We recently connected with Jasmine Sykes and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jasmine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
The biggest risk I had to take in life other than natural childbirth, is moving to a new city to follow my dreams. Stepping into the unknown, not knowing if this dream of mine would prosper, I moved from my hometown Milwaukee, WI to Atlanta, GA in March of 2017, then to Los Angeles California in 2022. Growing up in Milwaukee, WI where the largest incarcerated zip code is 53206, entrepreneurship was not visibly promising. With very limited resources, support and space to grow, my thought process was “I had to make it out of my city, not just for myself, but for every young woman who person who come from where I am from with a vision.” I am very involved with meditation, prayer, manifesting and a powerful consistent work ethic. I am one of the few who started a magazine and interviewing other entrepreneurs in the Midwest, such as Grammy Nominated producers Chad Roper and Bizness Boi. I knew my business was going to be an amazing platform before I fully put JMarie Media out in the world. I also became a GA & CA Licensed REALTOR to help those especially women in poverty build solid credit and walk with them on their road to home ownership. It is the very least I can do for my community.
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?
Born in Milwaukee, WI as Jasmine Sykes and currently world known as JMarie is only the beginning of my passion for providing a service in the world for others. The birth of JMarie Media came about with my dedicated interest for humanity, integrity, giving, writing , public relations and marketing. JMarie Media was founded in 2012, starting my career off as an editor for my magazine, JMarie Magazine. The magazine was created to become a platform for entrepreneurs in the Midwest region to showcase to the world what they had to offer. The goal was that the magazine would eventually expand nationally. That included doing live interviews via social media and Youtube. Well, that business required a lot of time and eventually, I wanted more.
In my hometown, Milwaukee, WI, I felt as if I had reached my capacity. Because the city was so small, there was no room for growth. I graduated from college with a degree in business and decided I had an interest in Public Relations. That is how the birth of JMarie Media came about. Another part of my success goes to the CEO of Duct Tape Entertainment, Big Bank. I was at one of his video shoots with Kandi and I can remember telling him I wanted to be in the industry and he told me to keep working hard and never give up on my dreams. Fast forward to today, I am continuing to expand my own brand, a well-respected publicist representing some of today’s largest corporations and most talented individuals in the industry.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Our top challenges were at one point, expenses related to pivoting our business model because we had to purchase more technology equipment, software, software protection, more storage and space. Managing the operations of the Zoom and Microsoft teams meetings. Learning to manage, share, control, setup and develop webinars that are resourceful and educational for our staff and clients. We also face challenges with creating financial support for our furloughed staff members who do not qualify for unemployment because minimum to know work history disqualifies them. Our past pay rate during COVID-19, has been decreased by 50% to save the business. We had to come together with our community to save JMarie Media Firm from closing for good.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
The journey to recovery after the pandemic was more than I can imagine. With love and support of our communities, clients, customers, family and friends, we as a team were not excepting the turn around to be so powerful. First, above all I will like to thank GOD for never taking his hands off me, my team and my business. Habukkuk 2:2 “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” There is not a day that goes by, that I am not writing my manifestations and having faith in GOD that everything I deserve will come to life. JMarie Media is a seasoned business, but the flavor gets better every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jmariemedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmariemedia/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmarie-media-a6769035/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFZkY0JbjckPE9PW2UERbEQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jmarie-media-firm-los-angeles
Image Credits
Grammy Nominated Producer Chad Roper, JMarie Media Firm,