jackson worked as an advertising executive for grey advertising and as a regional marketing supervisor for trans world airlines in new york city. jackson serves as president of jackson financial corporation of jackson securities, llc. she is chairman of the board and principal of jackmont hospitality, inc. she has been very involved in philanthropic work in the community, specifically in organizations helping the underprivileged. jackson is currently chairman of the board of the maynard jackson youth foundation.. jackson has served on boards, including the american cancer society, habitat for humanity and the northwest georgia girl scout council. she is past president of the georgia chapter of the international women's forum. she is currently on the board for alliance for a new humanity. in 2003, jackson started hosting a radio show on wabe, the national public radio station in atlanta, called "between the lines". on the show, she interviewed notable intellectuals in the world community who help the world through a variety of outlets, such as politics, literature and the media. among the subjects jackson has interviewed include jimmy carter, hillary clinton, deepak chopra, sidney poitier and iyanla vanzant. she now hosts the wabe radio show "valerie jackson in conversation" that airs occasionally on sunday evenings.