We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jhazmyne “Jhazy” Stover a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jhazmyne “Jhazy”, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission is to break barriers and foster creativity within our community by providing a safe space for like-minded women to connect and receive support along the creative journey, through a culture of wellness, mentorship, and collaboration.

XO Influencer is where creativity flourishes, connections are forged, and dreams are supported. We are a creative house — your hub for all things creative. We are a sisterhood of BIPOC female creatives dedicated to providing support along the creative journey. We aim to connect with like-minded individuals and brands, collaborate on innovative projects, and create impactful content with influence that inspires others. Our commitment to highlighting underrepresented voices, promoting wellness, and giving back to the community underscores our mission deeply rooted in community, creativity, and service. Together, we are breaking barriers, fostering sisterhood, and inspiring positive change. Through a culture of mentorship, collaboration, and support, our community provides a safe and welcoming space for growth and exploration for creatives at all stages of their journey!

Through memberships, events, a magazine, and active social media engagement, our brand serves as a beacon of inspiration and influence. Members, ranging from seasoned professionals to newcomers find a nurturing space where they can thrive creatively and personally. We provide resources, goal accountability, and guidance in crafting comprehensive plans for their creative journeys. The creatives in our community serve as ambassadors of our brand and mission paving the way for a more inclusive creative landscape.

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.

Hi I’m Jhazy, a digital creator, vibe curator, and Editor-In-Chief of XO Magazine. I thank God for continuously guiding me down my path with such creative gifts. I’ve always watched my Dad host and thrive in community. I also spent many long days and nights working on creative projects with my Mom. As the Founder of a Creative Community, it’s so full circle!!! I appreciate my husband creating space for me to leave my banking career and do what I love everyday. He is such a huge support and now he assists with my events and videography!

Growing up, I was surrounded by community. Some of my top core memories from childhood are family gatherings, YMCA summer camp, technology club, step team, and 12 years of cheerleading. I went on to graduate from the best HBCU… NC A&T, where I also found community! I’ve always brought everyone together, whether game night or a celebration, you can count on me for a vibe! Both my family and closest friends are pretty large groups, so hosting comes naturally and has always felt so effortless.

When I was in college I remember telling some friends about how I wanted to start a YouTube channel and film my everyday life. I think I thought they would join the wave, but I quickly realized not everyone shares the same interests and I hoped there were other people out there like me. I started exploring YouTube, and found some creators doing what I had in mind! In 2017, my husband gifted me with everything I needed for YouTube, which motivated me to take the leap! Over time, I became more interested in moving into an entrepreneur + wellness space, but wasn’t sure how to pivot from my original content. I am now in a space that aligns with where I want my channel to go.

When I started XO, I simply wanted to host recurring events and make friends in a new city. I had twice used Bumble BFF and gained some lifelong friendships, so I decided to create that locally, in person! With my love of creativity, having more friends with the same values and similar goals was so important. I went from building my girl gang to gaining community with so much opportunity for us all! Giving the girls a reason to get dressed up, come out for the vibes, receive flowers, and collaborate on content with the gang, while we grow in sisterhood and creativity within our local community and beyond makes me so happy!

I’m most proud of the lifestyle changes I’ve made for my overall wellness. I have become a mentor and I’m so excited to help other women crush their goals. Having the support of a creative community of women has motivated me to start doing what I love again! It still amazes me how many creatives show up with video content on Instagram and other platforms now! I love it!

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I would love to highlight my team here! I met my entire team through XO Influencer, each at a Quarterly Meetup, 2 of them are XO OGs! We were all once strangers, now turned sisters. Our first interactions and my first impressions of them are all so unique and interesting. I’m forever grateful that they all saw the vision, became members, and reached out to provide support. Look at us now! Everyone brings something different to the table within our areas of expertise. The cool part is that we’re all entrepreneurs! My dream is that xo supports all of our personal and business goals.

The venue where we host our Charlotte meetups is so dear to me. The staff, views, and vibes are always top tier! They have become chosen family and have always made me feel at home, whether I’m there personally or for business. Fun Fact: One of my forever friends, thank you Bumble, introduced me to the Fahrenheit Charlotte family and I never looked back.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During the first year of business, my grandpa passed. I was often out of town, away from community, while processing loss and grief. It became challenging to show up and I realized I had to pivot, because burnout was real. I’ll never forget… I hosted an event during this time, and no one came. I promised myself this wouldn’t happen again. With the support of my team, my business now works with my lifestyle! They are truly my sisters; I don’t know what I would do without my tribe. Creating a community of my own has shown me just how powerful community can be! I have grown so much in business and personally and appreciate the support I’ve received from strangers, friends, and family. #gratitude

Contact Info:

• Website: www.xoinfluencer.com
• Instagram: @xojhazy @xoinfluencer
• Linkedin: Jhazmyne Stover
• Youtube: @xojhazy

Image Credits
Team Photography: A Mathis Photos (Andrea Mathis) Instagram: @amathisphotos