We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jenna Stakias a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

In January 2021, I began to share on social media my journey of battling some sort of autoimmune disease with neurological symptoms. I wanted to publicize my story because I wanted others to know that even if they were going through the same thing or a challenge similar that they are not alone. But, to also spread happiness and positivity. I always said that the condition took a lot of things from me for a period of time, but the one thing it would never be able to take was my smile.
Thus, True Smile, LLC was born.

In October 2022, I decided to start my own social media management and photography business. I started with a couple of clients as I was trying to teach myself how to be a social media manager AND how to take portraits on a professional camera. I didn’t go to school for any of this, so I started to learn on my own through taking some master classes and really wanted to take my business to the next level. I ended up re-branding a couple of times to what is now, True Media Marketing™ and True Smile Photography™. After taking the first year to really learn the ropes of how to run and operate a business, I became a lot more driven and determined to turn this “small business” into an empire.

February 2024, I decided to start a podcast to be able to share my story, but also speak with other motivational people to spread inspiration to others to live as their authentic selves and live in their truth. Keeping with the theme of “true” I started the True Talk™ podcast and decided to officially add it as part of The True Empire™.

There is still so much more to come!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As I mentioned before, I battled some sort of autoimmune disease and it was in that time of challenges that I really learned a lot about not only myself, but life in general. That is really where the theme of living my truth came to fruition, and I want to be able to be that inspiration and role model for others to believe in themselves and follow their dreams.

I have always loved art, I used to draw a lot, but when I started battling symptoms one of them was that I had tremors in both of my hands. I was unable to write, draw, or even really hold anything steady in my hand for that matter. So, I began to see creating posts on social media and photography as a form of art. Then I thought since I enjoy doing that and I enjoy meeting and helping people, why not do this as my job?

As a social media manager, I help businesses promote their services and products on social media platforms in a way that represents their brand but also drives traffic to their pages. Then, as a photographer, I love getting to capture those fun beautiful memories in a detailed way to which that memory lives forever in a photograph.

I want the people to know that with The True Empire™ you will always work with a detail oriented, authentic, and fun personality! We are well known for being so positive and fun to work with, but great at what we do.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“Be Seen” by Jen Gottlieb

Hands down has been the most inspiring and relatable book that I have ever read and has really helped me build my brand and business.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Honestly, just being myself and being real. Your audience wants to follow someone that is relatable and one of the best ways to truly relate to others is by being organic and real. Just be yourself. You would be surprised by how many people need to hear what you have to say.

Contact Info:

• Website: COMING SOON!
• Instagram: @thetrueempiretm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-i3RfzmTnixdvZIfZyldQ
• Other: Tik Tok: @truetalkpod

Image Credits

True Smile Photography™
Rachel Carey Photography