Today we’d like to introduce you to Velissa Vaughn.
Velissa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a recent transplant Angeleno by way of NYC, by way of a small little town outside of Pittsburgh, Clairton Pennsylvania. I grew up in the small steel city playing and focusing on, basketball which would later award me a Division I Basketball Scholarship at Youngstown State University. Being a full-time athlete didn’t leave much time for extracurricular activities. I focused on my studies and Majored in Communications and Minored in Public Relations & Advertising. My dream was to be the next future Sage Steele, an ESPN Broadcaster. However, after I completed my senior thesis and a quick stint doing color commentary at the University, I realized TV was not for me!
I moved back to Pittsburgh and after a year of sort of just chilling, I got into the workmode, I had to figure out what was next! I worked at True Religion Brand Jeans during their height of their popularityt, where I was able to build great clients that ranged from wealthy Pittsburgh Socialites, athletes, celebrities, and more. Not only did I create amazing relationships I also found myself learning a great deal about denim. When some friends recommended me to a new store that was coming to the city, specializing in sneakers, fashion, art and denim, they suggested I apply. They shared that it was Black owned and that it was the first store of this magnitude to come to the city as a standalone privately owned flagship. I met with the team and they were impressed with my ability to sell, my knowledge of fits and japanese denim, and I also learned we were all from the same neighborhood. I left TRBJ for Social Status and the rest is all history; or so they say! I went on to do PR and manage two stores in Pittsburgh along with three in the Carolina’s for Social Status. The store and owner have grown the business into a behemoth of a business all over the Country.
After stepping down from Social Status and having my own clients, I got bored with my Pittbsburgh setting and realized I was ready to make the leap to NYC. I applied to LIM, a fashion business school where I graduated with my master’s degree in Fashion Marketing. During my tenure at LIM we had to complete two internships to complete the curriculum for graduation. Although I was further along in my career than most of my peers, I used that moment to test what I was really meant to do while I had a little time before graduation. I always loved loved loved magazines as a young Girl. I decided that I should test out the other side of PR and chase after my first real love, editorial, now that I was in the Big City. I was at Harper’s Bazaar for a stint and realized, well, I hated it, but was grateful to have the opportunity to give it a go. I made sure my final internship was back in the public relations space and I secured a fashion internship with Dsquared2.
During my time at Dsquared2, I rose through the ranks pretty quickly. I was appointed as Head of PR during my fourth year with the company. I created such great memories at Dsquared2 while working with some of the world’s biggest stars from, Beyoncé, Rihanna, H.E.R., Nick Jonas, Dwyane Wade, Mariah Carey, Maluma, Ricky Martin, the list goes on and on! During the height of the pandemic, I started to consult with various brands and entities as the world slowed down. I brought on my now business partner, Jayla Akers to support me with the projects. After our clientele rapidly grew, we decided that after years of us consulting together on the side, we should really make our work official, and JXV Collective was born. I shipped off to LA January 2021 without a full-fledged plan. I decided to trust my gut and God and that betting on myself was the right move to make for both my business and my life. Through networking and pitching we were able to grow our business, partner with great talent and brands, and have amazing clients based in both Los Angeles and in New York City! While working on my personal business I also hold the Sr. Manager position of Culture & Influence at VMG Agency. If the pandemic taught us nothing, it was us Girls who hustle, we work our 9-5’s and 5-9’s!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No it has not been a smooth road. Is anything that’s worth it ever easy? 🙂 Having your own business is such a risk, but the reward of your labor makes it so very worth it. I think back to my life in relation to moving to NYC and I wish I would have made the move right after college. I had made the plans and had even enrolled in NYIT and sadly lost my nephew and it changed everything for me. It instilled a level of fear in me and that I should stay closer to home. Losing people sort of jolts you that way. I’ve lost a lot of family and friends in my lifetime and you have to choose the effect you will allow it to have on your life. Although my path was slowed by several speed bumps along the way, I’ve never allowed it to define me, even on my worst days. Instead, I chose to live my life in their honor, go hard and make them and all of our loved ones proud. Stepping out on faith to chase your dreams regardless of how grim your circumstances may seem, I find it is really the best way to regroup. Excusing and dismissing the ideas and distractions of other people’s opinions and their timelines only delays your own progress. Transitioning to the West Coast away from all of my family and friends has not been easy. However, the career moves and the drive I feel here are a constant reminder that no work is being done in vain.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about JXV Collective?
My agency is called JXV Collective. Our Tagline is, For The Vision, For The Culture. We are a forward-thinking full-service Collective, specializing in Media Relations, Product Placement, Digital Strategy, Brand Management and Partnerships. At JXV Collective, we are a family of passionate creatives that strategically and exclusively work with people and causes we genuinely care about. We are dedicated to expanding and navigating our clients visions. We provide various services ranging from, Public Relations, Digital Marketing & Strategy, Brand & Product Development, Influence & Talent Relations, Brand Partnerships, and if you can believe it.. so much more!
My agency is called JXV Collective. Our Tagline is, For The Vision, For The Culture. We are a forward-thinking full-service Collective, specializing in Media Relations, Product Placement, Digital Strategy, Brand Management and Partnerships. At JXV Collective, we are a family of passionate creatives that strategically and exclusively work with people and causes we genuinely care about. We are dedicated to expanding and navigating our clients visions. We provide various services ranging from, Public Relations, Digital Marketing & Strategy, Brand & Product Development, Influence & Talent Relations, Brand Partnerships, and if you can believe it.. so much more!
What sets us apart from other’s is our background and our drive as an agency. Myself and Jayla’s network and relationships and have allowed us to work with Fortune 500 Companies, celebrities, talent, emerging brands, and really implement our expertise with a 360 approach. We don’t service our clients with a one-sided approach. We insert ourselves in nearly all aspects of the business to ensure we are creating a unique and constant brand voice across all areas of their business in relations to specialization we are offering. We treat our client’s brands as if they were our own and although we are a small and scrappy agency, we lend the care and support as if it were a family mom-and pop treating each client as one of our very own. We are understanding, we listen, and we try to tackle goals within one-holistic viewpoint.
One of my career’s most shining moments was recently being able to interview Oscar Award Winner Barry Jenkins for a campaign that he did with our fashion client BTFL STUDIO. That interview was then published both in print and digitally by the The Hollywood Reporter and was one of the coolest press moments of my career! The next is a super cool partnership with Crate & Barrel with a client that the world will see very soon!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support or send inquiries to us via my personal or business Instagram: @velissavaughn | @jxvcollective or through our e-mail [email protected] | [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jayxvee.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/velissavaughn
- Facebook: facebook/jxvcollective
