We recently connected with Jackie Gemein and have shared our conversation below.

Jackie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

Having worked in corporate advertising for over a decade, I know how amazing the industry can be. But I also know how hard it can be to maintain long term. I eventually started freelancing in 2020 after the birth of my daughter and started my own company in 2022. While owning your own business comes with its own set of challenges, I see now more than ever how hard it is for parents to work in corporate America right now. Working in advertising, both agency and client side, came with a ton of perks. A steady pay check, benefits, lavish parties and bonuses, to name a few. But after working 12 hour days more days than not, I felt the burn out only a few years in. Especially in marketing, where social media has completely changed the game and the industry truly never sleeps. It can be very hard to achieve a work life balance with or without children. I have worked 14-hour days and 7 days a week. I also worked on New Years Day in the office until 2am. I’ve worked for companies that didn’t provide maternity leave. When I was fresh out of college, it wasn’t as much a concern. But I quickly came to see how this wasn’t possible if I eventually wanted a family. I didn’t want to constantly be choosing between my career and my family. Or between my health and sleep and my work load. Statistic show that companies that prioritize the well-being of employees actually grow more than just their reputation. Work satisfaction increases, as does productivity and retention rates which means less time and money training new employees. Clients see and feel the increase in productivity and moral which results in better reviews, referrals and more business for the company. It seems obvious to me why Corporate America should start providing things like flexible work environments and hours, unlimited sick and emergency days and paid parental leave. In today’s world a traditional 9-5 doesn’t come with the job security that it once did. It also is rarely an actual 9-5! While I am grateful for my time in Corporate America because of what I learned and the connections I made, the freedom and flexibility that owning my own business has provided has far outweighed the parties and perks!

Jackie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After graduating with a degree in Public Relations and Advertising, I was offered a job at a digital agency in downtown Chicago. I was anticipating working in traditional media (print, TV, radio), but the digital focus kind of fell into my lap and has since paved my entire career path. I got to work closely with UX designers and developers and learned an entirely new side of the industry. I then went to a very large agency where I worked on national and award winning campaigns and got to be a part of some of the most iconic advertising moments of the past decade. At the time, I would have said it was my dream job. But the long hours and constant stress got the best of me. I went to work client side in healthcare marketing for the next few years and enjoyed the slightly slower pace but wasn’t passionate about the subject. I kept finding myself wanting to do something that was just mine, where I made the decisions and chose what I worked on and when. After the birth of my daughter during the height of the pandemic, I began freelancing as a temporary solution until I could find my footing as a working parent. I kept feeling the pull to start my own brand where I could actually make a difference in the industry. Fast forward to 2022 and Jack & Gem Media was born.

I currently offer social media strategy, website design and creation, copywriting, Meta ads and content and marketing strategy services. I run a small private Facebook community for local business owners to ask marketing advice and get weekly tips, tricks and trends to help their small business thrive. I am currently working on a social media solution for small business owners who cannot afford to hire an expert to manage their marketing. This solution would allow businesses an affordable way to successfully manage and utilize social media to grow their business, relying on the proven strategies and tactics I have used throughout my 10+ years in the industry. That is expected to launch this November. Even though I have worked for global and national brands, my focus is on small businesses right now. I want to help businesses that don’t have multi-million dollar budgets but still have an amazing product or service to offer, make their business a success. Small businesses have a direct impact on our local economies. I want to help small business owners create a successful brand, provide for their family, find their passion, do good and spread the wealth back into their local communities. There is so much power in marketing, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming and all-consuming.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Connection. Social media is all about community and I find most of my clients on social media by building a genuine connection. I don’t follow someone or like a post so they reciprocate. I do it out of genuine support for a brand and business I want to know. Same goes for engagement. People will know if you aren’t being authentic. People want to feel seen and heard, even if it is with strangers on the internet. Find your community or create your own. Use social media to build community and connection. Be genuine. With this strategy I have never really had to do any hard selling of myself or my services. It has all come pretty organically and I have been lucky to find some pretty amazing clients that have become friends.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My entire business has been a big pivot! I never imagined myself running my own marketing business. I always saw myself as the youngest VP of a massive agency, climbing the ladder fast and loving it. I don’t think any of us could have predicted the major shifts the pandemic brought us. I actually enjoyed the work from home life and flexibility it provided. And I have enjoyed being a business owner in this new chapter as well. I can now look back and see how each past job and experience taught me everything that I now bring into my business. And how maybe the plan all along wasn’t to climb someone else’s ladder but to make my own!

Contact Info:

• Website: jackandgemmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackandgemmedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackandgemmedia

Image Credits
Ashley Pettis Photography