We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Jena Vargas . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Jena below.

Dr. Jena, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new firm – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

February 2015, I was laid off from my first corporate job out of college. I had the opportunity to start my consulting business and decided I’d focus on my personal branding (think cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and resume) to attract clients as an independent consultant. I had a small 30-day window to make my business launch happen or return back to a corporate role either remotely or in-person. Thankfully, I had a career coach a few months leading up to my transition period – and her guidance was priceless… she said apply for consulting roles (1099) and full time opportunities I could interview for an see which Avenue came to fruition within those 30-days.

Within that timeframe, I had registered with SHRM (local HR Association) in south Florida and attended a few workshops and networking events. I forced myself to step outside of my comfort zone and started networking with a peer of mine. She had interviewed for a load of opportunities and accepted an offer recently. She said she had some recruiting contacts still looking for rockstar recruits – so she connected me.

Woohoo! 🎉

Thankfully, I landed my first 1099 consulting contract as an HR Recruiter and that opportunity last 3.6 total years between 1099 work and W2 when we were relocating my my husband’s job and needing a more stable income. This was one of my primary clients that really helped me establish my business from 2015 – 2017.

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?

Hey, I’m Dr. Jena Vargas from Tampa, Florida! I’m a mom of 3 (soon to be 4!), author, career transition coach, and content creator with 15+ years of experience. My core career path has been in HR / Recruitment.

After being laid off in February 2015, I started my coaching & consulting business. I love everything challenging entrepreneurship has to offer from creativity, freedom / flexibility, and the opportunity to be strategic.

I offer a variety of products & services:

• Career+ Member’s Circle | Membership
• 1:1 Personal Branding Services for Consultants & Job Seekers
• 10-Week Coaching Program
• Digital Courses | On-Demand
• The Dr. Jena Vargas Podcast ( 2023)

Throughout life, change has always come easy to me. Since being rediagnosed with ADHD I’ve learned that I have the super power of being resistant to challenging situations in order to overcome adversity.

I help to empower high-performing business leaders, consultants, professionals with ADHD reach their full and show up as their best selves in the pursuit of earning 6/7 figures. I help to save them time and energy when exploring career opportunities.

My experiences, personality, and relationships over the years are really what set me apart as a professional in the industry. I speak my truth and believe authenticity is key when gaining visibility and connecting with others.

I’m most proud of my ability to develop revenue streams for my business in order to add value and serve my clients. As a creative entrepreneur, there are products and services waiting to be developed – it comes down to what the person needs (demand) to solve there pain point.

What are the greatest challenges people in a target audience experiences?

How can you provide a simple solution?

And remember: where there’s a will, there’s a way!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Absolutely! Since starting my business, I have had to straddle being a consultant and at times needed the stable income of being a W2 employee. There were seasons in my life between 2015 – 2022 when we were purchasing a home or having a child and either needed the consistent income or insurance coverage for our family. I’m happy to say I’m now able to enjoy working the business full time from my home office.

From 2015 – 2022, I have been laid off four times from corporate but thankfully provided with a decent severance as I launched back into my business each time. I’ve realized that ADHD really does feel strenuous when it comes to boredom and monotonous roles. I just wasn’t challenged and growing in my previous roles.

I felt stuck…

I’ve learned how to bridge the gap between corporate and working a consulting business full time. When we focus on our areas of expertise, we are able to successfully pay our bills and prepare for the future when we start with what we know. I really enjoy career transitions and helping people start / build / scale their business. My goal is to continue building out my business and no longer have to rely on a corporate position to make ends meet.

I believe I was born to be a creative entrepreneur and haven’t found corporate roles to be as rewarding.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I love this question!

Branding is a core piece of my business.

I absolutely love using AI technology and automation to develop efficient processes / strategies. When it comes to following up with clients and prospective clients I really enjoy using audio messages and video recordings that are personalized. I live and breath on LinkedIn and it’s a great platform to stay connected through InMails as a digital marketing strategy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jenavargas.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/drjenavargas
• Facebook: www.facebooks.com/drjenavargas
• Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/drjenavargas
• Twitter: www.Twitter.com/drjenavargas
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/drjenavargas/