Tag: marketing and communications

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Candid Conversation with Alvarado Therapy – Big lessons from my traumatic entrepreneurial journey that brought me to now, which is right on time.

It took me a few days to muster the courage to listen to myself. It then took me another few days to watch myself. I dread both. It requires a certain kind of confidence or not giving a f*#%! to not cringe while critiquing every aspect of yourself. I have plenty of confidence, but there’s something about seeing a reflection of yourself that is just so darn hard. Holding a mirror to yourself is scary and arguably the hardest task for most of us. It’s just easier to deflect, ignore, be in denial about aspects of yourself that you’re not too keen on or too traumatic to face. What-ever the many reasons, it will always surface one way or another regardless of your every effort to suppress it.

I’m only now facing my traumas head on, and it’s with the help of a therapist. To have a therapist is to be in a privileged position. I acknowledge my privilege. I acknowledge the countless people that cannot afford nor have access to mental health services. This inequity and continual decrease in funding for mental health is why I am an advocate for mental health services and resources for those most marginalized and under-represented, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities; whether it was through my advocacy work in Washington D.C. or as an educator at a middle school and high school or volunteering and serving on the board of an incredible holistic health nonprofit, Sol Sisters. My current goal is to help build mental health services and programs for BIPOC youth and families through the good work at Safer Together. I was their programs and operations consultant to now Director of Programs.

So when my dear friend Patty Alvarado (founder of Alvarado Therapy) asked me to be on her podcast, I was beholden to share my mental health journey to help de-stigmatize mental health needs. I hope my story can inspire you to begin talking about your mental health, to seek help, to share your vital journey with others too.

You can also listen to our conversation while preparing your favorite meal, driving, running your usual route, in the shower, or when ever you need a laugh at Alvarado Therapy’s podcast (I think we’re funny, no, I know we’re funny lol). While you’re there, subscribe to their enlightening podcast. Trust me, it’s worth it.

In community,

Jenny

#TrustInYourselfandYourJourneyTuesday

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1st Black Woman Owned Ad Agency – Marketing & Communications Monday

According to Marketing Dive:

  • In 2018, 45% of top marketing positions at ANA client-side member organizations are held by women—according to results from the trade group’s inaugural scorecard which highlights marketers’ progress in gender equality and ethnic diversity.
  • In 2018, despite nearing gender parity, only 13% of Chief Marketing Officers or CMO equivalents are people of color; 5% are Hispanic/Latin, 5% are Asian and 3% are black. The survey examined industries including banking and financial services, food and beverage, technology, sports and entertainment and consumer packaged goods. 

According to DMW:

In 2019, just over 11% of Creative Directors in the industry are women.

Marketing, communications, and advertising yield vast influence in our social societies. They shape, influence, reinforce perceptions of others as well as beliefs. This is why propaganda marketing and control of media remain fundamental tools utilized by dictators. The messages we receive daily are constant. They are both explicit and subliminal aka implicit. Hence, does it matter who’s in the top marketing leadership positions?

Happy International Women’s Day and in community,

Jenny

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Trust In Yourself & Your Journey Tuesday – Tips of the Day

Friendly reminder, every day I will be providing tips and the data and expertise backing it up. The goal is to support you in designing your best professional and personal life, wherever you are in your journey. It is never too late. I hope you find the daily tips useful, as they have been for me.

_Marketing & Communications Mondays
_Trust in Yourself & Your Journey Tuesdays
_Work Smarter Wednesdays
_Talk Less, Listen More Thursdays
_For Your Best DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Life Fridays
_Style Saturdays
_Serve Positivity Sundays

Distrust and self-doubt are our most substantial limitations. Distrust in ourselves goes hand-in-hand with distrusting others. This is a life not fully realized but dictated by fear. Self-doubt often is frustrating, anxiety-inducing, scary as heck, and, for some, paralyzing.

My goal is to help you move through your fear—not to ignore your fear but acknowledge it as a life-long friend. It will always be a part of you. Thus, it’s essential to embrace it to live fully—a life with purpose and without regrets. The biggest risk in life is not taking one.

Through your fears, I’m also here to remind you that you already have everything necessary to re-love or fall in love with yourself. Consequentially, the flood gates will open to ownership of your desires, leading to courageous actions toward your dreams.

So trust your inner-voice and your abilities, no matter the outcome. As you likely have heard: It is not the destination but the journey that matters. Speaking from plenty of invaluable trials and errors, I couldn’t agree more. I am beyond grateful for every single one of them. Each one has been right on time.

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Hello Community!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your heartfelt love and support of my passion to boldly create positive change, especially through my baby, my artistic activism, Retrofit Republic. When I founded Retrofit Republic at 25 years old, I had no idea it would become the innovative social enterprise that so many of you championed. Thank you for believing in the good work that we were doing.

Going back down memory lane.

Award-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, musician, producer Anderson .Paak and rapper Dumbfoundead. Creative vision and wardrobe styling by yours truly.

I knew we were on to something unique. But the continual out-pour of our positive affect on you and so many illustrated that it was changing society to be better, to be more diverse, more inclusive, more equitable, to herald the beautiful diversity of individuals, races, cultures, backgrounds, gender presentations, body types, abilities and disabilities; and while changing culture to be more conscious of consumerism and its global ramifications such as the human and environmental costs of products and business practices.

Additionally, many studies have shown the greater benefits of diversity in the workforce such as increased revenue and fundraising, better and comprehensive ideas, improved efficiencies and productivity, significantly higher retention, and overall happier employees. So why not put concerted effort to institutionalize diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and policies in your company? It’s a no-brainer really.

These values continue to inform me in my continual nonprofit, social impact, and consulting work. As well as in the past four years, with the students I have been so fortunate to work with. With anything that I am passionate about, it becomes my life. I give it my all. Just like at Retrofit Republic, I gave my all to my students and families. I learned a ton. I am forever grateful for the transformations and relationships fostered. But I deeply miss the magical creative flow that I had running Retrofit Republic, where I had full creative license to collaborate and run my own vehicle of change.

Thus, here I am starting my next creative vision and consulting services site. Whatever your needs are such as how to:

_Start a nonprofit, social enterprise or business.
_Lead a mission driven personal and career path.
_Ensure your company and practices are rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
_Hire and train diverse talent.
_Coach and develop your team.
_Mediate conflict resolutions between your team members.
_Execute an effective and productive staff retreat.
_Market, communicate, and increase your reach.
_Envision and execute an unforgettable marketing campaign from A-Z.
_Create a unique brand and identity.
_Market research to understand what competitive advantage you and your company has.
_Develop a memorable tagline and elevator pitch.
_Set-up photo and video shoots.
_Style it all.
_Dress and present yourself as the boss that you are or strive to be.
_Lead and inspire a team.
_Plan and execute your organization’s anniversary event.

I got you! Or you simply want to share what creative endeavors you’re working on or content that inspires you.

Keep doing you and believe in yourself. If you don’t, then why should anyone else? Trust that your firm belief will manifest.

“Your journey has molded you for the greater good. It was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time.” -Asha Tyson.

Let’s create your best self and live y/our dreams together.

In solidarity,

Jenny