Today we’d like to introduce you to Lillie Jones.
Hi Lillie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was a first-generation college student born to “aged parents” (46 – mother and 56 – father years old). That generation believed strongly in arduous work, morals, and respect for authority. Fast forward, to my undergraduate studies, at Virginia State University in 2007. I did most of my academic advice until my senior year. When I realized I understood academic planning and career readiness, I decided to help my suitemates and other underclassmen with their schedules.
This birthed SENOJ Consulting, a job-readiness and career preparedness entity to support other first-generation college students. As I commenced my post-graduate education in public administration, criminal justice, and counseling, I took the skills from those disciplines and expanded my services.
Fast forward to 2020, I began to expand consulting services to start-up businesses, non-profits, and independent creatives in entertainment services. Services include but are not limited to press planning, media coordination, portfolio development, strategic planning, career readiness, and much more.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road because I was always working full-time, a full-time graduate school student, and taking care of family members along the way. Professionally, the major struggles have been finding individuals to collaborate with who hold the same values or similar values as myself.
COVID truly enabled me to streamline and re-structured by brand from SENOJ Consulting Xpress to Lillie Mae – The Collective a comprehensive brand comprised of a business, civic and social component.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
For 13 years, my consulting firm was named “SENOJ Consulting Xpress”. SENOJ is my last name spelled backwards: in honor of my late-father, who was my foundation.
In April 2020, I coined the brand “Lillie Mae – The Collective”. Named after her paternal grandmother, she realized her name was associated with rarity, strength, perseverance, and great power. Lillie Mae – The Collective. Lillie Mae – The Collective is a tripod comprised of business, civic and social entities. The collective brand exists to inform, educate and support the building of social capital and sustainability within marginalized, disenfranchised, and underrepresented populations.
The business arm is a strategic planning-focused firm that supports aspiring creatives and innovators, non-profits, and start-up brands with the development of ideas and concepts into projects. This firm, which began as a career readiness and academic advisement entity, is now a full-service consulting firm. Services include, just to name a few: strategic planning, press planning, media coordination, contract reviews and portfolio development for creatives.
The civic arm is all about public education and community organizing. Areas of focus include criminal justice, behavioral health, Alzheimer’s/dementia, millenial caregiving and social justice issues.
The social arm is comprised of two audio-visual platforms. It’s Consulting Time and All Things Authentic. Its Consulting Time provides a space for all creatives & influencers to speak freely in a strengths-focused environment. All Things Authentic is an educational and informational platform highlighting 21st century trending topics and topics of public interest/concern.
PURPOSE OVER POPULARITY is what sets this brand apart from everyone else.
How do you define success?
Success is defined by how many lives one is able to touch and impact for the greater good. Success is the freedom to love, service, and grow into a better person every day.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.lilliemaecollective.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lilliemaethecollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilliemaethecollective
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/lmcollective
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LillieMaeTheCollective
- Other: www.instagram.com/lilliemae_thecollective
Image Credits
Images Credited to: Ty Nicole Photography, Tina B. Images and Lyfe Through the Lens
