affirmations. I spend about 15–20 minutes in meditation, visualizing and manifesting what I want to bring into my day. Afterward, I’ll stretch or do a few yoga poses to wake up my body. On more ambitious mornings, I’ll swim a couple of laps in the pool or take a short walk through the neighborhood.
From there, I make a coffee, sit in front of my computer, and check my texts and messages, identifying the most important tasks that need attention before the full day begins. Before moving on, I pause to say a short prayer, then shower, make a smoothie, and get ready to head out between 6:30 and 7:15 a.m.—depending on my teaching schedule.
This routine—grounded in mindfulness, movement, and organization—has been the foundation of my productivity. It keeps me disciplined, focused, and balanced, and ensures I start each day with clarity and intention.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jonathan King-Cretot, and I wear many hats that all connect to one common thread: education, entrepreneurship, and human development. I am a Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University, and an Adjunct Professor of Global Issues at Marist College. Alongside my academic work, I am the Founder and CEO of KingCretot Experience, a company dedicated to empowering students and professionals through foreign language training, academic tutoring, and cultural competency.
What makes my story unique is that I didn’t arrive at this point through a traditional path. I grew up in the inner city as a poor Black child with deep Southern and multiracial roots, navigated adversity, battled and overcame addiction, and learned to see identity as a source of strength rather than limitation. Today, as a Black, gay, Jewish man, I bring my full self into the classroom, the boardroom, and my business. That authenticity allows me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and help them discover confidence in their own voices and ideas.
KingCretot Experience is more than a tutoring service—it’s about building bridges across cultures, expanding access to education, and teaching people to communicate with clarity and confidence. My husband, Fabrice, co-founded the company and directs the French program, which makes our work a true partnership in both life and business.
Currently, I’m focused on expanding our language offerings, building new partnerships to strengthen our image, and navigating the complexities of developing a modern platform that can better engage and attract students. At the same time, I am working on a research and writing project examining the systemic barriers that prevent Black and Brown boys from entering entrepreneurship.
At the core, my work is about resilience, empathy, and opportunity—whether it’s helping a child pass an English exam, guiding students to launch ventures, or creating platforms that inspire people to think and act differently.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, wide-eyed Black boy from the inner city with big dreams and little understanding of limits. I was resilient without knowing it, carrying the weight of poverty, illness, and fractured family systems, yet still hopeful that life could be different. I was imaginative—finding joy in stories, cultures, and languages long before I had the vocabulary to explain why they drew me in.
The world eventually tried to tell me I had to be small, silent, ashamed, or defined by stereotypes. But at my core, before all of that, I was—and still am—a seeker. Someone who believed in possibility, who wanted to learn, connect, and build bridges across difference. That boy has grown into the man I am today, and even with the scars and struggles, he remains the truest version of me.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been rooted in loss, survival, and resilience. I grew up without parents present, their lives consumed by addiction and alcoholism. Yet even in their absence, I was surrounded by love—my grandfather and the women in my family gave me the attention and grounding I needed to believe I mattered.
As a child, I faced another trial: battling cancer. That experience taught me early what fragility and strength mean when they coexist in the same body. Later, as I came of age, I had to confront my own struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Learning to break that cycle and reclaim my life was both the hardest and most transformative work I’ve done.
Healing has come through a mixture of faith, discipline, community, and purpose. My grandfather’s quiet lessons, the resilience of the women who raised me, and the power of education and entrepreneurship have all guided me toward becoming the man I am today. I carry my wounds with me, but not as chains—as reminders. They ground me in gratitude and fuel my drive to help others see that no matter where you begin, there is always a way forward.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I’ve been both fortunate and blessed to share life with the same group of close friends since primary school. These are the people who have walked with me through the good, the bad, and the ugly—and because of that, they know me in a way few others ever could. Over the years, we’ve grown together, taken the time to understand what truly matters to each of us, and built a foundation that has stood the test of time.
If you asked them what really matters to me, I believe they would say loyalty, honesty, and love. Those are the values that shape how I show up—not just in friendships, but in every part of my life.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
What I believe people will most misunderstand about my legacy is that, because I represent so much, fight for so many, and at times abandon myself for the greater good, some may assume my purpose was scattered or overly broad. In reality, it has always been rooted in one central mission: to keep education, learning, and progress alive as a liberal construct that must be defended, protected, and advanced.
My first and most enduring purpose has been to stand with and for marginalized groups—Black and Brown communities, those on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, and people living with disabilities and challenges. My aim has never been to be the loudest voice in the room, but rather to be the backbone, the confidence builder, and the loving support for those who have been consistently ostracized by society.
If misunderstood, my legacy might be reduced to activism alone, when in truth it is about empowerment through education, belonging, and love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kingcretot.com
- Instagram: ExperienceKingCretot
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingcretotexperience
- Facebook: KingCretot Experience
