Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lucie Jiru. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lucie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I have ever taken was packing one large suitcase of my belongings and moving across the world to the USA immediately after completing my Masters degree. I had no job lined up, I was fresh out of school, and I was not yet 100% comfortable with my English. I knew that if there was an emergency, my family would be too far to assist. I was full of hopes and dreams and I had to trust that this was the right decision. I was raised in an environment which instilled in me that hard work and persistence will get you far and that nothing will be handed to you for free. This mentality has been the cornerstone of the life I have built for myself here in the States. After completing the necessary paperwork and the long wait, I found my first job only a few weeks after receiving my green card, which was a blessing. That job, working at daycare with infants, have opened up a whole new world to me and shaped my career choices from that moment on.

Lucie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Over the past 10 years I have found myself in various roles and positions and have discovered many interests. People know me as a passionate advocate for mental health, a case manager, a teacher, promoter of healthy lifestyle, hiker, photographer, utilization reviewer for patients with eating disorders, dancer or last, but not least, a manager/booking agent for a talented musician from Kentucky. I can honestly say that I am truly thankful for each and every one of these roles. What I am most proud of is that despite many obstacles I have found myself here, in the USA, independent and embracing all the possibilities that are presented to me. Many people know that I am a driven individual and will always strive to be excellent in any task I decide to take on. I believe that in many ways being raised in a different country has provided me with an additional lens of how to see and understand things, and I consider it an advantage. Secondly, I would like to give a lot of credit to my parents who have raised me with deep appreciation for hard work, perseverance and kindness. My mom is the most genuinely kind person I have ever met. My dad worked two full time jobs for the longest time and always reminded me how important my studies and attitude are in order to be successful.
My goal is to inspire others through my work and efforts. I enjoy teaching and listening to others. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping people to achieve their dreams or their full potential.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

If I look at both of the major fields that I currently work in – mental health & music industry, the most important skill is knowing how to communicate with people. Oddly enough, communication has never been my strongest quality growing up. You’d most likely find me somewhere in the corner, hiding behind a desk full of crayons, coloring and drawing. I was an extremely shy, anxious child. However, around my late teenage years I have realized that shyness would not take me far and I began to challenge myself. And the challenges grew bigger as I grew older. The ultimate one came at the age of 18 when I decided to fly by myself to the US and be a part of a student exchange program, while struggling with very low English grades. I knew I’d barely understand anyone, yet the idea of a year in a new environment, with people I have never never met, was simply irresistible. I had hard time with the language barrier, but I eventually acclimated and learned. The benefits and experiences have proven stronger than my fear ever amounted to. Thereafter, I attended a university in Prague, CZE for 5 years with courses only in English, which boosted my confidence further. My Master’s thesis was even awarded by the rector, and was eventually published in the Czech Republic in 2016.
Communication has been key while working with infants, toddlers, and all the families I had the pleasure of assisting as a high needs case manager. You adapt, you learn. Around that time, calling people on the phone seemed difficult, so I decided to accept a position at Member’s services, where I answered phone all day long. I knew I needed that skill so I sought it out, regardless of how uncomfortable it felt.
Today, I look at all these opportunities with pride and know that every single one of them helped me get where I am.

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

This is actually one of my favorite stories to tell, because to me it is sort of unreal of how things work out sometimes. I have been a manager/booking agent for Joe Clark, a musician from KY, since late 2022. We first met in 2006 during my exchange program, during our senior year. I believe we shared only 1 class and we have never spoken to each other that year. My most vivid memory from that year was watching Joe perform at a high school talent show, where he sang and played guitar. If memory serves, it was a Johnny Cash cover. I remember I loved it and it left a deep impression on me.
After the school year ended, I flew back to Europe, and then spent the next 10 years mainly overseas, completing my studies. In 2015 I moved to Arizona where I lived until April 2022. That spring I decided to move to Kentucky, since I missed the bluegrass badly and Arizona heat was too much for me. Only a few months after my arrival, I have come across Joe’s Facebook page advertising a live show nearby. This is the first time his page appeared on my social media feed ever. I went to see his performance and I was blown away by his talent. I went to say hello to him, not expecting he’d remember me after almost 16 years. I was shocked that he remembered.
At that time I was consumed by photography, so I took some pictures during the show that I later sent to Joe. I went to see a couple more shows in the area and took more pictures. Joe seemed to like my work. Eventually, by September 2022 I offered Joe some assistance with looking for venues and booking (having no experience prior). He accepted and here we are, over a year later. Many shows and tours later. I am very proud of how strong of a team we have grown to be. It has been one of my most exciting adventures and projects I have been a part of. And none of that would have happened if I did not see his post on my Facebook feed. I am truly thankful for this lucky coincidence.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucie_ky_country_gal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucie.jiru