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

Jess, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

From a young age, my parents encouraged me to take the road less traveled and taught me how to embrace independence. Little did I know, I was a young entrepreneur at heart. Instead of selling lemonade, like most children were doing- I wanted something more active. So, I grabbed a bucket and sponge and started washing cars in the neighborhood. One day when I was 15, I asked my Mom what was I going to eat at school? Her response was to lend me her debit card and said, “You are old enough to plan, pack, and budget your meals from now on.” I was surprised, yet thrilled. Every week, I was trusted with a $40 budget for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. At first, I stumbled upon overspending. But my parents used those moments to teach me about financial education and making thoughtful choices within my means.
This experience shaped my understanding of responsibility, resourcefulness, and the value of planning ahead.

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 a Filipina-American EPIC EMCEE, leadership coach, and community connector, I have over 14 years of experience in public speaking, event planning, and community engagement. My journey into this space began with a love for connecting people and creating meaningful, joyful experiences.

Starting my career in the non-profit space, Special Education Teacher, team leader, then diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant- I honed my ability to navigate diverse audiences and deliver powerful, inclusive experiences. During the major tech recession, my role as a DEI consultant was gone and I had no idea what to do. I reflected the common theme of my career and realized it was leadership. Some folks may think leadership is being at the top, however I believe that leadership comes from within. How you make non-biased decisions that can make impact for good. After receiving a Women’s Leadership Coaching certification, I enrolled in the art of learning how to run an online business. From there, JessSayIt was born.

After coaching incredible leaders, I felt like something was missing, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Weeks later, I was asked to host events for colleagues and friends- it was in those moments that everything clicked. I realized I could bring all my skills together—public speaking, audience engagement, and creating energized connections through fun and play. This realization inspired me to go back to the original business plan and add EMCEE-ing in my repertoire, where I now amplify my strengths to empower others and craft unforgettable experiences.
As an EMCEE, I specialize in elevating industry specific corporate events by combining heart, engagement, adaptability, and trailblazing transformations—the cornerstones of my HEAT Framework. This approach ensures every moment resonates with the audience while seamlessly guiding the flow of the event. On the coaching side, I focus on empowering women leaders, particularly middle managers and rising senior leaders, by helping them gain clarity, maintain boundaries, and develop personalized tools for well-being and resilience.

What sets me apart is my ability to bring warmth, authenticity, and grounded leadership into everything I do. I pride myself on creating psychological safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued, while creating transformative experiences.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about my work, it’s this: I am here to help you shine, celebrate, and connect with purpose, whether that’s on stage or in your career!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a child of immigrant parents, I had to unlearn survival mentality—a mindset centered on doing whatever it takes to get by, often at the expense of joy, rest, and balance.
It all started two years ago when I moved back home to Miami after transitioning to remote work. Little did I know, I was grieving the life I had built in NYC—the hustle, the constant motion, and the identity I had tied to my work and achievements. Miami was my first home and I almost felt like a “failure” moving back with my family. At first, I felt unsure of how to navigate this new chapter. But slowly, I began to see the gift in the pause. I realized that the survival mentality I had carried for so long—while it had helped my family and me thrive in difficult circumstances—was no longer serving me. It was time to embrace a mindset rooted in abundance, wellness, and joy.

After LOTS of therapy, life coaching, and reintroducing play into my life, it meant reimagining my goals, redefining success, and allowing myself to rest without guilt. It also meant honoring the sacrifices my parents made while recognizing that their dreams for me included happiness, not just hard work.

Now, I approach life as pendulum from a place of purpose, connection, and fulfillment. I’m building a career that aligns with my values—helping others shine while finding joy in the process, while giving back to the community with my time and knowledge. Unlearning survival mentality has been a emotional rollercoaster, but it takes a lot of inner work, and emotional resilience not to go back into hold patterns. However I wouldn’t change anything about this journey.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

It all started when I was an intern at a large non-profit in Washington D.C. going into my senior year of college. My manager at the time (now LinkedIn Top Voice) asked if I had a LinkedIn, and I had no idea what she was talking about. It was there when she immediately made me sign up and connect with my fellow colleagues from the organization.
Years go by and I start to learn the platform. I loved learning from my colleagues and catching up with their career achievements. At first I use to think folks would be constantly bragging about themselves. However after learning marketing, I realized that it’s all strategy!
These days, I provide value to my audience by sharing stories of public speaking, current events, and EMCEEing. The fear of public speaking is one of the most common forms of anxiety. These days, I enjoy showcasing how to regulate your nervous system, while transforming that fear into courage.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jesssayit.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess_a_velasco/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-a-velasco/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JessSayIt

Image Credits

https://www.adelineartistry.com/
https://www.reziahayes.com/about
We Met at a Give Miami Day Pep Rally
The 2nd Annual Banana Katchup: Filipino Block Party