Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jillian Sanders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jillian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

My failures have been the major motivators to my success in life, and I am thankful for every “no” that forced me out of situations not meant for me. I lived and worked in New York City between the ages of 21 – 38, most of my adult life. NYC is notoriously one of the toughest places to make a living, and in that time I worked odd jobs for nine years – as a waitress, a nanny, a stage manager, and a personal assistant, before landing my first salaried job at age 30 for a publishing house. I started as a publicity assistant, about eight years older than others with the same title as me, but I was eager and ready to learn.

I felt like a failure throughout my twenties. Many of my peers were in good jobs, getting engaged, and stable. I knew I had talents, but they weren’t being recognized. I had gone to a two year acting school, not a traditional college, so I didn’t have a formal degree. I felt like a fish trying to swim up stream.

A friend of my mom’s set me up with an interview at Hachette Book Group at age 30. I didn’t know if I was meant to be a publicist, but it was a foot in the door at a salaried job. The minute I started there, I could feel all the odd jobs – waitressing, stage managing, personal assisting – all coming together to inform my role as publicist. My “people skills” were in place. I could read a room. I had common sense and I could talk to people! Turns out, this was a big part of my job. Those nine years of real world training helped me immensely, and I worked my way up fast. From Hachette, to Random House, to Hearst Magazines, and now, only ten years later, owning my own PR firm. I wouldn’t trade those 9 years of “failure” odd jobs for anything. It paid off in the end.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

JSPR is a Denver-based PR agency representing all things lifestyle. Through consulting, media training, and public relations, our women-owned and operated team is dedicated to helping you.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth! In January 2020, after 17 years of working in entertainment and PR in NYC, I transferred with my job to Denver. I’d been to Colorado multiple times and loved it and said for years that I was going to move out west. As the years ticked on I decided “What am I waiting for?” Then, because of the pandemic, I was furloughed and eventually let go within three months of moving here. In a new city, without a job, during a pandemic, I was at a loss for what my next move would be. So, I put together a website with all my experience as a way to market myself and emailed everyone I knew back in New York and said I was looking for work as a freelancer. Within the first month, I had three clients. The next month I had two more. The third month I had to file for an LLC and was looking to hire. My work has come solely through my contacts. Reputation is everything.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am definitely a risk-taker and am never afraid to pivot in life. I have made big moves in my career, and also geographically. I moved to New York City to attend acting school when I was 21, but after graduating, I quickly realized that my true talent was working behind the camera. I waitressed, stage managed, and simultaneously landed jobs as the personal assistant to a Victoria’s Secret supermodel and the famed author of the Goosebumps children’s series, R.L. Stine. Hachette Book Group offered me my first full-time job as a publicist when I was 30. I helped manage national campaigns for multiple cookbook authors from The Food Network, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook It’s All Good. From Hachette, I was hired by Random House, where I managed PR for health and wellness titles under the Crown imprint. I then began my career at Hearst Magazines as Senior Manager of Public Relations, overseeing PR and events for Hearst’s top food and lifestyle magazines, including Food Network Magazine, House Beautiful, Town & Country Magazine, Metropolitan Home, Veranda, and The Pioneer Woman Magazine. From Hearst, I transitioned over to tech PR. As the Senior Director of PR and Events for Zeel, I made television appearances across the country while organizing partnership events to strengthen the B2C awareness.

I moved to Colorado at 38 in January 2020 – not knowing anyone here. I did it on a whim, eager for a change of pace, before the pandemic. Best decision I ever made. I started my business, fell in love, and by the time I turned 40 (February 2022), felt like my life was what I had envisioned it being in my minds eye since I was a kid. I’ve had a million jobs, apartments, etc., but now I’ve caught my stride. In my opinion, you have to be willing to move on when things aren’t working and take the next big risk calling your name to conquer your fears and live out the satisfaction of a life meant for you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jilliansanders.com
• Instagram: @jilliansanderspr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jilliansanderspr

Image Credits
PHOTOS: Jillian Sanders Public Relations, LLC