We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vanessa James. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vanessa James below.
Vanessa, appreciate you joining us today. Risk-taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Risk-taking for me came in the form of an on-camera opportunity this year. As a media entrepreneur and storyteller who leads with voiceover, I’m always excited to dive into and expand my skills on other sides of the business. Recently, a network reached out for me to host a lifestyle show that involved extensive teleprompter work. Although I hadn’t done extensive prompter work in the past, I reached out to a mentor for some guidance and proceeded. I was scared. Although it was new territory to me, I adapted quickly and flowed through my interviews and now feel confident to continue to level up with the freelance on-camera aspect of my media world. The sky’s the limit from here.
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 background and context?
Vanessa James Media is a multimedia platform that champions authenticity, diversity, and creativity. Specializing in voiceover, event hosting, and content creation, the company has been a beacon for innovation and excellence in the media landscape. Founded by Vanessa James, known as “the voice you hear everywhere,” a sought-after, seasoned multicultural voice-over actress, who has lent her voice and talents to some of the world’s most iconic brands, Vanessa’s captivating voice can be heard on television and radio stations nationwide, and in the bustling yellow cabs of New York City on the iconic 103.5 KTU, as well as over 30 radio stations. Vanessa has voiced campaigns for PGA Tour, The CW Network, Netflix, Amazon, IHeartMedia, and Macy’s. In 2023, she was tapped by Reach TV Network, to host their Business Traveler show, highlighting the best hotels, destinations, and inspiring travel content. Vanessa is also the voice behind the CW Network’s “All American Homecoming,” Infiniti Motors’ campaign, and WAZE GPS voice for their global Women’s History Month celebration.
Vanessa is also a champion for diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship, and creative collaboration through her three signature annual events. VJMedia Mixology, a signature event for connection among brands, influencers, trailblazers, and innovators. The Women of Impact Series, an intimate yearly gathering celebrating female entrepreneurs and multicultural creatives and Food, Wine, and Fete, a first-of-its-kind all-inclusive Soca experience in Miami, celebrating Caribbean culture and amplifying Caribbean chefs and cuisine. For more information, visit https://www.vanessajamesmedia.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
After thirteen years as an entrepreneur, my advice for growing your clientele: Maintain your relationships, be a person of your word and learn to collaborate! You can have the best business model, acumen, and structure in place, but if you don’t connect with people on a basic level, they won’t buy into whatever you are offering. Take the time to network and connect deeper with your professional community, understand how you may be able to be of service to make their lives easier, and continue to stay in touch even if a present opportunity doesn’t pan out. People remember how you connected with them, your professionalism, and your willingness to go the extra mile. I often refer back to Maya Angelou’s famous quote that still rings true: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. And this is especially true in business.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Whether it’s been pushing through a stutter that I developed as a child when I first immigrated to the US trying to adapt to American English, learning how to deal with overbearing corporate masculinity that stifled my creativity and eventually led me to entrepreneurship, or recently where I had to push through fear working on a huge voiceover campaign for a hit show, each time I’ve adapted. Resilience for me is facing things head-on, letting them play out as they will, and adjusting where necessary but that is often much easier said than done. I think it’s important to get out of your head and out of your own way because we ARE often our hardest critics. My advice to those in need of a nudge: when the moment arises that doubt begins to creep in, get quiet and centered and always remember your why. It will help guide you and thrust you forward in the process.
Contact Information:
Website: www.vanessajamesmedia.com
Email: hello@vanessajamesmedia.com
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