This guide explores the cast of The Go-Giver Influencer, a world where high-stakes negotiation meets a human-centered philosophy of value creation. Across parallel storylines, two deal-makers learn that genuine influence grows from empathy, integrity, and collaboration, not pressure or control. Mentors, family, and unlikely allies help them reframe “winning” into building trust and creating shared success.
Main Characters
The story follows two protagonists on parallel journeys of discovery, each guided by a wise mentor.
Jackson Hill
Jackson Hill is the passionate founder of Angels Clothed in Fur, a natural pet food startup whose survival hinges on a make-or-break deal with a national chain. Overwhelmed by corporate tactics and haunted by his father’s hardball advice, he stumbles into a new approach through mentorship that emphasizes empathy, emotional mastery, and positive framing. As his negotiation with Gillian evolves from combat to conversation, he chooses integrity over short-term gain, a decision that unexpectedly unlocks a far better partnership. Anchored by the steady companionship of his dog Solomon and bolstered by a friend’s timely guidance, Jackson’s arc tracks a shift from fear-driven go-getter to principled Go-Giver influencer.
Gillian Waters
Gillian Waters is a sharp buyer at Smith & Banks whose ambition—to land a major account and secure a promotion—springs from her devotion to her daughter, Bo. Initially adept at the mild manipulations of corporate politics, she’s challenged by mentorship to think beyond win-lose tactics and toward creating safety, trust, and pull. The story of her daughter’s cat, Cleo, becomes a personal metaphor for leaving the “back door open,” guiding Gillian to abandon a brittle climb for a richer, values-aligned collaboration. Witnessing Jackson’s integrity catalyzes her leap from corporate security into a partnership that matches her strategic mind with a purpose-driven mission.
Supporting Characters
These characters serve as mentors, foils, and catalysts for the protagonists’ growth.
The Judge (Celia Henshaw)
The Judge is a retired judge and master mediator whose calm, Socratic mentorship helps Jackson untie emotional knots and approach conflict with empathy and perspective. Over coffee and stories, she teaches the “Five Clauses of Natural Negotiation,” modeling presence, clarity, and compassion. Married to the Coach and connected to the legendary mentor Pindar, she embodies the inward, character-first side of influence.
The Coach (George Henshaw)
The Coach is a former boxer turned executive coach who guides Gillian with energetic, action-ready lessons in positive persuasion. He translates big principles into practical strategy, nudging her from competition toward collaboration. As the Judge’s husband and a friend to Elizabeth Bushnell’s family, he complements the Judge’s inner work with outer-confidence tactics.
Elizabeth Bushnell (Mrs. B. / Aunt Elle)
Elizabeth Bushnell is a gracious philanthropist whose generosity and strategic wisdom make the protagonists’ values-based partnership possible. Running a breakfast kitchen and living by gratitude, she personifies the Go-Giver promise that giving creates outsized returns. Her timely backing rewards Jackson and Gillian’s integrity, transforming hard lessons into tangible opportunity.
Walt Hill
Walt Hill is Jackson’s father and a voice for old-school, adversarial deal-making—flinches, takeaways, and intimidation. His tough-love counsel strains their relationship and tempts Jackson toward manipulation at his lowest point. In the end, Walt’s quiet reversal—acknowledging the limits of his philosophy and his pride in his son—adds a moving note of humility and reconciliation.
Keith Davis
Keith Davis is a gruff, big-hearted retired firefighter and Jackson’s dog-park friend who nudges him toward help at just the right moment. His grounded advice sets Jackson on the path to the Judge—and to a different kind of success.
Bo Waters
Bo Waters is Gillian’s sensitive, observant daughter whose love for animals clarifies what truly matters. Through Bo, Gillian reconnects to empathy and the courage to choose a life that puts people and purpose first.
Minor Characters
- Solomon: Jackson’s massive, gentle dog whose steady presence and well-timed WOOFs ground Jackson and mirror the story’s theme of loyal, unspoken wisdom.
- Mirabel: Gillian’s upbeat receptionist whose small acts of kindness and encouragement subtly shift the tone of tense interactions.
- Cleo (Cleocatra): Bo’s rescue cat, whose slow-building trust becomes Gillian’s guiding metaphor for influence that invites rather than pressures.
- The Senior VP of Distribution: Gillian’s boss at Smith & Banks, a faceless emblem of impersonal, results-at-all-costs corporate culture.
- Holly: A barista at Rachel’s Famous Coffee whose cheerful “My pleasure” teaches Jackson the quiet power of setting a positive frame.
Character Relationships & Dynamics
At the heart of the story is a mirrored mentorship: the Judge shapes Jackson’s inner game—self-mastery, empathy, and clarity—while the Coach equips Gillian’s outer game—framing, language, and collaborative strategy. Their marriage underscores a central lesson: genuine influence fuses character with craft, the self you bring to the table with the skills you use at it.
Jackson and Gillian begin as adversaries locked in a high-stakes negotiation, each protecting their aims and identities. As they apply what they’re learning, their guarded postures soften into curiosity, then respect, and ultimately a partnership that multiplies their strengths—his mission-driven authenticity and her strategic acumen. Their alliance reframes “winning” from beating the other side to creating value together.
Family and community deepen the transformation. Walt’s hard-nosed counsel pressures Jackson toward old habits, yet his late humility validates Jackson’s new path. Bo’s quiet moral compass keeps Gillian tethered to empathy, while Solomon’s calm and Cleo’s earned trust embody the story’s patient, pull-based influence. Around them, the mentor circle (the Judge, the Coach, Elizabeth) stands in contrast to the extractive corporate faction (Smith & Banks and its Senior VP), showing how culture and incentives shape the way people negotiate. In the end, relationships—not tactics—prove to be the most persuasive force in the room.