Meet Jenay Ross

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenay Ross.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jenay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Many diverse, wild, and character-building journeys led me to where I am now. During the summer after I graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Print and Digital Journalism and minor in Music Industry, I set out on a two-month music festival tour (the Vans Warped Tour) running social media accounts for a nonprofit called the Keep A Breast Foundation. Following a hectic, but incredibly fun, summer on the road, I started a job as an assistant at an artist management company, KMGMT, and helped manage established and up-and-coming bands, singer-songwriters, and producers. Two years flew by and I realized as much as music is one of my ultimate loves, I wanted to change industries. Plus KMGMT decided to downsize, so it was the perfect timing for me to change things up and continue to grow as a professional.

This led me to accept a job at Create & Cultivate as an executive assistant for the Founder and CEO. I spent almost three years of my life hustling harder than I ever had before as I moved up in the company as an event producer and also the talent coordinator for all events and digital campaigns. My tasks and abilities were endless as everyone on the scrappy team wore several hats to go above and beyond to make what we called “magic” happen. I worked with some of the biggest influencers and celebrities in the business and gained an incredible network of content creators, agents, vendors, and so on while learning so much about the ins and outs of producing events and the influencer marketing business.

Then my priorities shifted and it became increasingly important for me to have a work/life balance, which was becoming almost impossible in my role. After leaving C&C to take a break and find a new job, I’ve now landed at FabFitFun as an Account Manager on their influencer marketing team. And after just a couple of months of being on the team, I’ve experienced that hard work can still feel fab, fit, and fun.

As many millennials do, I also have a side hustle as the content creator and poet behind the thoughtful publication Thank You For Being Here. It’s a publication of poetry and prose rooted in self-discovery and gratitude. I write about my experiences by exploring topics of identity, self-worth, anxiety, relationships, and personal growth. I’m a huge believer in its motto, “Showing up matters.”

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunities and experiences along my path, but it definitely wasn’t always smooth. A lot of literal blood, sweat, and tears went into each of my roles, but at the end of the day, I grew not only as a professional but also as a person and now I feel like I have the tools in my kit to be able to accomplish anything I put effort towards. Life is a series of ups and downs, but it’s all about how you roll with the punches.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
First, I’m going to talk about FabFitFun, which isn’t my business, but I work on the team. Influencer Marketing is such a booming and exciting business to be a part of right now, because like anything that involves tech, it’s continuously changing, growing, and keeping us on our toes. As someone who loves to create content and spend a good chunk of time on the internet, working in influencer marketing is both fun and challenging. As an account manager, I mostly keep the process of a campaign moving along, like keeping a fast-moving train on its tracks. And my love for extremely organized and color-coded spreadsheets makes me good at this. The magnitude of FabFitFun’s influencer network is so impressive and I’m proud to be a part of a well-oiled team that knows the key to the success of a product that inspires happiness and well-being.

Outside of my 9-to-5, I write a lot of poetry, take a bunch of photos, and design Thank You For Being Here in a zine format (and I have plans for a future book). Like any writer, I pride myself on having a unique perspective on a variety of topics because my story is no one else’s, but I also find that a lot of my words are relatable for those who have read my work. I aspire to use my writing to shed my own self-doubt, grudges, and past traumas while also inspiring others to do the same.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’ve always been a big believer in the “right place, right time” saying. Situations like that can be considered “luck,” but I think I’ve only landed in the right places at the right time because of the goals I’ve had and hard work I put in. It has also helped to surround myself with some amazing people who have genuinely wanted to help or watch me succeed.

Pricing:

• Thank You For Being Here – The issues are free on jenayross.com

Contact Info:

• Website: jenayross.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/jenayross
• Twitter: twitter.com/jenayross

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.