We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janel Nicole. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janel below.
Alright, Janel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?
As I, Janel Nicole, the Founder and CEO of Ambient Digital Media Studios, reached the summit of Stone Mountain in Georgia, I found myself at the pinnacle of both a physical and spiritual journey. There, I harnessed the scenic inspiration to visualize my company’s tremendous growth and success, and I pondered on multiple ways to scale my business to new heights.
First, the most critical step I implemented within my company was developing a long-term strategy. This vision helped me focus on my decisions and actions throughout my journey. I valued my time and others, so I refrained from wasting time on situations that distracted me from my goals and showed appreciation to the individuals who have always supported me on this journey.
Second, I never stopped learning, and I surrounded myself with prominent leaders. I listened intently to their experiences and researched gaps in industry practices that would help me foster solutions and a better understanding of implications as well as industry challenges.
Third, I focused on building my brand and marketing my services to specific audiences.
Fourth, as my company grew, I began recruiting and nurturing a talented and dedicated team to ensure everyone was aligned with my company goals, vision, and values.
Following that, I developed a plan to secure funding while managing investments to position my company with the ability to adapt to any technological advancements and rising media trends. Building and maintaining strong client relationships, understanding their needs, and consistently delivering value to my clients is also vital to the success of Ambient Digital Media Studios.
In like manner, developing high-quality content and media that resonates with our target audience is just as crucial to building our robust network of industry contacts, partners, and mentors to gain insights, collaborations, and additional opportunities to scale up progressively.
I also closely monitored the feedback from my clients, swiftly addressing any concerns, and ensured that my company remained relevant. These experiences taught me how to scale up and be a great leader.
Janel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello, my name is Janel Nicole; I am a seasoned Entertainment Business expert with over 25 years of industry experience. As the Founder and CEO of Ambient Digital Media Studios, I have dedicated my career to crafting compelling narratives, creating groundbreaking content, and pioneering new standards in entertainment.
My journey has been marked by several notable accolades, including being a 23-time Independent Award-Winning Film Producer & Director. This recognition is a testament to my commitment to excellence and innovation in filmmaking. Furthermore, I have been honored with the Pandemic Hero Award, acknowledging my contribution to our community during challenging times. My dedication to leadership has also earned me the Excellence of Leadership Award. I have also been recognized as a Woman of Power, inspiring and paving the way for future female leaders in Entertainment Business.
Beyond my achievements, I have been privileged to make a mark in the music industry as a 5-Time Grammy Ballot Finalist. This recognition highlights my passion for pushing boundaries and creating music that resonates with audiences worldwide. My journey includes being a Top 12 American Idol Regional Finalist, showcasing my versatile talents in the entertainment world.
At Ambient Digital Media Studios, we pride ourselves on offering our clients a wide range of creative solutions. Whether you need cutting-edge film production, inspiring storytelling, or chart-topping music, we have the expertise and passion to make your vision a reality. Our team is dedicated to providing innovative solutions that address your unique challenges and exceed your expectations.
We look forward to collaborating with you, bringing your creative ideas to life, and solving the entertainment industry’s complex problems. Together, we can create a lasting impact and set new standards in the entertainment world.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I firmly believe that my reputation in the music, film, and TV industry has been meticulously crafted through unwavering dedication, tireless hard work, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Over the years, I have consistently strived to make a lasting impact in these dynamic and highly competitive fields.
In the music industry, I have painstakingly honed my skills as a singer, songwriter, and performer. I’ve dedicated countless hours to perfecting my craft, pushing creative boundaries, and consistently delivering music that resonates with a wide audience. My commitment to authenticity and emotional depth in my lyrics and performances has garnered the respect and admiration of fans and industry professionals alike.
In the film industry, I’ve worked diligently to develop my skills as an executive producer, director, actress, and screenwriter. My roles in various projects, along with my dedication to storytelling and character development, have allowed me to establish a reputation for versatility and commitment to the craft. I have also strived to tell meaningful stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of the human experience, which has further solidified my presence in the industry.
In the television industry, I have embraced the challenges of adapting to evolving media platforms and content delivery methods. I’ve actively sought opportunities to collaborate with talented professionals, working to create content that captures the hearts and minds of viewers. My consistent pursuit of innovative and engaging programming has positioned me as a valuable contributor to the industry’s ever-changing landscape.
Moreover, I have cultivated meaningful relationships with key figures in these industries, fostering a network of trusted colleagues and mentors. This network has been instrumental in opening doors and providing valuable guidance throughout my career journey.
My reputation in the music, film, and TV industry has been built upon a foundation of integrity, authenticity, and a steadfast commitment to pushing creative boundaries. I am determined to continue pushing the envelope, expanding my horizons, and making a lasting impact on these industries. With this in mind, I’m confident that my dedication and passion will propel me to even greater heights in the future.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and simultaneous Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Ambient Digital Media Studios, which was heavily reliant on content production, found itself in a challenging situation. The strikes had disrupted the entertainment industry, causing delays and budget overruns on many ongoing projects. Simultaneously, the pandemic had forced widespread lockdowns, causing viewership patterns to change dramatically and impacting the demand for content.
ADMS is a production company that primarily creates TV Shows and Feature Films, therefore we invested heavily in projects that were now delayed until further notice due to the strikes. As the CEO I, assessed the situation, and realized that we needed to pivot to survive and thrive in this new landscape.
Here’s how Ambient Digital Media Studios adapted to the changing circumstances and continued to scale up:
We Recognized the unpredictable nature of the strikes and evolving viewer preferences, so we diversified our content offerings. Shifting our focus to documentaries, reality TV, and live streaming content, which were not as heavily affected by the strikes and had seen growing demand during the pandemic.
We also began producing remotely to adhere to pandemic restrictions and minimize the impact of the strikes, as a result, we invested in remote production capabilities. We set up home studios for actors and used innovative technology to capture high-quality content remotely.
We also increased our digital marketing efforts to reach a wider online audience. We leveraged social media and streaming platforms to promote content, engage with viewers, and gather data to understand these changing preferences.
We built a strong Entertainment Business Community with Strategic Global Partnerships, forging partnerships with smaller, independent production houses to co-produce content. This allowed us to pool resources and share the risks during the strikes.
In doing so, we tapped into New Revenue Streams: such as merchandise sales, virtual events, and exclusive online premieres, to supplement our income and engage with our audiences.
Although the downtime caused by the strikes, prohibited us from moving forward with productions, we invested in talent development programs, grooming new writers, directors, and actors. This not only prepared them for future projects but also built goodwill in the industry.
Most importantly, Ambient Digital Media Studios implemented cost-cutting measures to weather the financial strain caused by the strikes and the pandemic.
Over time, these shifting circumstances propelled Ambient Digital Media Studios, in a position to become more adaptable, fostering diversified content portfolios, and our strategic partnerships helped us navigate the challenges posed by the aforementioned obstacles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ambient-digital-media-studios.yolasite.com/
- Instagram: @JanelNicole1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janel-nicole-1584b4221/
Image Credits
Ambient Digital Media Studios, LLC.